I will always remember my first ghostwriting client. Ghostwriting was a new adventure. I had experienced a corporate layoff, and my outplacement coach said, “You’re always writing. Why don’t you do that for a living?” With that, I became a freelance writer.
On a job board, a client asked for a ghostwriter to help him document his new adventure, From Layoff to Liftoff. I jumped at the opportunity and sent in my proposal. Within a day, I received a phone call. He had picked out his top five candidates, and he said whoever answered the phone first would get the job.
I was so excited, not only for my new adventure but also for my client’s adventure. After his layoff, he and his wife joined a mentoring program for new entrepreneurs. They each chose several income streams. They were on their way across country to attend a kickoff event. Part of their mentoring program was to hire a ghostwriter and create a book.
For most of the books I’ve ghostwritten, much of the action has already happened. This was totally different. The action was unfolding live, day to day. My client posted reports from the road, sent new topics, insights, and reflections. I incorporated these into the loose outline we started with. I captured his voice and his style of expression. I loved being part of a live action team. As this family went from layoff to liftoff, I did too.
For most ghostwriting projects, I can’t share my involvement, as the client has sole authorship and confidentiality. But I’m able to talk about this project because my name was included on the book cover. I was identified as the ghostwriter in my client’s newsletters throughout the project.
It was wonderful seeing the book in print for the first time, which was also my first printed book. Prior to this project, I had written several book manuscripts that I printed and bound for friends. I was attending writing workshops and boot camps to learn the craft with the hope of publishing books. But this joint venture was my first book to hold in my hands. I will never forget the feeling. It’s the same excitement I have for each of my clients when they publish their first book.
This book led to other book ghostwriting projects for clients. It’s been an amazing journey ever since. And it all started with a layoff. A friend who was laid off the year before me said, “This will be the best thing that ever happened to you.” She was right. Don’t ever be discouraged by a sudden career change. Look for the new adventure.
Janet Eriksson 