Should you hire a ghostwriter?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the writing process, and how high-performing people (like you!) can find a way to express themselves effectively, authentically, and consistently, amid all of the challenges in their way.

After all, if you’re reading this you probably have big goals for yourself. And those goals probably involve storytelling in some way.

So how do you actually meet those goals? Even if you don’t have much time, or writing isn’t your strength, or you have trouble focusing, or you already have a million balls in the air.

Well, that’s what I’m going to dive into with this series.

For the next handful of blog posts, I’m going to talk about finding your writing process. The one that works for you.

In today’s, we’ll start by exploring why you need a writing process in the first place — in other words:

Why not just have somebody else write your stuff for you?

Throughout my communications career, I’ve done a lot of writing for other people.

Sometimes as a ghostwriter — meaning I write the thing on your behalf (expressing your ideas and intention, of course), and put your name on it.

These days, though, I like to say that I won’t write your stuff for you. But I will write it with you.

In other words, I use a collaborative process that we both participate in.

Sure, I’ll do some writing on your behalf. But we’ll work together on:

• envisioning what the finished product should look like

• uncovering your best stories to tell

• articulating your ideas just right.

Why don’t I just go into my writing cave and write something for you and hand it back?

For a few reasons.

First of all, you get better results this way.

When we work together, you build your skills and discover what a great storyteller you can be. Plus, you uncover stories you didn’t know you had. Ideas you didn’t realize were so powerful. Concepts that didn’t quite make sense before that now feel game-changing.

Collaboration and partnership mean you don’t just get a remarkable finished product, you feel more proud of yourself — the skills you’ve built, and who you’ve become in the process.

Secondly, relationships are one of the best things in life.

In his book Principles, Ray Dahlio talks about how much he values “meaningful work, and meaningful relationships.”

I do too. And by collaborating, that’s what we build: not just meaningful work, but a meaningful relationship.

I’ve worked in a transactional way before — i.e., I make you something, hand it over, and then we move on.

And it didn’t feel good.

So I stopped doing it. Instead, I work with people who value relationships as much as I do. Most of my clients have worked with me for years. I take so much joy in seeing them grow, build their storytelling skills, and develop their confidence. Together we strive to make things better, and better. And their pride in their work means everything to me.

Thirdly, it’s more fun this way.

Writing is hard. Writing a book is harder. Writing a remarkable book — well, you get the idea.

If you’re going to take on a big project or strive to get better at something, you might as well do it with someone that you’d like to have a beer with. (Or a virtual one, in non-pandemic times.)

So that’s why I stopped writing for people — and started embracing collaborative partnership instead.

Now, if you’re thinking… “that’s nice — but I’m not a writer! So how am I going to write with a writing partner?”

Great question.

I’ll answer that next time.

Till then — never forget how much your story matters. Whether someone writes it “for” you or “with” you, I believe your ideas can make a difference.