Ghostwriting Client Pitfall #2: Not Providing Enough Information

A couple weeks ago I mentioned the first pitfall that some ghostwriting clients fall into - not being able to take criticism. Yes, folks, it’s time for another pitfall to be identified.

I see this second pitfall happen from time to time with ebooks. It’s usually from those people who are just trying to crank out some informational product that they can sell. Those clients who are actually professionals in their respective industries and wish to build credibility, build their product offerings and so on, are less guilty of failing to provide information.

If you choose to use a ghostwriter, you need more than an idea.

Yes, let’s read that one again: You need more than an idea.

If you, the brilliant mind who conjured up this brilliant idea can’t even bring it to fruition, how do you think a ghostwriter can do so?

Here’s what you need…at the most base level:

- an idea, a message

- your ultimate intention for your ebook (is your intention to sell the ebook, to use it as a marketing tool, to use it as a freebie to upsell other products or services…?)

- a rudimentary outline or a checklist of the points you want to make in the book

- notes you’ve compiled on the topic or links to sites that contain the necessary information

If you don’t have the items above, then you are not ready to hire a ghostwriter. I’m serious.

If you try to hire a ghostwriter without the necessary information, here’s what you can expect:

- an incomplete ebook missing the information needed to truly get your message across to the reader

- a misdirected ebook that contains information that was not what you expected

- an expensive ebook as 1) the writer will charge you for the research needed or 2) you will need to hire an additional ghostwriter when you DO have the necessary info lined up

- a “later than expected” ebook because it took longer to produce while trying to hunt down the correct information

Starting to get the picture? The cost, the direction and the turnaround time of the ebook does rest on your shoulders as the client in no small part.

If you don’t provide the most basic amount of information to your ghostwriter, you are setting your ebook project up for a world of hurt.

Yes, you can contact a ghostwriter to see what kind of information she needs, what the expectations are and so on. But don’t jump the gun and hire anyone before you yourself have a few pieces of the puzzle to get your ebook project moving in the right direction.

Need Tips on Freelance Writing? Teresa Hall is Giving Tips on Blog Talk Radio Wednesday!!

Yes - that’s tomorrow, folks!

If you are a freelance writer…or aspiring to be…then you gotta listen in on tomorrow’s Blog Talk Radio Show as the wonderful Teresa Hall is interviewed by The Shoestring Business Coach herself - Teresa Beeman.

Teresa is going to talk about making a living as a freelance writer. She’ll have tons of info to pass along - so don’t miss out!

Just click here to go to the Blog Talk Radio page for The Shoestring Business Coach’s show.

The show will be at 10am EST and if you have a question - you can call in and ask!! How cool is that?

In the meantime, go check out Teresa Hall’s latest post about the upcoming radio show and the awesome TweetDeck review she wrote that is getting TONS O’ TRAFFIC!!

Fleshing Out Your Ebook Outline

So last week I wrote about how outlines are an ebook’s best friend. Seriously, a good outline can make writing an ebook about a kazillion times easier. But we’re talking “good” outlines, my friend…not some half-assed notes you jotted down on scraps of paper.

So how do you get to said “good” outline? It’s a process, but an easy one. And don’t we all like EASY? (I know I do!)

You start off with your basics…I usually write out - in short descriptive notes - what I want to write about. And I will make sure I will give each major topic or area its own chapter. Segregation is a good thing, when it comes to writing. We like our segregation because too many thoughts within a single chapter, within a single page, even, can get your message all jumbled up. And you don’t want that!

To give you an example of what I would start with, I’ll take my own ebook - The WAHM Agent. And I’ll take you through the steps of outlining the first book. (Hey, I’m a ghostwriter…I can’t cough up the work I do for my clients, you know!!)

My initial outline looks pretty basic:

Imagine if I started to write from that. And yet people do it all the time. If you leave things that broad, you’re bound to run into trouble. So after you have the basic bones, you add to it. Note that it helps to pose a question for each chapter…and each chapter should be able to answer that question!

You can see that already, there is more meat on the outline bones here. At this point, I would suggest setting the outline aside, especially if you can’t come up with anything additional. You can set it aside for a few hours, but ideally setting it aside overnight helps give your brain some time to “re-set” and come up with more juicy stuff the following day.

So here’s what the outline would look like after setting it aside and giving it some time to really develop…(I’m actually only going to show you the intro and first chapter so the graphic doesn’t get ULTRA TINY and you don’t get bored by an ULTRA LONG outline)…

As you can see, the further I flesh it out, the more points I know I will cover. And in the end, I can write an ebook by pretty much filling in the blanks!

So…by properly fleshing out an outline you save time on the actual writing since your flow is already laid out for you and your points are clear!

How do you like to create your outlines??

The Outline: An Ebook’s Best Friend

You’re excited. You’ve got the idea of the decade (maybe the century, even). And you’re ready to rock and roll and put pen to paper (or, more typically, fingers to keyboard).

Wait!

Don’t go all half-cocked and start whipping up a frenzy of words!

You need an outline. A comprehensive outline.

