As this blog is about encouraging writers to write, I thought it might be a good idea to give some tips on how to build a solid working relationship with your ghostwriting clients.

Whether you’re ghostwriting a how-to book on business techniques or a personal account of someone’s life, it is important that you get to know your client. After all, you will be working with them for some time!

Some clients have very limited time. This might be why they are hiring you to ghostwrite for them! So, please understand that I’m not suggesting that you engage in endless chit chat. Your goal is to learn about your new writing partner, so that you can better serve them.

Find out what goals they have for this book. What prompted them to write it and why do they feel it is important to share this information with others?

Allow them to take the lead in the early conversations. Ask questions and let them know that you’re interested in the answers. Be genuine with them.

Whatever you do, don’t cut them off, thinking that your time is too valuable. Plan to spend whatever time is needed in the beginning to build a strong relationship.

Throughout the ghostwriting process you will be communicating back and forth frequently. Most conversations should be done via email, because it is good to have your client’s thoughts and ideas in writing.

Plus, it is important to have their approval for outlines, chapters and corrections in writing as well, so there are no miscommunications later.

However, once in a while, pick up the phone. It is good to hear their voice, and have them hear yours. Certain things just don’t communicate through email. A more personal touch is needed.

Make sure to maintain constant communication with your client throughout the project.  Send them chapters ahead of time, if possible. If you exceed their expectations, they are likely to hire you again.

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I have really enjoyed working with all my writing clients this year. I have the good fortune to work with people that I sincerely like and respect. Communication and creativity flows easily and I genuinely have a lot of fun!

This year, I wrote the outline for a story about an entertainer, based on the true stories of a man who opened for many celebrities. I am also writing a book about a mother’s nightmare of her child’s battle with illness, which was misdiagnosed. Then there is an exciting sci fi novel, about a series of characters living one lifetime after another.

On the nonfiction side, I wrote many articles for Mortgage Match. It’s nice that I can tap into my five years of experience as a mortgage broker to help others navigate the waters of this arena.

I have also been working with a company in LA to write articles about automotive repair. These articles are being used in newsletters around the country.

In the new year, it looks like I have a few more projects queuing up. One is a story about a man’s experience dealing with the murder of his brother. There was a TV show produced on this story.

Next I have a new client with a series of mafia books which need to be written. These will hit this subject from a new angle!

I also became truly enamored with haiku this year and have been enjoying working with the Haiku Foundation to introduce this ancient form of poetry to others.

Visit our new forum. You’ll need to register to post comments and see all the discussions, but it is free. If you’re new to haiku, there are places to post questions or request help with your haiku. Please join us!

Thank you to all my clients for making this my most successful writing year to date. I look forward to beating this record in 2011!

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I love taking on new projects, new clients. Recently I was hired by Management Success to help write newsletters for various clients all around the US.

These clients are all automotive repair businesses, so I’ll be writing tips for their customers, articles to educate them on taking care of their cars.

If you have a car, I would like to hear article topic ideas from you! What would you most like to read about, learn about?

I’ll also be learning about the different geographical locations, as these newsletters have trivia questions and recipes from the home towns.

I’m excited and honored to be a part of this project!

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I love ghostwriting.  It is very rewarding to help someone put their thoughts and ideas into a story, which communicates to their readers.

People often ask me about ghostwriting: what is involved, can you ghostwrite non-fiction, how much do you get paid and do you ever get a writing credit?  The answer is, each scenario is different and each client has different needs.

Most clients will not give you a writing credit, but some will.  Some actually want your name next to theirs and they like the idea that you’ll help sell copies when the book is published (because you have a stake in the sales).

You do give up all rights to the story when you ghostwrite.  That is difficult for many writers to accept.  Personally, I don’t mind.  There are tons of stories to write and I just enjoy writing.

A ghostwriter should be paid upfront.  I would strongly suggest that writers never accept a percentage of the royalties as a sole method of payment.  Many potential clients will offer this as compensation, but honestly they will probably not be happy in the end. 

On the whole, writers who accept this do so because they don’t realize what is involved in writing a book.  They don’t understand the research required and the hours it takes to create a story. 

Once they start hitting snags and realize that they need to pay this month’s mortgage, they will drop the project.  It is better to pay an experienced writer a fair price than it is to bargain hunt.

As a ghostwriter I write fiction and non fiction.  Both are in high demand.  And both are equally rewarding.

If you are a new writer, who is interested in ghostwriting, the first step is to let people know that you’re available to writer for them.  Tell your friends and family and any networking connections.  Post it on your status line on Linkedin or Facebook.

If you are new to the industry, maybe pair up with an experienced writer and split the commission.  Allow them to guide and mentor you, while you try out your writer wings.  Enjoy the process!

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One client asked me to write a piece for his company.  He owned a computer company in Australia called Propeller Head. He asked me to write a piece based on the famous “Think Different” ad campaign that Apple launched in the 1980’s.

I loved this assignment.  It was one of my all time favorites!  This is what I came up with:

Your computer ceases.
Crucial documents hang in the balance.
Communication crashed,
Cut off from the internet.
Has your system succumbed?
Not on the watch
Of your capeless hero
Of the cyberworld!
Donning his best propeller beanie,
Soaring through the clouds,
Ready to combat dark side hackers,
He arrives on your doorstep
With modest aplomb,
Wearing a quirky sideways grin
That comes before any great battle.
You step aside,
Hold your breath,
As your IT guru fights
All evil lurking in your network.
Sword drawn,
Sweat beading,
He fights for you.
Clever, creative thinking,
No mainstream solutions.
He conquers the code,
Your files are intact!
You applaud loudly.
He shies away,
Modest to the end.
Still he deserves your grateful thanks.
The Propeller Head,
Your Champion of Communication.

