The Tierno Times – Issue 2 – What Makes A Ghostwriter?

So I was asked, “Mark, what makes you such a good ghostwriter?”??Well, first I’m a writer, a novelist and spinner of wondrous tales, dreamer of dreams put down into written form.??The “Ghost” part simply comes in when I’m working on someone else’s book for a paycheck and no credit given.??Yes, it’s a thankless job.??Some people spend their entire careers being ghostwriters, and that’s fine for them; maybe they don’t have anything of their own to put out there and ghosting is as far as they’re going to go.??But me???Well, I guess I’m a bit different.

First off, you can usually divide writers- or people in general, for that matter- into two different kinds: the left-brain and the right-brain.??Yes, I know we all have the both of those, but most people usually focus on one or the other.??So you have the scientists, the logical thinkers, the ones that can do calculus in their heads with no sweat.??Then you have the artists, the painters, writers of fiction, that consider anything beyond basic arithmetic as “higher math”.??It’s usually pretty hard to get the two to meet.??Whenever the first group needs a book written on their particular specialty, it ends up coming out like a text book on underwater basket-weaving, something where you can practically hear the monotone dripping from the pages.??So, they go to the second group; they’re a lot more creative and can definitely breathe some life into those pages, but since they aren’t of a more scientific or calculating mindset, then by necessity there’s either going to be a lot of back and forth between client and writer or a fair amount of frustrated screaming.??One side simply has a lot of trouble understanding the other.

There are exceptions, of course, and I was shocked to hear just a few short years ago that these exceptions are surprisingly rare.??Those people that keep both halves of their brains fully functional, individuals with as much of a love for science and reasoning as they have for far more creative endeavors.??Need an example???Isaac Asimov.??The famed science fiction writer also happened to have a PhD in biology, so he could definitely converse with both left and right quite interchangeably.

So then, now you want to know where I fit in with this, though I’m sure you’ve already guessed.??No, I’m not saying that I’m like Mr. Asimov; I’m just me.??I have a Master’s degree in Physics, a second degree in Mathematics, I figured out how the Great Pyramid was built by the time I was 16 (concrete, now moving on), and have a whole list of scientific theories that I would love to converse with you about some time.??So I guess that covers one half of my brain, but what about the other???You may want to sit down for this part…

Before I even started ghostwriting, I’d already written an epic little tale of my own; one that combines elements of fantasy, science fiction, and a couple other genres, into one massive thirteen-novel epic.??Yes, you read that right.??5.2 million words in total and about two hundred and fifty characters scattered about.??Once I’d finished that up, I got bored real quick of all that free time so followed up with a couple other series.??My Inspector Flaatphut stories, the Cyberdawn series, and The Land Of The Hive books with T.J. Sally.??In total I’ve produced some thirty or so books, clocking in at close to ten million words, all of which have my own unique blend of genres.??You see, I’m not content to just write “pure” fantasy or “pure” science fiction; I like to mix the two together, blend them into a unique fabric that people find quite enjoyable.

Anyway, I started ghostwriting in 2010 to help me get through some rather nasty personal problems that I won’t get into here.??I’ve ghosted for doctors, lawyers, and candlestick makers, breathed life into many a dry subject by making it sound more like the expert himself is talking rather than just a lifeless monotone.??In fact, the list of nonfiction books I’ve ghosted is quite extensive, ranging from self-improvement, specialty cookbooks, and true-life stories, to business, insurance, and medicine.

And of course I’ve also ghosted a few works of fiction as well, cleaned up other people’s prose and elevated it far beyond their expectations.??This is where I also surprised them with something else, perhaps a side effect of using both halves of my brain in concert.??You see, once I get my head fully into a story, the world around me disappears and time ceases to matter.??Suddenly my fingers are a blur, the keyboard is smoking, and I’m speeding through the book a whole lot faster than people would think possible for one who’s supposed to be sitting around throwing pencils at the wall trying to think up the next paragraph.??That is most people’s image of a writer, right???Well, in my case, the faster I write the better I’m doing because it means I’m in the “Zone.”??While writing my “Maldene” books, for instance, I averaged over 12,000 words per day, and quite often topped that.??Oh, I’m not by any means a fast typist– any good secretary can beat that– but for the act of creating, of structuring a world on the fly and expanding the plot and characters I’ve outlined, well that’s pretty spectacular and I’ve often shocked other novelists when I reveal that fact.

So how do I do it???Well, be it for fiction or nonfiction, my process is the same.??Just like they taught you back in grammar school, I outline.??Before I type one word of the novel or book, I know my beginning, middle, and end, I know the highlights, significant plot points, and what all the major characters are.??Oh, I might get inspired and add in a few additional points along the way, but this way once I start the actual writing, I know where I’m headed.??I never get writer’s block.

Maybe I should repeat that.??I never get writer’s block.

In the case of whatever client I’m working with, be it fiction or nonfiction, I have a lengthy chat with him on the nature of the book, what he wants in it, subjects and chapters, and so on.??I then turn this into an outline for the client’s approval.??If the client has any relevant notes he cares to send me, we go through those; if there are any characters that need developing, world details created, whatever, all that is handled before I write a single word of the book itself.??Then during the actual writing process, the client gets sent regular in-progress updates from me (end of each new chapter or end of week if I’ve done multiple chapters that week) for him to look over, then once the first draft is done I give him two more chances to go through the whole thing before calling it finished.

