Writers, please take my survey to help me figure out what kind of classes you’re interested in taking next Spring–besides Ghostwriter Certification Training, of course.
Thank you very much. – Claudia Suzanne
Questions from LinkedIn writers after I posted info about Ghostwriter Certification Training:
A: Good question, thank you. I make no bones about the fact that this course is not yet accredited; in fact, I am not seeking accreditation. Although it’s comparable to a 3 unit 500-level class, they are not transferable credits. The certification is private, as so many business certifications are these days. As one of my more recent students (a McNair Program director for Cal-Poly University Pomona) put it: the certificate represents the hours and work she had to put in to earn it. It’s not a “bird” course; you have to already know how to write and copy edit beforehand, must attend and participate in every session, and must complete an intense load of homework.
I received my Trainers Certification from a private organization; Microsoft gives out certifications for taking online classes in their own software. It’s a new world, isn’t it? From a business perspective, being able to say you’ve taken training in something often gives one the edge over a competitor.
Thanks for asking this very pertinent question!
One of the more interesting aspects of the curriculum was the rigor it included around the ability to conform to someone else’s voice. I thought that gave you (along with much of the other copy!) a lot of “street cred”. You clearly and comprehensively understand the business and what anyone who aspires to do ghostwriting would need to know and be able to do. [Questions below]
A: Ghostwriting requires a solid ego and confidence in one’s writing ability. I’ve never come close to losing my unique voice; the hard part is making sure it does not crop up in my clients’ books, and swiftly editing it out if it does. Clarity, on the other hand, is part of why authors hire ghosts. With out disinterested eye (helped along with specific tools and learned skills), we can determine where the author’s work is confusing or tangled and rectify the problem.
A: Ghostwriting is definitely not for everyone. Many writers would undoubtedly have problems subsuming their own creative ideas in favor of the client’s needs and desires. Those who enjoy ghostwriting, on the other hand, get a deep sense of satisfaction from bringing someone else’s story to life. While some writers occasionally ghost because they need the money (it can be quite a lucrative endeavor) the decision to identify oneself as a ghostwriter is very personal.
Editing is a learned skill; Ghostwriter Certification Training includes modules on line editing nonfiction and fiction that not only explicate and simplify the process for ghostwriters, but have helped hundreds of authors tighten up and polish their own manuscripts. Ghostwriters need to be good writers, first and foremost. I can teach a good writer to edit, but cannot necessarily teach a good editor to write.
No question about it: my own writing has improved 100-fold by working on other people’s manuscripts. Why? Because I’m not invested in their work. My guts aren’t on the line. My soul isn’t poured into the prose. Ergo, I can identify and manipulate and extrapolate and “spin” my clients’ work in ways that have given me incredible insight into my own creative output. And I’ve acquired that on-the-job training while making money!
I don’t consider passing on knowledge a waste of time! Nor do I teach instead of ghostwriting–I always have clients; in fact, I customarily work on 2-3 manuscripts at the same time. I’ve only taken off time lately to finish SECRETS OF A GHOSTWRITER, 2nd Edition so that my students would have the best material possible, and to update THIS BUSINESS OF BOOKS, which is used as a text across the country and around the world. But this is not an either-or situation. I write books for people who have wonderful ideas for a living; I teach because I’m passionate about ghostwriting, about helping launch new careers–and, frankly, because I need people I’m sure know what they’re doing for referrals. In the music business, it’s called building an army of subs (substitutes).
Of course, from a more mercenary perpective, teaching keeps me constantly learning, helps spread my brand, introduces me to new people, and provides an additional revenue stream. Could there possibly be a more win-win situation?
I will be offering a Teach the Teacher program anon so that other experienced and professional writers and ghostwriters can also augment their revenue streams by teaching Ghostwriter Training. It’s one of the best ways I can think of to help other people–just part of my own strange brand of Momosity.
Which brings me to the last, Don Quixote-ish reason I offer this training: in my own small way, I’m trying to raise the literacy bar of the American book industry, one author and one ghostwriter at a time. Truth is, the majority of my students decide to NOT ghostwrite when they finish my class, but are nonetheless thrilled with the tools they learned for improving their own writing.
I can live with that.
