~\ A Tale of 2 Book Journeys /~

Books come in all kinds, sizes – and creation-gestation-completion periods.

I think of two distinctive, and very different, projects my colleague H. and I (both ghostwriters) did, around the same time.

?? I was hired to work fast for a corporate client who needed a concise book done to reflect a major process undertaken, that affected the lives and potential of many people. It was a tense, vibrant, detailed story of achievement – with a congratulatory ending.

?? My colleague H. was hired to do a long, personal history-related book for his client, an elderly businessman and Holocaust/Auschwitz survivor. It was a story filled with war, tragedy, family, anguish, loss, and determination. And though it had some 'resolution' at the end, it remained partly, eternally, sorrowful.

?? I interviewed and recorded my very busy client each week in his downtown office, at 7:30 am, his only free time. This was supplemented with special documents and my own research – as well as being sure to show the vital human aspect of the book.

?? H. spent endless hours helping his client – not always in the best health - bring forth a difficult and upsetting story. The very personal nature of it, and having to recall the horrors of wartime, likely made the project challenging and emotional. Yet this gentleman felt driven to do it.

?? The short book kept pretty much to the original outline. Even though it had some strong human elements, it was a fairly technical, specialized book – and rushed through professional production for the client's major conference. Some vital industry-related end-of-book material was quickly added, too.

And for the production, I involved a graphic designer I knew, who laid out/ formatted the book in the InDesign program, to prepare the files for printing. A strong yet warmly-human cover was prepared, too.

?? The long book was challenging. Along the way it was evolved to a novel (based on some actual events). Over time, having that creative story "distance" may have helped the elderly client complete this difficult challenge.

Plus, the story's time-frame evolved, beyond WWII to also include conflicts in the late 1940s and the 1960s as part of the story – with overall, a 'hero' theme.

The book was produced by a US 'self-publishing' co. – and the cover featured (with a grim Auschwitz visual) a photo of a handsome Israeli soldier – the elderly author's grandson! – representing the hero of the story.

?? The short book did well at the conference, and the following year the client did a larger, more leisurely production of it (with a biz publisher I recommended). His mission was accomplished – and now, post-conference, he had more time to read it!

However, he did not want or need to promote it; it was a situational achievement, to be included in company archives etc., but not an item for traditional or social media.

?? The long book, after 2+ years of work with my colleague H., was self-published, and the elderly author/survivor at last could hold it in his hands. He died several months later, but had had the satisfaction and pride in achieving this 'dream,' in having told a story, his story, based on challenging life circumstances.

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Each book has its own journey and purpose. And there may be as much work, relatively speaking, in a short book as in a long one. Too, the intensity and speed required to do a topical, 'deadline' project may make for better work companions than a leisurely approach.

With a long book, though, the process, the voyage, may lengthen and split off into others. The whole concept and perspective may evolve, and part of this may be due to human emotion and inspiration. If one approach can not 'liberate' the book into being, another might.

And each book had a process and journey that ultimately was rewarding for the client, and achieved his goal and vision. Each book is ' out there,' for all time!

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It's possible to do a good book in record time, and it's entirely probable to do a good one in an expanded time frame. Very different projects, with their own impact to make.

Looking back on all the book jobs I've done, I'd say most projects fall somewhere in the middle...though I'm always open to the unusual!

(Keep in mind, book-related help costs in the 5-figures (thousands) for ghostwriting, and 4-to-5 figures for editing. And I can provide lots of additional help, from competitive analysis to guiding you through publishing options, and assisting with media, marketing and promo.)

Are you looking for help with a book and its journey, long or short?? Please comment/DM/connect with me!

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