Here's a Real Life Ghost Story

Here's a Real Life Ghost Story...

Wanna Break into ghostwriting?

Here is our tips and tricks for surviving the life after death -- the afterlife.

I believe in Ghosts...

Oh, not in the eeerie, see a form pass through walls and get your socks scared off sense... or in those apparitions who leave green, gelatinous goo all over your person and everything else after they rush through your hallways.

Niet, no - I believe in a different sort of ghost, mainly because I am one, I am a ghostwriter one who ghost writes materiale for someone else, while learning and remaining completely invisible. Living inside my phantom presence for nearly 65 years has taught me a few things or two.

If you happened to believe in the same ghosts that I do, and are, perhaps considering a transformation into one such specter. I'd like to share a few tips and tricks with you about our kind of supernatural existence.

1) As a ghost, or first challenge is almost always our own age.

Many writers secretly harbour an urge to grab a megaphone and yell, "Hey! Look at what I can do!" There is no need to be ashamed about these compulsion. Writers are passion-driven individual people. But there is another distinct side of our impossible mission. Perhaps the author E Bagnold best described a writers motives"

"Who wants to become a writer? And why? Because it's the answer to everything.... It's the streaming consciousness and reason for living. To note, to pin down, to build up, to create, to be astonished at nothing, to cherish the oddities, to let nothing go down the drain, to make something out of nothing, to make a great flower out of life, even if it's a cactus flower."

This apt description lends credence to the reason de'etre, we might entertain the idea of ghosting. Yet we must come to terms with fact that we can never, ever let the cat out the bag, and drag out the megaphone as a ghost. We will have to check our ego at the door from the start and say farewell to daydreams and sitting across from Oprah and welcome to my nightmare.

2)A ghost must recognize what he can and cannot do for a client.

A certain kind of magic happens when a ghost is able to take a few recordings or a mangled mess of notes in a shoebox and turn them to legible copy. As our clients begin to recognize we have can make a silk purse out of a sow' s ear, turned carbon into diamond, we may take on supernatural qualities in their eyes. In a flash, we become the experts on all things publishing. This is when it's time to be a truth-full and Blunt Truth bearing ghost. Most ghostwriters are NOT connected in any magnificent way shape or form to the magic publishing world where $1BB movie rights and their Authors exist. We simply love words and we write with quiet passion and enthusiasm.

Don't get me wrong, we may have published a few books, garnered a few contacts of our own, and we have a general understanding of the business side of it, but we will never own the title of Mr Know it all - who Knows Everything, Understands-All King or Queen of the Publishing World. The industry changes daily. It's important, in these instances, to clarify our comments and remarks as either knowledge or opinion. It's equally beneficial to embrace the concept that most clients are not allergic to hearing unpopular, but relevant, words, "I don't know, but I'll try to help you find out."

3)A ghost must be accomplished in simple linguistics.

Finding your client's voice is not only the key to getting paid but also a way to appropriately represent him or her as an authority. The average adult, native English speaker has an active vocabulary of around 20,000 words. Sounds like a lot, but further studies show we use only 25 words 33% of the time.So the rough materiale we receive from the client is likely going contain a limited vocabulary.

Yet one of the rules of writing any copy is to avoid excessive repetition of words or phrases unless there is a decided reason to do so. That leaves a ghost fishing for words right of the bat from jump-street. The key to finding a client's true , natural vocabulary lies in getting to know him or her well enough to decide how to interchange word choices so that they reflect his personality, environment and viewpoint. It is helpful to share a meal, engage in face-to-face conversations (at least in half- hour increments), and regularly converse by telephone whit the client. Think of the process as similar to learning to swim: It's fine to start by dipping a proverbial toe into the water, but the only way to do laps is to fully immerse oneself in the pool. When you can "hear" your client's voice in you head, there's an excellent chance you'll be able to write successfully in his or her voice.

4) Ghost cannot use uniform standardized pricing for all projects.

People come in all shapes and sizes and the same will be true about their submissions to you. If you only wish to work with highly organized set of materiales, your projects could be few and far between. But take heart: There are simple ways to navigate such less- organized waters called chaos. If I for example happen to receive a cardboard box filled with 1,000s of little yellow sticky notes as material for a book, I am quick to tell a client there will be hourly charges for sorting, filling and dissecting the information provided. This is not the same hourly rate I charge for writing, it's a higher, clerical rate.

In this way, ghosting takes on a variety of pricing options and opportunities. There are assessment fees, sorting fees, filing fees, telephone billing time fees, transcription billing time fees, and fees fees etc. It's up to the ghost to decide how to break down the workload (share) and charge accordingly It is still important to remain consistent within his or her schedule of specific pricings overall. Professionals and professionalism demands we charge a client at the same hourly rate we bill another for the same task(s).

