Hope Writes

What Do You Want To Know?

Posted by Hope

As we round out this year and head into 2008, I thought I’d take a moment to find out what’s on your mind. If you have a question about writing, I’d love to help you out with it. Leave your question in the comments below or email them to me at hopewilbanks@gmail.com. I’ll answer your questions in detail in future posts. (If you prefer your name not to be used with your question, just let me know and I’ll keep you anonymous.)

So what’s on your mind? What questions do you have? What are you interested in learning more about? Talk to me!

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Frequently Asked Ghostwriting Questions

Posted by Hope

Some of my recent visitors have never worked with a ghostwriter before. So I thought it fitting to compile a list of some of the most commonly asked questions about ghostwriting and then answer them. If I don’t answer your question here, leave it in the comments and I’ll be happy to answer it in a future post.

Frequently Asked Ghostwriting Questions

#1) What kind of qualifications should a ghostwriter possess? A competent ghostwriter should have some experience, at the very least. Some ghostwriters hold college degrees in English, journalism, etc. However, don’t be disillusioned into thinking a degree means that person has better talent than someone who doesn’t have a degree.

Overall, a good ghostwriter should:

• Reply to email or phone calls in a timely manner.
• Be courteous and friendly.
• Produce samples of previous work upon request.
• Work well with deadlines.
• Provide frequent updates if the project is a large one.

#2) How much should I expect to pay a ghostwriter? Rate of pay varies widely, as you’ll soon discover upon doing some research. That being said, a ghostwriter’s rates should usually reflect the amount of experience she has. If she is new, then her rates probably won’t be as high as one who has a decade or more experience.

Another thing that always surprises me is that some people purposefully seek out a “cheap” ghostwriter. In many cases, you get what you pay for. So if you’re looking for one that is less expensive, don’t complain if the work isn’t what you expected it to be.

#3) Why am I asked for full payment up front? Aren’t I taking a chance on him running off with my money and not producing the work I hired him for? Again, do your research before you decide to hire a ghostwriter. When you find a truly competent ghostwriter, you will more than likely be asked for payment in full before the project is started. At the very least you will be required to pay a deposit up front and then the rest when the project is completed (but before you receive the final product).

#4) What are some things I should look for when hiring a ghostwriter? When searching for a good ghostwriter, ask the following questions:

• How much experience does she have?
• Can he produce samples upon request?
• Does she have at least three references you could contact to inquire about her job ethics and performance?
• Have you seen his name in certain circles? If so, what kind of reputation has he built for himself?
• Can she work with you to map out a time line on when your project will be finished?

#5) What is the best way to work with a ghostwriter? This is a really good question that some don’t stop to think about. Working with a ghostwriter is more than hiring someone to write something and leaving it all up to him.

The first thing you need to do before you hire a ghostwriter is to be sure that you know exactly what you want in a final product. The worst thing for a ghostwriter is a client who changes their mind fifty times during the writing process. Not only is it frustrating for the ghostwriter, but it wastes an enormous amount of time. Know what you want before you hire a ghostwriter.

Second, you should provide as much information to your ghostwriter about the project as possible. One of my most favorite clients to date is one that knew precisely what he wanted in his book. When he hired me, he provided me with not only an outline and tentative title for his book, but also with copious notes and research he’d already conducted on the topic. I was able to write his book in record time because he knew what he wanted and he presented me with every bit of information he’d already collected.

Article writing is the same. I do not take on article writing clients any longer unless they provide me with the article titles, keywords, or topic idea that they want their articles written on. It simply makes for a more amiable and productive working relationship.

#6) Why are ghostwriting fees so expensive? One thing you have to remember about ghostwriters is that we do all the work, while you claim all the glory. “Ghost” means we are a silent and invisible part of the “writing.” As such, a greater price is required to compensate for this. You get a polished book ready for publication, with your name on the cover, and I simply get paid to write it.

#7) What is a specialist? A specialist is someone who is an expert in a specific area. Whereas a generalist tends to write on any subject. Ghostwriters who are just starting to build their career, or who don’t want to limit themselves to any certain topic are referred to as generalists. I’ve been a generalist up to this point in my career. Beginning in 2008, I will start specializing in writing about:

• Self-Improvement
• Writing
• Internet Marketing & Business
• Parenting & Family

As a last, closing thought, I’d like to remind you that clear communication is absolutely essential to working with any ghostwriter. The lines of communication must be open at all times, on both ends.

Technorati Tags: hire a ghostwriter, ghostwriting, ghostwriting questions

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ASK HOPE: Do You Do What You Love?

