Are You a Non-Writing Author?
TL;DR Writing vs. non-writing authors; thoughts on co-writing / ghostwriting
This entry brought to you by Henry David Thoreau: “I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.”
I work with two types of authors—the writing author and the non-writing author.
If you know a book would help your business, or you just want to institutionalize all that you’ve learned over a long career but you’re not a writer, you need to know that a non-writing author is a thing. (h/t Claudia Suzanne)
You’d be shocked (or maybe not) at how many great business books exist solely because the non-writing author was wise enough to seek out a skilled writer and editor to help them put the words on the page.
I say co-writer but this role is typically referred to as a “ghostwriter.”
Ugh. Ghostwriter. I despise that word. (I said what I said.) No one should have to hide the fact they are smart enough to hire someone with specific expertise to help them do a huge thing that takes an incredible amount of time, energy, and expertise to do well.
Curious…what’s do you think of when you hear the term ghostwriter or that someone engaged a ghostwriter to help write their book?
Uh huh. Exactly. That’s why I prefer “co-writer.”
The problem is, no one searches on co-writer to find someone like me so I have to use the term ghostwriter, which most people assume means someone other than the author wrote the book.
I mean, it happens. I once had to write way more of a book than I wanted to. Here’s the problem with that. When a writer has to manufacture too much content to flesh out concepts to get the book done, the author better be prepared to study their own book to get familiar with what the writer wrote. Because God forbid said author gets on stage and gets asked questions they can’t answer about what’s in their own book. (So, don’t do that.)
More often, however, the co-writer/ghost relationship is a dynamic thought partnership that leads to a better book than the author could ever write alone. The best of us function as a sounding board and reader advocate and have the writing and editing chops needed to make the author sound like the best version of themself.
If you’re an aspiring author—writing or non-writing—who wants to know more about how this all works, I offer a free 30-minute consultation. Book your call here.
ID 84896120 © Donfiore | Dreamstime.com