Do I need a writing coach or a ghostwriter?

I often meet with clients who are unsure about what route to take. They don’t know whether they should try to write the whole book by themselves with the assistance of a writing coach, or whether they should go straight to working with a ghostwriter and get the book written collaboratively. Here are some factors that will help you make a decision on this point.

Cost

One thing that often comes up in initial meetings is the cost of services. If you are worried about the level of investment you need to make, then coaching may be right for you. Writer coaching does generally cost less than full-on ghostwriting, depending on who you go with, and so this should be the most budget-friendly option. You may not even need as many sessions as you think, saving you even more money.

Over time, you may end up spending more on coaching if you need a longer period to write the book – weekly or monthly meetings can still add up fast once if it takes you several years to write your manuscript. Do bear this in mind if you’re thinking about taking the most cost-effective route – but remember that your payments will be spread out over a longer period of time, so may be more manageable.

A final cost-related factor to think about is that your book will likely not be perfect even after you’ve finished writing it with a coach. Leave room in your budget for an editor to whack your manuscript into polished shape.

Ability

Your second major factor to consider is simply your ability. Do you, realistically, believe that you have what it takes to become a professional author? This means typing out every single word of your manuscript yourself, doing revisions, working out plot details, writing the scenes that come with difficulty, sticking at it week after week…

If you don’t think you have it in you, then you may be better off working with a ghostwriter. But before you make the decision, think carefully about what is holding you back. Issues like dyslexia, for example, may make the process harder – but they don’t mean you can never succeed. If you want to count yourself out of the writing process, make sure it’s for the right reasons – and not just out of fear.

Long-Term Journey

Do you want to publish a book? Or do you want to learn how to write a book? The answer could well give you the path forward.

When working with a ghostwriter, you may well pick up some things along the way – one of my clients spoke to me, for example, about how he’d been able to learn some great plot techniques after our discussions around writing his first book. When it came time to write the second book, he put those plot techniques to great use, and was able to do a lot more of the project on his own without my help.

However, if you really want to learn to stand on your own two feet and write as many books as you like in the future without assistance from anyone, then coaching would be the right path forward. This will give you the foundational building blocks of a career, and will get you there faster than ghostwriting will.

If you just want the book out there, with the understanding that you’d need a ghostwriter for follow-up books as well, then go with a ghostwriter! There’s no problem with taking this option. If your book is intended as a standalone – a one and done – then a ghostwriter is also the right option for you.

Commitment

Finally, think about how much you’re willing to commit to your journey of becoming an author.

For me, I’m able to put a book together in six months because writing is my full-time day job. If you’re planning to write alongside a job or other commitments, it may take you a lot longer.

Can you commit to writing this book every weekend, every lunch break, every early morning before work? Can you do that, potentially, for several years? If the answer is no, then working with a ghostwriter is an easier option.

While I still make sure my clients are involved in every step of the way – approving the book outline, giving me all of the information or ideas they have in their head, and approving the manuscript before we complete the final version – it requires a lot less of a time commitment on your end. While I spend those six months writing, you only need to meet with me a handful of times – usually between six and twelve, depending on the complexity of the project – for an hour at a time. This is a much more manageable time commitment, and at the end of it, you know for sure what date you will have a finished manuscript in your hands.

Having considered these points, which of the options is standing out the most for you? I provide both ghostwriting and coaching services, so go ahead and check out all the details of what I do at this link to find out more. If you’re ready, book in for a free consultation – I’d love to have a chat.