Ghostwriting

If you're looking to hire a ghostwriter, your name will be on the front cover. The words behind your name, though, are written by _______(blank). I sometimes write under a pseudonym, as well as under the generic no-name brand I'll call blank, and also under my real name for newsletters, blogs, other people’s memoirs, and magazine feature stories.

Hiring a ghostwriter is advantageous for anyone famous, infamous, or in a leadership role who doesn’t have the time to write or is not adept at the craft. Even people with some writing talent who dabble in AI-assisted programs may not have the qualities that make an outstanding ghostwriter.

Most influential people hire a ghostwriter. Whether you're a rock star, a chef, a TV presenter, or a tech entrepreneur who's sold their company and has time off to daydream and create, a ghostwriter can provide you with a toolbox of outstanding skills. When hiring a ghostwriter, look for these attributes and ask them loads of questions. The primary skills ghostwriters need to be effective and successful include:

• Psychological — the ability to empathize and put themselves in the shoes of their subject
• Writing talent — an ability to write in their subject's voice, style, and mannerisms. This requires a deep understanding of the subject's demographics. That ties into psychological acumen.
• Interviewing — acing the interview subject to ultimately bring out their message, whether hidden to them or overt, with thoughtful, and at times perhaps provocative questions…