Obviously my love and preference is to work on a good novel, but recall my scientific background: I can do nonfiction with the best of them, and in fact those messy technical details from the likes of doctors or Physicists only gets me more interested.??And, of course, that science background of mine also helps out in the fiction writing as well; I don’t have to look up a lot of details to figure if something is physically possible, or makes scientific sense, in a story, because I usually know it off the top of my head.??I am the research material.

So, the original question was what makes me different from other ghostwriters, or other writers in general, for that matter.??The answer, in brief, would be that I’m the whole package.??Back when I was seventeen I came up with my own replacement for the old Big Bang Theory that still seems to work given currently available data, my creativity has produced a master work that most writers would love to be the culmination of their careers and yet it marks only the beginning of mine, I still have the enthusiasm of a young child on a sugar rush when working on a good story, and I start feeling guilty when I’m not working on something.

Yes, I’m a writer, and a darn good one.??But maybe at this point you want to see a little proof.??Hey, writers are always giving out their tips, so where are yours???Good question, and I do have a list.??Some of them might match up with what other writers will tell you, some might be unique from myself, and some come from my mixed left and right background.??At any rate, for whatever it’s worth, here are my tips.

First off, turn off the Grammar Checker. Leave on the spell checker, by all means, but for dialogue especially, the grammar checker is useless.??No one in real life talks like they came from Princeton or Yale.??Even for nonfiction it should be used with a large grain of salt, as grammar checkers make a lot of mistakes.

Writing something with a lot of characters???Then use a database for keeping track of character details.??This keeps them consistent, all the little details right there in front of you. You may not need all the details all the time, but it will keep the picture in your head, and remind you who looks and acts like what.

Don't be afraid to innovate.??Remember, the earliest big writers didn't go to Writing School because they didn't exist. The basic grammar you learned in Elementary School is all you need to know for good writing. "Writing Classes" are merely someone else's opinion of what might work (and keep in mind, their instructors are teaching... not really earning a living with their own books).

Imagination and creativity is a born gift. Except for during the period we call childhood, you can't learn how to be creative in a class.

Outline.??Outlining, and other prep work, before starting in with the book, will prevent such things as writer's block and minimize stumbling blocks with plot.

Music helps.??No one can write or concentrate in total silence; you’ll go nuts, with every cricket chirp being a major distraction.??Break out whatever music works for you and the genre you're writing and have it playing in the background.

If in doubt, say it out loud.??Does it sound like something a real person would say and the way he'd say it?

Be adaptable.??Outline or no, ideas will come up in the middle of a scene, ideas that might make it better, add characters, etc.??Still stay within your chosen basic outline, but don't be afraid to tweak some of the details in midstream.

Break the rules.??Acceptable word counts, three-act format, story must have just the single protagonist who's story must follow the same set pattern, whatever the "official" rule is, break 'em if you need to.??The story is the only thing that counts.??Remember: the only one looking over your shoulder is you, so be unafraid.

Plot or Character.??Everything in a story must have something to do with either the plot or character development; both at the same time is the most economical.

I will also add in my rebuttal to others’ that I’ve heard.??Some say that it is best to write whatever the market demands, so if young adult novels about vampires that gleam in the sun is the “In” thing then write that.??My response???Hog wash.??You can only do your very best if you’re working on something that you’re passionate about.??So if your passion is to write a story about Chinese trolls invading Siberia, then by all means write about it, because that passion will fuel you to perform at your very best, to write and rewrite that story until it shines like a star, and once that star is shining then later you can worry about how to sell it.??Don’t follow the market, create your own.??That is, if you want to stand out, if you want to be known for what you love to write.??Every really good story has its audience; your people will find you sooner or later, but only if you’re working on what makes your soul sing!

Then finally, one last bit I leave you with.??Every good writer has his perfect one-liner, and naturally I have one of my own that should get you to thinking.??I came up with it a few years after finishing Maldene and I think it’s perfect for describing what all writer’s strive to achieve.??Anyway, here it is…

It is said that one picture is worth a thousand words, but the goal of a good writer… the goal of a great writer, is to make one word worth a thousand pictures.

Am I just blowing smoke with this one, dreaming up cute-sounding lines with no real meaning???Well, I do have an example.??“Day at the beach.”??How many different images does that simple phrase conjure up???The crowds, the different people you see, and in the case of native Californians the tar-dollars on the bottoms of their feet.??Now alter it a little.??“The beach, 1890s.”??Now we have an entirely different set of images, complete with the altered swimwear and those striped changing tents they used right there on the sand.??So you see, this little statement of mine has powerful implications.??Just think on it for a bit.

Well, I suppose that about wraps this up.??If you’re a writer, then don’t let anyone else’s doubts get in your way; just find your passion and start writing.??And if you need a good writer…??Well, I’m starting to feel bored again and the last time that happened I wrote another little 5-book 1.3 million word story called “Cyberdawn”.??My imagination never quits and my intellect is never satisfied.??Maybe that’s the final test for being an author.??Are you satisfied with what you already know???Are you always trying to reach for that next star, and the next one after that?

Well, are you?