If this sounds familiar - “Okay, so I’ll mention X in the first chapter. Then there will be M in that next one. Maybe throw a little C in there. And then wrap it up with Z.” - then you’re in for a world o’ hurt and an ebook that jumps all over the place.

No one likes something that jumps from place to place with no cohesive, understandable flow. It’s like watching CSI Miami. Where people jump to conclusions and storylines pop out of nowhere and you’re left wondering how they hell they got from point A to point D without really telling you about points C and D. It’s annoying.

And it makes for a BAD ebook!

You need an outline and you need it written out. (No, an outline in your head doesn’t count).

And a good outline will take you more than one sitting. It may take you three or four. Because as you look at it you will see the flaws in flow. You will see the missing elements. You will see how you can make it better and provide terrific content to your readers.

Not sure how to flesh out that outline? Next up will be a post on steps to create a comprehensive outline!

The Difference Between Ebooks and E-Reports

So Teresa’s comment the other day sparked the whole “what is an e-report” and “can I call my report an ebook?”

I’ll perhaps be a little controversial here and say: VERY LITTLE differentiates an e-report from an ebook.

First up, an e-report is typically short. 10 pages or less. But wait…you’ve seen an e-report that was 28 pages? And you saw an ebook the other day that was all of 6 pages long?

I know. It’s confusing!

Here’s my take…for what it’s worth…

1) “E-report” sounds so much more informative and official than an ebook…so sometimes, especially when the page count is on the small side…it sounds good to label it an e-report, rather than an ebook. Basically, it’s a marketing tactic. Or a personal quirk of the author. Or maybe a little of both.

2) An e-report is almost ALWAYS lower priced than ebooks. (I have to throw the “almost” in there because you know there are always exceptions to every stinking rule out there and some goofball will go and create an outrageously priced e-report just to prove me wrong). It’s not unusual to see e-reports priced at $4.99 or even lower. Sure, some might be a couple bucks more, but most are in the $5 and under range. And sometimes free.

So…here’s my personal rule on e-reports…(drum roll please):

Don’t call it an e-report unless it’s very specific, very focused, very short and very cheap.

5 Signs Your Book Should Be an Ebook (NOT a Print Book)

Sometimes I have clients who wonder whether their book should actually be in print. And you know, some of them should! I’ve actually had a client come to me with a great idea and some great research and when I took a look, I knew that the book would be a hit as a print book - and be far more successful than if it were kept in ebook form.

But how do you know?

Here are the signs your book should stay in ebook form:

1) It’s short. I’m talking ultra-short. Sure, there are long ebooks out there. And that’s fine. But if you have a 5 page book that is a wealth of information, then stick to ebook delivery. There is too much involved in the whole “bringing a book to print” deal to make it worth your time.

2) It’s timely. It takes time to get a book in print. Yes, even if you self-publish. And once it’s in print, there it is…in PRINT. Any mistakes. Anything that went out of date from the time it left your fingertips to the time it rolled off the presses and into the hands of readers. Ebooks are a couple of tip-taps of the fingers and a couple mouse-clicks away.

3) It requires frequent updates. Again…if you’re working with information that changes frequently, then why bother placing it in print? An ebook can easily be updated in minutes and changes sent out to readers via several different methods.

4) You have a very distinct target market. The more clear your target market, the easier it is to pinpoint them online and then move in for the sale. An ebook on how to create dolls out of bottle caps will be easier to sell online by marketing to doll enthusiasts, finding doll-maker forums and all that.

5) You don’t have any money. Well, hardly. Maybe you have a few bucks for a ghostwriter. Or an ebook cover designer. But you don’t have a couple grand stashed away to have a printer crank out a few hundred copies of your book. Well, for a few bucks you can set up your ebook to sell on sites like e-Junkie or ClickBank.

Can You Write an eBook in 7 Days? (Or some other insanely short amount of time??)

I’ve come across a few info products with catchy titles and all that…giving you the idea that an ebook is easy to write, easy to sell and just plain easy, easy, easy.

WRONG!

Ebooks are NOT easy. They are work.

Good ebooks take planning and foresight. Good ebooks are written in a manner that is easy to read, but not dumbed down and please, no major writing faux pas. (That means keeping errors to a minimum).

Don’t get sucked into throwing away a few bucks on ebooks, audio or video that purports that it’s EASY to write an ebook and that ANYBODY can do it.

Because it’s a big load of BS.

It takes time. It takes talent (aka writing ability). It takes knowledge (of the subject and of the basic mechanics behind creating an ebook).

Can you write an ebook? I’m not sure. My answer, without knowing you, is “maybe.”

Back to the title question, though. Can you write an ebook in 7 days? I would say “yes” with the following caveats:

1) You have writing talent - meaning, you have the basics of spelling and grammar down. And you can present ideas in an easy to read style.

2) You are organized - you’ve already got the outline. You’ve set up the writing deadlines. You have the research already done.

3) You have time - got a block of several hours each day to devote to writing? Because writing takes time, even if all the research is done. And every little distraction (a phone call, an email, etc.) will take you away from that writing and make it that much harder to get back on track with the writing task at hand.

