What If I Can’t Afford a Ghostwriter?
If you can’t afford a ghostwriter, there are other ways to get started.
Around 375 BCE, Plato wrote something truly profound. But since few modern readers understand ancient Greek, we needed Benjamin Jowett (1817–1893) to translate those words into something we could grasp: "The true creator is necessity, who is the mother of our invention." Today, we just say, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”
History lesson aside, many clients have told me something like, “I want to work with you. But I can’t afford it.”
I understand completely. I meet with about twenty clients before I find one with the passion and financial resources to hire me. But what about the other nineteen? Should they just give up on their dreams? Of course not.
Here’s what I tell those who aren’t in a place to hire me as a ghostwriter. This is especially helpful for fiction and memoirs:
If You Can Talk, You Can Write.
My parents didn’t believe in watching television, unless it was for something special, like a State of the Union address, the Olympics, or an episode of “All in the Family.” So, I amused myself with books.
But books didn’t directly teach me the mechanics of writing. Spelling (I’m dyslexic), punctuation (the only symbols I could insert into my writing were ones like ^*&@%#!), and the basics, like “how to write a paragraph” didn’t interest me. I craved story—a good plot-twist, a book I couldn’t put down. I share that with you to encourage you on a few levels. First, you don’t need to know the mechanics of writing to write. Second, those mechanics you do need to know are ones you can learn. Third, a good editor can “cover a multitude of sins.” And finally, if you can talk, you can write.
Do you know that story you tell people at dinner that keeps them (insert the applicable feeling—spellbound, intrigued, laughing hysterically, crying, thinking the deepest of thoughts, or motivated to do something)? When you talk, you don’t use spelling, punctuation, or sentence structure. Instead, you rely on plot, passion, pacing, personality, and practice. When someone tells you, “You need to tell my friend that story about—,” it’s likely one you’ve told before and perfected over time.
So, if you don’t have the money, use your voice. Talk your stories into your phone and record. Use any number of apps that transcribe your spoken words into written ones. Many people find talking easier than writing. I know I do, and I’m a professional writer. That’s why I’m talking this blog into my phone as a cooldown after a run.
Write Your Book Summary First
Many people who want to write a book don’t know which book they want to write. They’re full of ideas but lacking in focus. (Did I mention I have ADHD? So no, you can’t use that as an excuse.) Let me offer a suggestion: Start by writing the book summary for the story that’s in your head right now. Don’t filter yourself. What is it that you want to write about? Now lay it out in words, either with your fingers or voice.
“This book is about _____.” There. I just got you started.
Once you finish writing your brief book summary, revisit it to add substance, hooks, and details. If you return to your story idea several times, you’ll know if it seems worth pursuing or not. If not, walk away; if it still interests you, keep adding details.
You aren’t writing your book yet. It’s like making dinner. First you buy the ingredients, then you start cooking.
Look at what you’ve written. Does it still interest you? Is it a story you’d want to read? What works well? What’s missing? Go back and beef up your story until it feels like you have all the ingredients.
Just Write
How and what you write is less important than instilling the discipline to write. Use your voice or fingers, but whichever method you prefer, value progress, not perfection. Lay out the “bones” of your story. Maybe your story flows more easily chronologically. Great. Tell it that way. Perhaps it’s better to write individual stories first and then paste it together into a comprehensive story later.
But write. Create a space to write, a schedule dedicated to writing, and mental space to write.
When you’re done, you’ll likely have a grocery store aisle of ingredients instead of just a small basket. And that’s okay. Because you’ve done the heavy lifting of pulling the stories out of your head and putting them into words where they belong.
Writers go through this exercise for different reasons. Some write for catharsis, to purge their minds of the story they’ve wanted to write for years. If that’s you, you’ll find satisfaction in what you’ve learned from your efforts. If you write to be read, consider finding a developmental editor to review your writing, offer recommendations for improvement, and take your story to the next level.
Not everyone needs or can afford a ghostwriter. But everyone can and should write their story.
Happy writing!
