Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Working with a Ghostwriter Checklist

By Alice Seba

If you're thinking of or currently working with a ghostwriter, here are some things to consider and discuss with your writer for best results. Communication is a two-way street and the better you can communicate with your writer (and vice-versa), the better the results.

Part 1: Meeting Your Expectations

* Confidentiality: It must be clear that all the projects you pass on are kept in confidence. The ghostwriter must not share or even use any information learned from your project. It may be necessary to have your ghostwriter sign an agreement of non-disclosure.

* Turnaround Time: Ensure that you provide an expected turnaround time. Sometimes delays are encountered, but by providing a deadline, it ensures open communication and the ability to meet your needs more effectively.

* File Format: If you have any specific requirements in regard to file format (for example .doc or text, font type and size), be sure to let your writer know.

* U.S. or British English: There is a difference in the spelling of U.S. English and British English words. Make sure to advise your ghostwriter of which spelling is needed for your particular project.

* Clarify Payment Expectations: Familiarize yourself with how your ghostwriter wants to receive payment. Sometimes partial payment is necessary before your ghostwriter starts working on your project. Once the project is completed, the balance is due and once paid for you can start using the completed work.

Part 2: Writing Process

* Writing Voice & Style: If you have a specific voice you'd like your writer to duplicate, be sure to provide plenty of samples to give your writer a good overview of what you're looking for.

* Which angle do you want to highlight? Again, communication is the key here. Make sure to speak to your ghostwriter about your specific opinion about the article so she can complete the project using your point of view.

* How do your want the article formatted? Are you using the completed article online or offline? There is a specific requirement when using articles online. Make sure to let your ghostwriter know if she is not aware that online articles have less paragraphs and sentences because eyes get tired quickly when reading articles online. Online articles usually have paragraphs with only 3-5 sentences. Using bullet points to convey your thoughts is a good idea as it keeps sentences simple and less confusing.

* Tell Them What You Want Covered: If you're knowledgeable in a topic area and you want an article written on that topic, don't assume that writer is going to know which points you'd like to have covered. Give them a short list of points to cover in the content. It just takes a moment and will give you a better finished product.

* Plagiarism and Rewriting Content: Professional ghostwriters know that copying another author's work is unacceptable. However, if you are training a new writer, you must be sure to tell them of that. Cutting and pasting other articles or sentences and rewriting some of them is also not acceptable. Although writers can do some research and read other articles to learn about specific topics, the final written article must be 100% their own original work. Many people use special software to rewrite article. Simply rewriting an article does not make it an original article.

* Using Hyperlinks: Content is sometimes designed to promote a business, product or website. Including links to outside websites in an article your ghostwriter completes can just be a distraction to readers. Make sure to tell your ghostwriter aware if you want them to link to outside resources.

* Evergreen Content: In most cases, the writing assignments you will give your writers are meant to be evergreen content. Most professional writers will expect this, but it doesn't hurt to remind them of this. However, if you want your piece to be timely and reference specific seasonal events, you need to specify that as well.

* Edit Process: Know how many edits are included with the written project. Some writer's rate may not include any edits. It is a good idea to know what you can expect before you let your ghostwriter start with the project.

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