Everyone wants to but almost no one does.

In America, 81% of the people believe they have a story in them and that it should be written (according to a 2002 NY Times op-ed, essayist Joseph Epstein).  Fewer than 1% accomplish the task, particularly on their own.

What is going on in this gap between inspiration and execution?  To write your story is not just a creative endeavor, but a test of discipline, confidence, time management, and perseverance.  The ambition to write your story gets stuck in the dream stage, not because it isn’t worth telling but because it feels overwhelming.

There is the paralysis of analysis on where to begin and the fear of not being good enough.  Uncertainty about how to shape the story, its structure, chapter flow, format, and overall style can erode confidence before the first word is written. What if you think you are not a real writer or lack these skills?  Self-doubt sneaks in disguised as logic, slowly extinguishing the original inspirational spark. The story fades before the first sentence is ever written.

Then there is life.  And finding time to write a book from scratch while juggling a career, family, responsibilities, and other obligations.  You ultimately carry the message.  Your hard-won insight from wisdom and life-changing experiences is worth sharing.  It’s a story that could help others.  A family history that is worth preserving.  You are willing and confident. But knowing where to begin, let alone when to finish, is deterring.

The gap between the desire to write your story and doing it is where a ghostwriter can help.  Ghostwriters are more than just hired pen. They are a collaborator. A sounding board. A light in and through the fog. A ghostwriter makes the process less daunting and far more doable.

Ghostwriting is not just outsourcing your words. A ghostwriter is a guide through the process, not unlike a coach, to shape the words of your story with clarity—capturing your unique voice into a structure, style, and purpose.

Working with a ghostwriter is an investment in saving time in the creative process. A ghostwriter can accelerate the writing process.  A well-written narrative can enhance your credibility, can open speaking or consulting opportunities if you so wish, and help establish you in thought leadership.  It can lead to the personal fulfillment of leaving a legacy.

To help demystify the process, this series will walk you through what it’s like to work with a ghostwriter. It will explore common concerns like the return on investment, confidentiality and nondisclosure, preserving your intellectual property rights, and how the collaboration comes together. It will shed light on what to expect and what to look for in a ghostwriter.

A good ghostwriter wears a lot of hats and meets a variety of needs depending on the industry or individual. A ghostwriter can work with the author(s) as a guide on the side, not just as the scribe. Authors can be executives and entrepreneurs, therapy and coaching practitioners, medical,  legal, or academic professionals, retirees, memoirists or legacy writers, influencers, and creators. 

Most people predominantly associate ghostwriters with writing books. That’s true.  Meanwhile in the process, these ghosts can also break down the elephant-sized task of writing a book into manageable, bite-sized pieces by helping write blogs, articles, website content on the book, newsletters, chapter series, op-eds, essays, eBooks, profiles, LinkedIn content, and brand storytelling. These pieces can then be assembled into a book.

The one thing these ghosts don’t do is ghost you.

Ghostwriters don’t vanish. They amplify. They bring your story to life. They work quietly, behind the scenes, to make sure your story doesn’t disappear or evaporate in a dream.