4) You can self-edit…yeah, that means YOU. Can you step back and re-read everything to make sure it flows, makes sense and reads well?

5) You are awesome with deadlines - if you are a procrastinator, then watch out! Writing an ebook in an insanely short amount of time means TIGHT deadlines AND sticking with them!

6) You have a very specific topic and plan on writing on that topic without veering off - certainly you don’t expect to conjure up a 200 page masterpiece in a week’s time. But if you know your topic and stick to it and plan on 25 pages or less…then maybe you can squeak it out under the 7 day timeframe.

So - do you think you have what it takes to crank out an ebook in 7 days?

Ghostwriting Client Pitfall #1: Not Taking Criticism Gracefully

When you write a book, whether it’s electronic or in print form, it’s your baby. You dreamt about it. You nurtured it. You brought it to life.

Most authors who use ghostwriters give up a small portion of that parenting aspect because they knowingly used a surrogate. They asked someone to step in and help create and nurture their baby. Those authors may have strong ideas but they are still typically willing to listen to reason.

Those are the “good” ghostwriting clients. (And yes, my friends, there are good ghostwriting and bad ghostwriting clients.)

To the trained ghostwriter eye, the “baddies” can be spotted a mile away. They tell you what an awesomely terrific idea they have. They tell you that they’re scared to even whisper a synopsis of their project to you for fear that you will steal The Greatest Idea Ever. Reluctantly, perhaps they cough up a few pages of half-assed writing before they got too busy, or just got lost in terms of writing. And they tell you that the brilliant idea will bring them the major buckaroos…all the while questioning your fees.

I like to weed the baddies out immediately. I just don’t have the time or inclination to work with jerks, ego-maniacs or clueless people. Simple as that.

I’m a diplomatic person when the need arises. But I won’t BS you. Not in the least.

So when you come to me for my professional opinion, you’re gonna get it. I’m not just a writer. I won’t just write ANYTHING. I want to believe in your work. I want to know you can do well and be proud of your book. Because, hey…it’s an extension of me too. Even if I don’t get to slap my name up on the title page (or anywhere else.)

I had a prospect recently who thought he had a great idea. I pointed out that his idea had been done. Many, many times before. And that while there may be an audience, they would want something NEW. Not some rehashed crap coming from a so-called nobody.

That’s not what he wanted to hear. So he gave me a little attitude. And my “baddie client” warning lights went off.

“This is not a client who will listen to me. This is not a client who will take any advice or criticism gracefully. This is one of those clients who will be in constant battle with me because he is the All-Knowing client.” I told myself.

And I kicked that prospect to the curb.

Because criticism is not about making someone feel bad, tearing them down or ripping them a new one. Nope, it’s about helping someone else, trying to make something better…

And if you can’t take criticism gracefully, then you’re better off with one of those writers who will write anything as long as you hand over the money.

Do You Have a Book Lurking Inside…Somewhere…?

As a book ghostwriter, I get approached by many people who say, “I’ve always wanted to write a book.”

Sometimes, the person knows exactly what she would write about. What might be holding her back from actually writing the book is a whole ‘nother post in itself.

But what about those people who don’t know? They know they want to write a book - either for print or web distribution - but they don’t have the foggiest as to where to go from there.

Obviously, a ghostwriter can’t help you when you don’t have an idea. I can’t write what you don’t give me. And I need you to give me at least an idea.

But what I can do is help you spark that idea. I can talk to you about why you REALLY want to have a book. Because when you get down to the nitty-gritty, you can usually pull something out of a person and that’s when the ideas start to flow.

First off - think about if you want the book to be personal or professional.

Personal books may be something along the lines of a family story, your own battle with a medical issue, what you’ve learned over the years as a collector of thimbles…whatever. And EVERYONE has a personal story to tell. Okay, so some are more interesting than others, but still, everyone has at least one story inside of them.

Professional books are typically geared toward what you’ve learned in a given industry or profession. Perhaps you want to further your company’s brand. Or tell the world about your unique hiring process that guarantees finding top-notch employees.

Both books can make money. Note the “can.” Some personal books are so personal that they have a ultra tiny target audience. But then, you can have a great professional book with a non-existing marketing plan and make little to no money.

So…go back to the whole “I want to write a book” thing.

Why?

If it’s to make money, then you need to pick a topic (be it personal or professional) and an angle that can be a money-maker.

If it’s to have the sense of accomplishment that goes along with having a book and calling yourself an “author,” then you’ve got some leeway with whichever direction you decide to write on.

But I bet, whether you know it or not, you have a book lurking in there somewhere…

So is your book personal or professional? Or perhaps a little of both? Spill it!

The eBook Interview with The Shoestring Business Coach

Hey, did you miss my radio interview with Teresa Beeman this morning? Teresa is known as The Shoestring Business Coach and she has a very informative weekly half hour show on Blog Talk Radio. We spoke about ebooks…everything from desired page count to formatting and the steps to take to create an ebook…

But don’t just take my word for it! Listen to the radio show!!