Posted by Hope

I’ve heard quite a few marketers say that in order to make money online you can’t do what you love, but rather what brings in the money. So today I’m wondering what your thoughts are on that. (Thanks to Becka for the great question!) Let me just give you my thoughts on the subject…

Doing What You Love
Perhaps the biggest argument for doing what you love is that you are happy with what you do. Does doing what you love mean that you won’t make as much money? Maybe. But if that’s a chance worth taking for you, you’ll probably find that you’ll be a lot happier than if you were making triple that, doing something you loathe.

I can tell you from personal experience that my husband, being the main bread-winner in our family for the better part of 10 years now, has had quite a diversity in well-paying jobs. The best-paying job he had lasted for several years with a large, well-known company in the United States. We both thought he would retire there. They paid very well and had excellent benefits. Yet, my husband didn’t “love” his job. That never stopped him from giving 110%, but deep down he just was unsatisfied.

When that job downsized, and eventually shut down the entire plant, my husband was left without a job. He started all over again with a local factory job. He took a big cut in pay, but they treated him well. Overall, he was okay working there, too, but still just not happy.

Every since I’ve known him, he has always wanted to be involved in law enforcement. He tried to get on every police and sheriff’s department, but even those who knew him couldn’t seem to pull the right strings to help him get a job. He eventually went back to school through the Army and earned his E.M.T. license. He never used them though, because taking an E.M.T. job meant he would have been cutting his pay nearly in half, and we just couldn’t afford that.

Fast forward to a year ago…

We moved two states away, to my home town. He didn’t know anyone, except for my family. He decided to apply for a job at the Sheriff’s office. Wonder of all wonders, he got hired! He just graduated from the Academy Friday morning, and is finally doing the work he’s always wanted to do.

I can definitely tell you that doing what he loves to do has made all the difference in the world. He’s so happy and content. He never says things like, “I wish I could…” anymore.

So the debate stands. Should you do what you love, even if it means you might not make as much money? Or should you do something that you don’t really enjoy in order to get a few steps up the ladder quicker? I suppose in the end, it’s all up to you. You have to decide what, if anything, you’re willing to give up. And if you’re not willing to concede, then do what you love and do it with all your heart.

What do you think?

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ASK HOPE: Blogging For Cash

Posted by Hope

Earlier this month, I blogged about how extreme advertising on a blog can erode and detract from you actual blog content.

Pattie posted in response and asked the question as quoted above. I thought her question brought about a valid point, so I wanted to clarify my earlier position, just in case you misunderstood what I meant.

In this earlier post, I was not bashing anyone who blogs for an income. Far from it. The main point I was trying to make was that there’s a difference between blogging for money and blogging for fun, then suddenly splashing advertising all over the place.

For example, let’s say I have three blogs bookmarked, all related to puppy training issues (I don’t even have a dog, this is just an example). The first blog (Blog A) is a personal blog of someone who got a new puppy for her family and loves animals so much that she decided to start a blog to write about her experience as she trains her puppy. Blog A contains no advertising, mostly likely because the owner hasn’t discovered Google Adsense, or the like. The second blog (Blog B) is also a personal blog that is very much like Blog A, except that it contains minimal advertising, and the blogger posts more in-depth information as well as product reviews. The third blog (Blog C) is what could be referred to as a “professional” blogger. He also writes terrific posts about training puppies, product reviews, and is a puppy training expert (has some type of formal training, maybe is a Veterinarian).

I visit all three blogs for very different reasons. Blog A gives me a personal, been-there-done-that viewpoint of the topic I’m interested in: puppy training. Blog B also gives me this same type of personal experience, but takes it a step further by giving me even more researched information about puppy training. Blog C provides educated, scholarly information about puppy training–all the “why” and “what” info I need–from an “expert” viewpoint.

If I’ve visited all three blogs for several months, I automatically expect that I’ll never see advertising on Blog A; see some ads on Blog B; and expect ads on Blog C. One day I visit Blog A and find that not only does she have some Adsense in the sidebar, but she has three or four huge block ads stacked one on top of the other at the top of every post in her blog. Can you see how this is an automatic turn-off?

Like I said, I have absolutely nothing against monetizing your blog. (Look around here…! ) It’s just a shocking thing when you’ve visited a blog for a long time and enjoyed it, then suddenly there’s more ads than there is content. And that was the point I was trying to make earlier.

It’s not about having or not having advertising on your blog. It’s about working it into the big picture and figuring out how to make it fit in so that it’s not so obtrusive that you start losing your visitors.