Primarily the reason for this is a well-know (and , in ghostwriting, a much-coveted) aspect of marketing called referrals, and returning clients. While you can advertise as a ghostwriter through bios on blogs or articles or by placing ads or running a website., you'll need visibility because you're still essentially a non entity an invisible commodity.Rare is the client who will agree to let the world know you literally out words in his or her mouth, blog or book. That means you have no means of public recommendations or accolades. But therein lies an interesting dynamic among clients who hire ghosts: They often know others who are looking for a ghost.

Secret shoppers often find what they seek, but in doing so, they tend to be through in their research and search. Think about instances when you've really admired a piece of jewelry, automobile, or any other object or item of interest that seriously claimed you attention.

After a polite compliment, what were your first questions to the owner? "Where did you get this?" .Or. "How much did you pay for it?" Even though it's highly unlikely that any two clients would submit identical project materials, you'll still need to be able justify why her or his work costs more or less that the client who sent her or him to you.

5) No matter how organized (or business-minded) a ghost purports to be, there are going to be a few projects that will exceed any quoted fee.

And that's OK. The relevant thought to nurture, during these navigation or negotiations, is that our reputation is worth far more than any job acquired.

We've all heard the negative stories about plumbers and mechanics and other blue collar workers: "He quoted me $300.00 to replace a kitchen faucet, but the bill ended up being $545! I'm never using him again." It's interesting how those NON-recommendations and their stories seem to reach the ears of every one in the mistreated, offended person's community. But there's always a risk of the unforeseen calamity hidden inside our pipes and motors. We know that but nay still feel the need to blame the craftsmen.

The same is true for ghostwriting. It's more than possible, in fact, even probable that we will miss the mark and underestimate time, parts, labor and perceived complications with a project once in a while. It's better to finish the job with integrity and avoid the risk of damaging your reputation as a ghost.

(As an aside note. I've received many monetary "tips" when I have obviously underbid a particular project and have done a great job at it. The money might not have been what my extra time and effort was worth, but I've always considered the missing currency as a down payment on my reputation.)

6) Ghosts should never attempt to write materiale that goes against their core beliefs.

This shouldn't be confused with writing the unfamiliar: It's quite enjoyable to write about topics. Ghosts are curiosity driven. Ghosts are steeped in curios, curiosity, mischief and more than willing and able to learn something new as they go. This singular facet of ghosting can keep the job, as a whole, interesting year in and year out. Since many ghosts are continually writing out of the same client pool, a new customer with new materiale can be like a breath of fresh air.

It's quite a different story to attempt to write good materiale on a topic of which you inherently disapprove. The voice of your client will incessantly be arguing with your own voice every step of the way.There is also the added concern that, somehow, some way, the project's true authorship will slip out of the public No writer - ghost or not - should write anything he or she is not willing to own.

Every ghost has his own idea of what is permissible to flow from his pen and what is not. Heed your own standards.

They have rights to be non-negotiable. There is no reason to be offensive if a project comes your way that's not to your liking. A simple, "I'm NOT able to work on your project at this time. Will suffice. It's never a ghost's job to judge what projects should or not should be let loose into the world, only to decide which ones we are willing to facilitate.

7) Finally, ghosts must embrace patience. The biblical patience of Job. I know, I know that's what experts preach about all kinds of writing pursuits, but a ghosts' life is not traditional freelancing.

Let's mediate. Picture yourself, sitting at an elegant table, attending an after-wedding dinner. Your eyes take in the beautiful surroundings. But after you leave the venue, unless you are the bride or groom, how often are you going to think of that scenery again? Probably NOT at all -- unless you decide you want to have an elegant party or get married, again. At that point, recalling the intricate floral table decorations you haven't thought of in years, you might decide you have to chase down that particular florist.

Similarly, a high client's work may not inspire and additional client to seek you out fir long long -- periods of time. If you're a beginner just beginning being a ghost, that could be disheartening Practicing, or volunteering for free can help you get started. It's fairly easy to find people who are looking for someone to write a family history or herstory. Legacy pieces often supply the practice we need until a paying project comes along. Patience, for some, like common sense -- is not a common ability, but it's vital to a ghost. It takes time to build a client list that is stable and steady for profitability. Every client is an advertising opportunity. That said word-of-mouth is key. That difficult client or job may just be the one that ends up supplying you with client(s) after client(s) down the road sort to speak. And this progression can be geometric or exponential, in kind.

So, yes, I believe in in ghosts. those ghosts who not only write well but also capture voices and tell stories that the world miss, if someone didn't use his time and efforts to cause their release. The road to invisibility has it's share of curves and bumps, but once there, it can be one of the most fulfilling forms of writing on the planet.

So, now we've come to the crossroads and I need to hear your declaration. Do you believe in ghosts?

If so, i wish you all the best in wishes and good luck, with that -- even if I'll never see you around.

John Silva writes freelance, edits manuscripts or copies and ghostwrites. Her "let's Write!" books have been well-received by the writing community in general. She would love to hear from you, I'm sure! Web:JohnSilva.com

The road to invisibility has it's share of curves and bumps, but once there, it can be one of the most fulfilling forms of writing on the planet....