Ghostwriting Starts With Listening
Ghostwriting can take many forms—from a book that captures years of experience and expertise to an article, blog, newsletter, keynote, or other piece of content that needs to sound authentically like you. Whatever the format, my job is to listen closely, ask good questions, find the story or ideas worth telling, and shape them into content that sounds like you—not me.
I’ve been ghostwriting for years and hit a milestone in 2025 when a business/self-help book was published. It was my first full-length production, went on to sell well, and the experience confirmed how much I enjoy helping people put their ideas and expertise on the page.
I bring more than 30 years of journalism experience to that work, along with extensive experience in research, interviewing, producing, writing, and editing. I know how to listen for the story beneath the story, ask the questions that get people thinking, and work with clients to discover what they really want to say.
How I Work With Book Clients:
Every book is different, so I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all process. We start with a conversation about your ideas, what you want the book to accomplish, who you want to reach, and how you imagine bringing it to readers. From there, we develop a plan that gives us direction while leaving room for the story to evolve.
For a book project, our work typically includes:
- Getting to know you: During our initial call, we talk, I listen, and learn about your ideas, your potential timeline, and your plans for publishing (traditional, hybrid, or self-publish).
- Finding the story: Through interviews and research over 4 to 6 months, we develop themes, structure, and narrative that will carry the book. I’ll review any materials you already have—notes, journals, recordings, previous writing, research—and identify where we need to dig deeper. This is an iterative process: we talk, I write, you react, and the story takes shape.
- Writing and refining: The next 7 to 12 months are spent developing chapters and sharing them with you along the way so you can react to the voice, content, and direction. Your feedback becomes part of the process rather than something that only happens at the end.
- Bringing it together: Once the chapters are developed, I’ll produce a complete manuscript for your review. My initial fee includes a second round of revisions so we can make sure the finished work reflects your story, your voice, and what you want the book to accomplish.
Publishing Support:
If you plan to pursue traditional publishing, I can also develop a book proposal for an additional fee and help you prepare to approach agents and publishers. For most nonfiction projects, the proposal is developed before the full manuscript and serves as the primary tool for pitching the book to the publishing world. I can also help you think through hybrid and self-publishing options.
Beyond Books:
Not every story needs 300 pages.
I also provide ghostwriting and editorial support for:
- Articles and thought leadership
- Blog posts
- Newsletters
- Essays and personal stories
- Speeches and presentations
- Other content that needs to sound like you
Whether we’re working together for a few hours or over the course of a book, my process remains the same: listen first, find the story, and then help you tell it in a way that connects to the people you want to reach.
Writing samples are available upon request