Hi Wordsmiths,
For this blog post, I chose to interview ghostwriter Michelle Bynum. For those of you interested in freelancing as a ghostwriter, I hope Michelle’s responses to my questions will help you along your journey. She is a wonderful writer and I wish her all the success in the world in her ghostwriting career.
Now, without further ado…
What does a ghostwriter do?
A ghostwriter helps a person tell their story. Whether that is a book that they have had at the back of their mind for ages, or if they have a business and need help with sharing the information that they are experts at.
Everybody has a story to tell, but not everybody has the time or inkling to do it. So a ghostwriter steps in to get things organized and action taken. A ghostwriter interviews the author and then takes what was discussed and writes it out, or a ghostwriter coaches a writer along. Jumping in if needed to get the story written out.
Ghostwriters are confidantes and help the author to achieve their goals as effectively as possible.
What made you choose to ghostwrite?
I honestly don’t think I chose it, I really feel like it chose me. All I ever want to do is write. Most of the time I don’t even care if it is my content or not. Just being able to sit down and make an intangible idea tangible really excites me. With ghostwriting, I get to help people make certain dreams come true and that is the most rewarding feeling.
How did you know that ghostwriting was for you?
To be honest it was when I had my third session with my first client, and my client was revealing very personal stuff and made it clear that it wasn’t to go in the book, but my client just needed to get it out to get to the core of the material for the memoir. I felt very connected and loved that I was able to help somebody through a very emotional conversation. It tied back into my life coaching days and I loved that. I love being able to help people lift themselves up.
How did you get ghostwriting experience?
I started off by enrolling in a ghostwriting school, and then I practiced making fake clients by interviewing friends and writing up blog posts (that didn’t see the light of day, lol) and it got me comfortable with the interviewing process.
Then within 6 weeks of starting my ghostwriting journey, I got my first client. And I am honest with clients, they knew I was learning, and they know now where I stand. It is just like everything else in life, you have to take baby steps and put yourself out there.
When I didn’t have clients I practiced, practiced, practiced. Which means write, write, write. I still do that.
You ghostwrite memoirs. How did you get into that?
Niches are really important when trying to build a business. Because over time it makes you more of an expert in that particular field. I chose memoirs as one of mine because everybody has a story. Has something in their life that is worth sharing and that can help other people. Being a life coach that has always been apart of who I am. Getting to know people’s stories. I wanted to be able to help share that.
What questions do you ask a client who commissions you to write their memoir?
This all depends on the goal of the book and style of the story they are sharing. I always make sure to ask what the book is supposed to do for the author. And I make sure that their goal coincides with the message of the book because we want the book to be the best representation of the author.
Because the author can have one idea for the book, but after talking with them I discover that what they think the book is about is not really what they are wanting to share. It is really important to listen and make sure we are both on the same page.
What’s the most important thing to know about memoir ghostwriting?
Having trust and creating a safe space/dialogue with the client is crucial. You are going to be privy to very personal issues and that needs to be respected. It is important that you get to a place where you understand them and want to get them where they are wishing to go.
How do you organize the information given to you?
All interviews are done on Zoom and I record so I have content to go back to. I create a file folder of that client and everything goes into that file. Our first meeting, after the initial call to see if we would be compatible to work together, is an outline session. This is where we spend an hour outlining the whole book with quick notes in each section.
Then we work out a schedule for meetings and we discuss each chapter of the book. I will get questions ahead of time put together and send it to the client so they can think things over, and they will write up quick anecdotes that I can use, and they send any information they have to help flesh out the content. Such as social media posts, podcasts, blog posts, even private journal entries. I take all that information and plug it into where it fits into the book.
How do you decide what goes into the memoir and what doesn’t?
The client gets final say on this. I make suggestions and we discuss flow and pacing of the book, but ultimately they say what does and does not go into the book.
What courses, studying, learning, credentials did you need to get your first memoir ghostwriting job?
There are no credentials needed for ghostwriting. I did Ghostwriter School with Nick Pavlidis (still do actually, content is always being added) that is where I got the taste of what a ghostwriter does. I make sure to write all the time. And I have enrolled in editing, proofreading courses, self-publishing courses, and writer’s conferences. I make sure that I am always learning something. I even take classes in topics that interest me such as forensic psychology. Because I would love to write true crime one day so having that as a background would be helpful. I even took a course on cozy mystery writing because I would love to ghostwrite for that genre.
I also read a lot. Different styles and genres as well. Diversity is your friend. And I want to be the best resource my client has. I won’t do everything for them, because obviously I can’t, but if I can lead them in the right direction and their book becomes a success then I have really helped my client not only achieve their goal of having written a book, but I made it an amazing and rewarding experience.
How do you get work when you’re a good writer, but have never written a memoir before?
This is where the hard part comes in. Or at least I thought so for me. I am a major introvert. And advertising and networking is not my forte at all. I get uncomfortable. Probably why I love to write :). But it really was simple as telling people I am building a ghostwriting business. Instantly, people ask, ‘What? How do you do that? What does a ghostwriter do?’.
People are surprised to meet a ghostwriter because it is not a common profession. People don’t even know that somebody can make a living from it. But I am here to say you can.
And this is where relationships are important. Because just by having simple conversations with people and stating you are a ghostwriter is crucial to getting your name out there. That is how I started. I posted on Facebook that I am excited to announce I am now a ghostwriter, I am finishing up my course and am building up my business, and then in less than an hour I had dozens of comments and 5 people asking for more. In two weeks I had my first client sign a contract.
It really is in talking to the people you know and letting it expand from there. Then you can really go for more and start networking and that process, but to start out word of mouth is what worked for me.
Do you have a writing portfolio?
I actually do not have a writing portfolio. Because obviously I cannot share what I have worked on. But that is the beauty of building a business on relationships because my clients know my heart and know that I will do my very best for them. We are growing and learning all of this together. I haven’t had anybody ask to see a writing sample. When applying for jobs I have submitted writing samples from personal stories. That would be the extent of a portfolio.
What was the first memoir you wrote, and how did you know how to do it?
LOL, it was all a learning curve. Gratefully, my client was very patient and understood this and wanted to go along the journey with me. It helped that I had the lessons from Ghostwriter School and access to Nick Pavlidis to ask my questions. Which was why learning how important the outline was, is very crucial.
What’s the most important thing to know or learn about memoir ghostwriting?
The most important thing is to be honest and know that you will get better. I had zero confidence in my ability to begin with, but I sucked it up and tried. I am so grateful that I did that for myself because I wouldn’t be in the place I am today. I am still a newbie at this. I am learning everyday. I make mistakes. But it is okay, because my clients are understanding. I don’t work with people who are able to go with the flow of life. That is what I love about this business, I am able to create an environment that suits my personality and my needs.
Do you have a website?
I don’t anymore. I did, but then I realized that it didn’t follow along with this new direction my writing has taken me to. I will eventually, because I plan on doing my own writing as well and would love to be able to promote both, as well as, editing and proofreading down the road.
But my email is mbghostwriting@gmail.com or you can connect with me on Facebook @myfictionalwor1
The crazy thing is my business is steady and growing and I haven’t even branded myself yet. I still don’t have an official name for my ghostwriting business. I am only making sure people know my name. This is, again, another reason why building by relationship is really helpful.
