Do you ask yourself the question, “What am I investing in?” when you make decisions? Honestly, it’s a question I had never asked myself until I attended a webinar presented by Bill Baren. It’s a life changing question!
How often that question could have made a difference in the last 10 years. Instead of spending money on shiny promises without substance, every decision I made could have contributed to my goals. Even the sidesteps would have left a lasting benefit for the dollars invested. This leads me to ask you a VIQ (very important question).
Why invest in a writing coach when you could hire a ghostwriter?
Maybe it’s my background. Sometimes questions may be answered best by additional questions.
4 Questions to Ask so a Writing Coach Investment Is Wise for You.
What is your time worth?
The old saying, “Time is money,” isn’t all you should consider, however it makes sense that if you are making $100K per year, your time is worth around $48 an hour. Now it takes the average person at least 120 hours to reach first draft of a 100 page book. So that means you will trade about $5,760 of your earning potential to write your book. This assumes you have the skills to write a book without assistance. Few do.
On the surface, that might make hiring a ghost writer seem like the best fit. However, if your long-term goals include:
- Gaining competency while you’re writing your book
- Developing your skills to gather ideas from the world around you
- Playing a stronger role in the final output
- Establishing your expertise in a way others do not consider fraudulent
- Sharing credit with those who have made you successful
Then hiring a writing coach, who also offers substantive editing expertise, is an investment beyond the final draft of your book. It’s an investment that continues to pay dividends above and beyond the profits you earn from your book.
Do you want to dictate your book?
Then you might as well work with a transcriptionist. It will be far cheaper.
You might find a starting ghost writer who is willing to work with you; however, there’s more to writing a marketable book than cleaning up grammar. Marketability requires fitness for the audience and a ‘good read.’
Unfortunately, conversation rarely converts into a good read. That’s something which takes conscientious editing and crafting. For example, I know a pastor whose sermons were especially inspiring and Bible-based. The blessing one couple received from this pastor’s sermon recordings inspired the wife to transcribe them and the couple to cover the cost of having a private printer publish them. The pastor happily agreed to let them profit from their labors.
The books retained some of that energy listeners received from hearing the sermon audios. However, there were several benefits gained only through deeper editing that readers missed out on. These included:
- Elimination of recapitulation. While listeners needed this each week, readers don’t. IF you do choose to use this strategy, it should be added to the end of the previous chapter as a summary of what was covered.
- Long sentences. While listeners can understand long and complex sentences within the context of inflection and emphasis, the same sentence leads to confusion for readers.
- Sentence fragments. While this works for emphasis, most of the time—without the context of setting and inflection—fragments make comprehension difficult.
- Lack of design. While computers were available at the time, the couple used none of the typographical capabilities available. A professional layout with subheadings, divided columns, etc. would have created an easier reading experience.
In this scenario, working with an writing coach who had typography and design experience could have transformed their books into materials with a far broader audience. Because they were merely sermon transcripts, many people preferred to listen to the audios.
Do you have the skills to organize a book?
If you do, then a ghost writer is a good fit if you have very weak writing skills. Just hold reasonable expectations of what you’ll get at different price ranges.
The skill to assist you with organizing your book’s content is almost never seen in someone who works for less than $20/page. I was an exception as a motivated newbie. It may be found occasionally in someone who works in the $40/page range. If a ghost writer can charge $80/page, you can also expect that you’ll get quality ghost writing services. Ask for examples of the ghost writer’s work.
However, a writing coach may be a better choice. A coach is someone who can enter the court with you and bounce your ideas around like a basketball team training for the competition. You’re working together to develop the cohesion of the team and the ability to attain publishing victories as you enter the competition.
Here are some of the concepts I believe we must consider as you bring your ideas into the game.
- Having top-level examples throughout your book is essential in a visually oriented world.
- Finding a logical and compelling flow for content is crucial so your reader gains the value he or she expects.
- Starting with too much information doesn’t have to be problematic unless you refuse to choose the most marketable angle to tackle first.
- Presenting your main points must be backed up with secondary and tertiary points that resonate with probability. Building the case with documentation should never be overlooked. Neither should fact checking.
Do you have the skills to meet your market's expectations?
If you intend to market your book in India or Singapore, then that lower-end ghost writer may do the job for you. You may even enjoy some success in European countries, where English is a second language. However, if you want to be taken seriously in the English speaking countries of the world, then the English of your book must be acceptable in these countries.
Sure there are variations in article usage and nouns, yet readers tolerate these extremely well. Grammar is extremely predictable across Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand and the United States. It’s article use and nouns that differ, not grammar.
It maybe be a bit snobbish, but a person’s level of education and intelligence is measured by their ability to use English correctly, especially when written. If you want to be taken seriously, you must look incompetent.
Both a ghost writer or a writing coach can help you meet your market’s expectations. However, if your writing coach also has a grasp of book marketing, website development, search engine optimization and business development, that could be a major asset to your success.
This is one of the main reasons I began as a generalist. I needed to know enough about each of these elements to ensure my own business did well. Now, I know what to look for in a vendor because I’ve explored multiple areas personally. I know where it makes sense to do something and when it is best to hire an expert to come along side.
When you work with me, you’re teaming up with someone who will express opinions. I’m going to do my best to help you write your book from start to publication in a way that primes it for sales. I’ll also help you strategize for promotional success, so your investment reaps dividends. And occasionally—very occasionally—I’ll introduce you to partners who do the job better than I can. You can know I’ve personally vetted anyone I recommend. (Anyone who knows me can confirm, “It isn’t easy to earn Denise’s 5 star recommendation.”