The toughest part
of being a ghostwriter is altering your personal voice according to someone
else’s instructions. You do your best to capture the essence of an idea, but
you still wonder whether or not you’ve infused too much of your own personality
into an article.
Here is the
tricky part: you should not lose yourself entirely when you’re acting as a
ghostwriter. Your own voice matters; you just need to find the right balance
between your inspiration and the given instructions. How can you respect
someone’s guidance while preserving your individuality? Can you really write in
someone else’s voice? These tips will help you become a brilliant
ghostwriter.
When
and How to Use Someone Else’s Voice
When you get
instructions for a particular post, eBook, article, or another type of project,
you receive a broad framework of main ideas. This is the part you shouldn’t
alter by any means. If you have issues with some aspects, or you think you
could make the overall content better by changing the main ideas, you should
discuss the suggestions before the research and writing process starts. In most
cases, your opinions will matter, but that “someone else” will still be in
charge of the main ideas.
Remember this: Do not change the main ideas without prior
consultation and approval.
Now that we got
that out of the way, let’s see which other parts need to be written in someone
else’s voice:
1. Data
Of course, you
cannot change statistics and other types of specific data. If you are
instructed to insert that information in the project, there is not much you can
do about it. You can check the accuracy of the given data, but do not make any
intervention if you don’t get a green light.
2. Catchphrases
If you are
ghostwriting for a personality that has already established a public
reputation, you will need to use their signature words and phrases. Even if the
catchphrase is grammatically incorrect, you need to use it as it is. The
audience is already used to it, so the content wouldn’t seem genuine if you
tried to alter it.
Is
It Okay to Use Your Own Voice?
Yes, it is. Being
a ghostwriter doesn’t mean that you don’t have a personality. Even if you get
the most detailed instructions, they will still leave some space for your own
expression. Once you get the main idea, style and tone right, you will have
liberty (although limited) to experiment.
These are some situations when you can use your voice:
These are some situations when you can use your voice:
1. Needed explanations
Sometimes it is necessary to get into details or offer some background on the data you provide. If you feel there are gaps in logic, you can conduct your own research and write more information that would make the content understandable. Don’t get carried away; try to provide the adequate explanations in few sentences.
2. Structure
People who hire ghostwriters are usually too busy for the details, so they will leave this aspect to you. You will get general information that can serve as a framework, but the detailed outline will be up to you. Plan the arguments you are going to present, think of the requirements you got, and arrange a perfect outline that will result with well-organized content.
The main thing to keep in mind is to follow the instructions very precisely. If there is space for your own voice and you’re sure it doesn’t counteract with the main idea, you can infuse it.
The article is
brought to you by Linda Craig, experienced editor, freelance writer and a professional in
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