What to Expect From Your Writer

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working with a writer Writing isn’t like building a brick wall or laying a foundation of concrete. The completion of those jobs is clear, the evidence is tangible and quality reasonably objective. Writing is something else entirely. Whether or not a piece of writing is good, or even finished, is entirely objective, and unless you and your writer share an identical perspective (which is highly doubtful), there could be a great deal of tension surrounding the issue of expectations.

The best way to avoid this type of tension is to be concise about your demands from the beginning. Clearly communicate your requirements to your writer and you are far more likely to be happy with the finished product. For example, if you would like for your manuscript to conclude at a certain page length or with a certain number of words, it is your job to inform the writer. Ghostwriters are no different from any other contract professional – they can only operate so far beyond the borders of articulated expectations.

If you are the flexible type, then that’s great. However, if it is your tendency to be vague in the beginning only to grow anxious toward the end of a project, know this about yourself and plan accordingly. It is best to outline your expectations before ever talking to a writer. This will help you to crystalize your thoughts and provide you with a clearer understanding of your own needs. Knowing what to ask your writer for in regard to voice is the easiest way to ensure you get exactly what you wanted.

An effective ghostwriter should be able to mimic any voice, but you are the “author” and must be clear from the beginning. Do you prefer short, terse sentences, or long and winding prose; soft sell or hard sell? These are questions you should ask yourself first, so you will have the answers at the ready when your writer inevitably asks.

Another way to enhance the overall character of your copy is to consider the unique perspective of your writer. You are sure to have plenty of thoughts as far as your project is concerned, but if you have hired a professional writer, you have (of course) hired a person who writes for a living. Your writer has probably been through numerous projects already, and it is likely some of those projects share a few similarities with your own. That experience has likely endowed your writer with a decent amount of well developed perspective.

Allowing your writer to bring their individual experience to your project may help you to end up with a finished product that exceeds your expectations in every way.