Take PPP, for example. While this is another way to make money blogging, I’ve seen bloggers use it in a way that is so tactful I would have never known the blog entry was for PPP, if I hadn’t seen the disclaimer. Now that’s a way of making your advertising fit into your blog!

If you are a blogger, and are earning an income from your blogging, what do you think? Do you try to make everything fit? Or do you blog and not worry so much about how the advertising is seen and accepted (or not) by your visitors? I’m interested in hearing more perspectives on this topic.

Technorati Tags: blogging, blogging for cash, blogging for money, make money blogging, PPP, make money with your blog, professional blog

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ASK HOPE: Getting Recommendations From Clients

Posted by Hope

“How do you tastefully ask for a recommendation note from your clients?” - Courtney Ramirez

Thanks for this great question, Courtney! This is actually easier than you may think it is.

All working writers know that getting great recommendations from current or past clients can really help to boost your sales. However, some writers seem to be afraid to even try, or might not know how to do so. The answer is really simple. Ready?

ASK

That’s it. Plain and simple.

The best time to ask for a recommendation from a client is generally within a week after you’ve completed the job for her/him. A good rule of thumb is 2-4 days. You want to ask while your work is fresh on their desk. If you wait too long, you pose the risk of them having nearly forgotten you, especially if you’re working for a variety of Internet marketers, verses a few regular clients.

So then, this poses the question as to when and how to ask for a recommendation from a regular client. This situation is a little different, in that you are building a positive, long-lasting (hopefully!) relationship with this client. In this case, you both learn more about each other with every project that you complete. Therefore, it would probably be safe to request a letter of recommendation at just about any time.

If you’ve done a great job at completing your assignments and turning them in on time, you should have absolutely no problem getting a rave review from any of your clients.

Here’s an example of how to request a recommendation:

=========

Dear XXXXX,

It’s been XX days since I emailed you [INSERT PROJECT NAME HERE]. Now that you’ve had a couple of days to review the content, what do you think about it

In the interest of making my writing business the best it can be, I’d appreciate your genuine feedback on the following:

- Were you pleased with the writing I provided you?
- Did it meet your expectations? If not, in what ways might I improve?

If you are happy with my work, would you consider writing an honest recommendation for me? Please include things like: the project specifics, my timeliness in completing the project, how well I work with my clients, etc. I’d appreciate any genuine feedback you can send me and will enclose this [INSERT WHERE YOU’LL DISPLAY THE RECOMMENDATION].

I look forward to working with you again,

[YOUR NAME HERE]

==========

You get the basic idea. It’s merely a short letter that is straight to the point. Don’t waste your time or theirs. Just get right to the heart of the email: Getting that recommendation.

Technorati Tags: Ask Hope, how to get recommendations from clients, clients, working with clients, writer, ghostwriter

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ASK HOPE: Standing Out In A Sea Of Writers

Posted by Hope

“In the big sea of writers, how do you stand out to get the job?”

This is a question that just about every writer has probably asked at some point. It’s scary when you do a little bit of digging online and see just how many writers there are out there. Pre-Internet days one might have been somewhat encouraged to think that the competition numbers were low (even though they really weren’t). But now the ‘net smacks of writers everywhere.

Here are some of the ways I believe a writer can stand out among her peers:

• Be different. Instead of doing what every other writer is doing, be yourself. Do something different. While it’s great to pattern yourself after successful writers, you don’t want to be a cookie-cutter writer. So be yourself.
• Find your USP and brand yourself. What is the one thing that sets you apart from everyone else? Do you have a special skill that you’re really good at? Take that, create your unique sales point from it, then brand yourself accordingly.
• Give just a little more than what’s expected. One of the best ways to stand out in a crowd is to be known as the gal (or guy) who goes above and beyond the call of duty. You’ll be surprised at how giving just a little more can make you stand out.
• Be a (wo)man of your word. I just told this to another colleague of mine a couple of days ago, and I will recommend it to you as well. One of the most important things to building a reputable writing business (especially online) is to keep your word. Don’t make promises you know you can’t keep. If you tell a client you’re going to write X-articles in 5 days, then don’t put them off or ignore them for 2 months before you finally deliver.

Can you stand out in a sea of writers? You bet! But you have to be willing to run your writing business like a business. If you’re not ready to do that, then you should probably stick to writing as a hobby.

Technorati Tags: Ask Hope, writing, professional writing, how to get writing jobs, USP, brand, keep your word

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