The Secret: How Leaders, Celebrities, and Influencers Write Books

Ever wonder how leaders, celebrities and influencers find the time to write books? The secret is out! They are hiring ghostwriters to do it for them. By hiring a ghostwriter these individuals are able to provide content and additional monetization to their brands. What was once taboo has now become an expectation. People expect the icons they envy to have someone write for them with no reservations. But how does this process work?

Total Package

Some people are simply too busy doing the work to get into the details of writing a book. That’s where a ghostwriter comes in. In total package scenarios, the ghostwriter conducts the research necessary to put the book together as well as composes the work. In some cases, the author may not even read the book before it is released. This writing style takes trust and professionalism.

Meat on the Bones

There are individuals who have the ideas and knowledge framework for their book. In these cases, they provide the ghostwriter with an outline and notes for how the content should be arranged. The ghostwriter provides any additional research and fills in the details producing a complete work. The final delivery is reviewed by the author to make sure their desires are included.

Jessie Maple and E. Danielle Butler working on 2019 Memoir, The Maple Crew.

Side-by-Side

The side by side writing process is one in which a ghostwriter spends significant amounts of time interviewing the author. Recordings are made with copious notes to follow. The ghostwriter then goes away to compose the work based on the information that is obtained. The author usually participates in the finalization process ensuring their satisfaction.

In each case, the ghostwriting process provides an opportunity for executives, personalities and others to add publications to their resume. The type of ghosting relationship should be established based on individual needs. Moreover, authors have the ability to choose to work with ghostwriters that can capture their voice and message with clarity. Which ghostwriting style would work best for your book endeavors?

10 Projects to Hire a Ghostwriter For

Been thinking that hiring a ghostwriter is just for celebrities and CEOs? Think again. Here are 10 useful projects to hire a ghostwriter to tackle”

1. Resume - You do great work, but having trouble articulating it on paper? Ghostwriters can highlight your professional skills while tailoring the resume for specific job targets.

2. Speech - Ghostwriters compose speeches for more than just presidents and politicians. Ghostwriting extends to content as intimate as celebratory toasts, funeral remarks, and wedding vows.

3. Professional Bio/Summary - Professional summaries and bios are useful for websites, LinkedIn, interviews and proposals. Hiring a ghostwriter helps you put your best foot forward by highlighting your best attributes.

4. Book/ebook - Many individuals have an idea for a book, but no time or writing skills to complete the task. Ghostwriters make light work of creating ebooks and books.

5. White Paper - College papers yielded many late nights and missed deadlines. Yet many more businesses are including white papers as part of their business success. Ghostwriters help to develop the content, often in layman’s terms for broader audiences to understand.

6. Press Release - Events, product launches and exciting news deserve attention beyond invitations. Hiring a ghostwriter to draft a press release increases your chances of getting your information in front of journalists and relevant media sources.

7. Website - An increase in digital traffic is inevitable given the current state of the world and social distancing. Ghostwriters are able to craft website wording that will draw people in.

8. Social Media - When you read eloquent posts on a business or influencer page, chances are, they’ve hired a ghostwriter, especially if they aren’t writers. Utilizing a ghostwriting service can help maximize content to drive engagement across social media channels.

9. Handbook - Handbooks and standard operating procedures are essential business assets. Letting a ghostwriter tackle this writing frees up business owners to focus on other aspects of business management.

10. Brochure - Brochures continue to be attention grabbing marketing tools. Hiring a professional ghostwriter helps maximize verbiage in the compact space of one-piece of paper.

As you can see, ghostwriting is not just reserved for the rich and famous. Ghostwriting is an option for many of our daily tasks as professionals and business owners. Have you worked with a ghostwriter before? Share in the comments what it was for.