Image by Move The Clouds via Flickr

Shhh….don’t tell anyone, it’s a secret!

Just kidding.  It isn’t really a secret, but on the other hand it isn’t really broadly known either. How do you make the most of all these social networking sites?  Especially if you’re a writer and you want to just get your name out there, become known and get work (paid work).

The power of these sites comes from your ability to create relationships.  Real friendships.  As a writer, you have an edge!  You can communicate through words.  Not everyone can do this.

If you’re on Twitter, you need to find little messages to tweet on a daily basis. You can also reference your blog. These will all help you, but who will listen?  Yes, you can build “followers”, but if they don’t know you, they probably won’t respond. They won’t look for your tweets and forward your messages on to their people.

You have to spend some time helping others forward their tweets too. You can also work to help them, giving advice and assistance as you grow your followers. Just focus on helping others and it will come back around to you.

If you’re on Linkedin, you have much more flexibility and it is your time to shine as a writer. Spend some time on their forum (called “Answers”) and post answers to people’s questions and pleas for advice.

Your answers will be read by others and if they are well written, you will get noticed. They will then click through to your profile, which must read like a fascinating bio and resume combined. Have a good headshot and fill in every little bit of info that you can. When people click through, you want them to want to get to know you, learn more about you.

On Linkedin, you can also find groups to join. If you do, make sure to be active on their discussion boards. Help others, answer questions, give advice.

Through relationship building you will find work, you’ll get referrals and can make money as a writer. Give it a try and let me know how it goes!

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If you have a business and you are interested in boosting your internet presence, try writing a few articles. Give them away for free, offer to guest blog, etc. Just get your name out there.

What do you write about? Well, let me turn that question back around to you. What knowledge do you have to offer that no one else on the planet knows?

Don’t be concerned that you need to store away all your secrets for that grand book you’re planning. Start sharing now!

Whatever you do, don’t try to promote.  People will see right through you, roll their eyes and move on. Come on, it’s annoying when you read an “article” that is really an ad.

Instead, offer valuable information.  Ideas that people can actually apply to their current lives with success.  The business will come in if you just focus on helping others through your articles.

Make your articles fun and interesting.

Think about what you look for in an article. What do you like to read? Write to your readers in a way you’d like to be written to. You’ll enjoy writing in that style and it will be real to your reader.

Avoid long paragraphs. People typically prefer short paragraphs, snippet reading.

Lists are always good:

• “Putting Tips for Beginners”
• “Fun Activities for Four Year Olds”
• “Recipes for the Parent with Two Jobs”

You get the idea.

Whatever it is, write about it, maybe have a friend proofread it and then offer it to others. Many are looking for content for their websites and blogs.

And, it will be a good chance to practice your writing skills!

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Write about what you know.  I’m sure you’ve heard that one before, right?  It’s true.  When you put your name on something, you want to be sure it is accurate.

If you need to write about an area you know nothing about, you must do a lot of research.  Don’t just take the word of one source, even if it “sounds about right”.  You can wind up with egg on your face.

Personally I like to find at least three to five different references on a fact before I take it to be true.

A word of caution: If you’re using the internet as a research tool, be careful of other “authors” who just copy another’s work.  Obviously that isn’t a second source.

I do a lot of non-fiction writing.  As I research a subject (and I do research every subject I write about, even if I’m familiar with it), I see blatant copies of paragraphs in different articles.  Word for word copying.

I’m currently writing a series of articles and guides about mortgages for a client.  I was hired because I had been in that industry, as a licensed mortgage broker, for five years.  I learned a lot and even lectured regularly about different kinds of mortgage loans.

Even with all that personal knowledge, I still want to research the area.  Why?  Because I want to make sure my information is current and accurate.  Then I add in my own perspective, making my articles and guides unique.

Over the last few months I have read a lot of articles about mortgages on the internet and I can tell you that many have incorrect information. It is appalling how wrong some of them are.

Then I see others copying these incorrect articles, printing them as their own.  So, if you were to simply look for three sources, you could find them and still end up with egg on your face.

The way around that is to find three different sources who are clearly speaking from experience.  Look at the author’s credentials and look at the other pieces they have written.  Are they an expert in their field?

I also like to speak to industry professionals.  Social media networking comes in very handy for finding experts in any field.  Talk to someone who is currently working in the area you are researching and check any information you are not 100% sure about.

For some research projects the library is hands down the best resource.  Although books are usually more reliable than internet articles, you still need multiple sources.  It isn’t hard to find three.

Researching is a fun task. And chances are, if you do your job correctly, you’ll end up being a source for someone else.

What are your writing goals for the new year? I like to write mine down. It helps me to focus on them and make them happen! I plan to have five books with my name on it by this summer (all in bookstores near you). One book will teach parents how to teach their young children to play chess. I’m currently piloting the project that will give me the information I need to complete that book.

Another book will be co-authored with a client and will feature uplifting stories about famous Jewish people.

The other three…well, they’re to be announced as the year progresses.

I’d like to write a book about the fun side of Linkedin, how to really use it as a networking tool.

I hope to also turn one writing project into a book, but I need to get the approval of the company who hired me for the project. Currently they plan to use it for their website, but I know it could be an important text for many. Since I ghostwrote it, I cannot say more, but as soon as I can I will write all about it here.

It seems to me that some writers try hard to impress their readers with language.  They use the biggest words they know.

Sometimes writers know the best word for the context and want to use it for good reason.  Finding one word to replace three is a good idea.

However, as a writer the first task is to make sure your work is understood.  If you use language which is not understood by the majority of the people who might read your piece, your work will go unread.

Always write for understanding amongst your readers.  Choose the words that communicate best.

It is the dream of every writer that their work will be read by many and appreciated.  This is attainable if you choose your words carefully.