How to prepare for working with a ghostwriter

A ghostwriter does the writing, but the best books come from clients who arrive prepared. A little groundwork before your first interview will save time, reduce cost and make the finished book richer. Here is what to do.

Before the first interview

Write one paragraph about why. Why this book, and why now? Who do you want to read it, and what should they feel or do afterwards? This becomes the compass for every decision.

Make a rough timeline. For a memoir, list the key events of your life, or of the period your book covers, with approximate dates. For a business book, list the big ideas, client stories and turning points you want to include.

Gather your materials. Photographs, letters, diaries, old CVs, press cuttings, presentations, blog posts, recordings of talks. Anything that jogs memory or shows how you think. Your writer will not use all of it, but they will mine it for details.

List the people. Who else could add to the story? Family members, colleagues, clients, old friends. Your writer may want to speak to some of them.

During interviews

• Choose a quiet space and protect the time. Ninety minutes uninterrupted beats three hours of distractions.
• Tell stories, not summaries. “We had a tough year” is a summary. “The bank called on a Friday afternoon” is a story.
• Include the details. What people said, what the room looked like, what you were wearing. Small details make big scenes.
• Do not edit yourself. Say it all, including the parts you are unsure about. You decide what goes in the book later.
• Say when something is off the record. Your writer will respect it.

Reviewing chapters

You will read each chapter as it is written. Good feedback is specific:

• “This does not sound like me” is helpful, especially with an example of how you would say it.
• “My brother would not have said that” is helpful.
• “I’m not sure about this chapter” is a start, but try to say why.

Mark factual corrections clearly, and separate them from style notes. Respond within the agreed time; delays on your side are the most common reason books run late.

Protect your voice

If a phrase feels wrong, say so. A good ghostwriter wants to hear it. By the third or fourth chapter, most clients find their writer has their voice almost exactly, and reviewing becomes quick.

Practical matters to settle up front

• The NDA and the copyright assignment
• The payment stages and what triggers each one
• How many rounds of revisions are included
• Your preferred way of working: video, phone or in person
• Who else needs to approve the book, such as a business partner or family member

The result

Clients who prepare well usually find the process enjoyable, even therapeutic. You get to tell your story to someone whose whole job is to listen, then watch it become a book.