You’ve been dreaming about writing a book for a while. You’re ready to make that dream a reality. Like many first-time book authors, you might not be sure how to get started on a book project. You’re in good company — we’ve all been there — and it’s wise to reach out for help.
As you think about the ideas you want to share, you may be wondering which path you should take. Should you get help from a writing coach as you develop your book? Should you bring a ghostwriter into the project? Or should you go ahead and write the book and then hire an editor? I’ll explain the differences, so you can make an informed decision.
What a Ghostwriter Does
A book ghostwriter is a trained, seasoned book writer who can interview you, listen to your ideas and your voice, and write your book in your voice with your message. The ghostwriter works in tandem with you, developing the book’s content in alignment with your vision. You can be as much or as little involved in the process as you desire and are able.
A ghostwriter is ideal if you have a book idea and experience to share, but you don’t have the time or desire to learn the ins and outs of developing a book. A ghostwriter is often helpful for a busy professional, a caregiver or parent who is trying to conserve their energy, or someone writing in a language that’s not their primary language.
What a Writing Coach Does
A writing coach helps an aspiring writer learn how to develop their voice, message, story, theme, and helps them take on their book project from A to Z. A writing coach can help you strengthen the areas you struggle with, help you develop confidence in your writing abilities, and help you develop a plan to turn your ideas into a completed book.
If you would enjoy the process of writing a book but don’t know where to start, a writing coach can guide you in the right direction. If you haven’t written before but want to learn how, and have a book as your goal, a writing coach can help you learn the basics and practice the craft of book writing. If you don’t consider yourself a writer, per se, but you have the idea for writing several books, a writing coach can help you focus on the specific aspects of writing you will need for that journey.
What an Editor Does
A book editor takes a look at your completed manuscript and helps you develop and polish it into a publishable book. An editor will read your manuscript with your future readers in mind, and help you meet the readers’ needs and expectations more fully. The editor will also help you smooth out your writing and give you confidence that your manuscript is ready to be published. If you know you want to write your book from start to finish, an editor can give you the confidence that it’s ready for your readers.
Editors can come in at different stages of the writing process, depending on what you need. They can help you develop the manuscript, restructure parts of the manuscript, make sentences flow well, and check for grammar. The editor might suggest developing certain topics, filling in gaps, expanding or deleting sections, rearranging material so it’s easier to follow, giving examples to explain a concept, or prompting you to anticipate reader questions. The editor might also make suggestions regarding sentence structure, word choice, punctuation, and consistency.
Ask Yourself these Questions
As you decide whether you would benefit most from a ghostwriter, writing coach, or editor, you can ask yourself these questions:
Do I want to be involved with writing the book — or would I prefer to have a writer take my ideas and shape them into a book?
If you want to be involved with writing the book, a writing coach or editor can help you with that process.
If you’d rather have someone else write the book, a ghostwriter can help you by weaving your ideas and voice into a finished book.
Do I want to learn how to write a book — or just get the book done?
If you want to learn the ins and outs of how to write a book, a writing coach can help you learn each step of the process.
If you want to learn how to improve on your book writing, an editor will be a great help to you.
If you want the book to get done but don’t necessarily want to learn the process, a ghostwriter can help you accomplish your goals.
An editor may also be an option, if you want to write the book but aren’t as concerned about learning how to get it from rough draft to polished manuscript. When I edit a book, I give my clients the option of whether they want to see the marked-up copy, so they can learn from my edits, or whether they just want the polished manuscript. It all depends on their goals as a book writer.
Do I want to grow as a writer — or just publish the best quality book?
If you want to grow as a writer, a writing coach can really help you grow in every area.
If you want to see different ways your writing can be improved, either a writing coach or an editor can be helpful. A writing coach can help you target certain areas and can give you exercises to help you grow. With an editor, you’ll need to be more proactive and learn from their markups and comments.
If you want to publish a good quality book without growing as a writer, a ghostwriter or an editor is a helpful option. A ghostwriter will write the book for you. An editor will polish your written manuscript.
Am I comfortable writing a book on my own — or do I need help along the way?
If you are comfortable writing a book on your own, an editor can come in at the end of that process and help you strengthen your book manuscript and give you confidence that your manuscript is publisher-ready.
If you need help along the way, a writing coach can help you from A to Z. A developmental editor can also help you if you run into struggles as you write your manuscript.
Finding the Right Fit
Your path to writing your book will be as unique as you are. A writing coach, ghostwriter, and editor are all helpful options along the way. Sometimes a book writer will need a combination of these options at different stages. Different books might require different types of assistance. Each option is valid, and each one plays a role in helping you prepare your book for your future readers.
As you decide which kind of help you might need for your book project, be assured that each of these is a valid option. There is no wrong answer. It just depends on what you need to move your book project forward, what your time and energy constraints are, and what your goals are as a writer and future book author. Consider the different benefits of each option, and choose what works best for you and for the book that’s on your heart.
Whichever path you choose — ghostwriting, editing, or writing coaching — you are the heart behind your book and the one who will bring your book to life. The best path is the one that will help you bring your words, your message, your ideas, and your voice into the world. Your future readers will thank you.
Janet Eriksson 