Advice from Professional Ghostwriter Thomas Hauck

Many of my valued clients ask me for advice on various aspects of their book project. They ask about developmental editing issues, their voice, the cover design – you name it. I’m more than happy to respond, but I always offer my clients my unvarnished opinion. If I think they are making a mistake, I’ll say so. The client – the person whose name will appear on the cover of the book – has the final choice. They have to be confident, and that may mean ignoring my advice.

Here’s an edited version of a letter that I sent to one client who was writing a self-help book about how to get rich. I’ve added section headlines for clarity.

The Writer’s Voice

Your writing style is fine. You mention that I did not change as much as you expected. This is because the most important thing is to very carefully align the expectations of the reader with the reality of the book. You’re not lecturing, you’re conveying valuable information. You have a natural voice, and it’s very important that the reader get a feeling for it right from the beginning so they know what to expect. This is a process of managing the smallest details, which I why I asked you to review the chapter heads and subheads, and why the subtitle of the book is so important.

Images and Graphics

Images of any kind are optional. My approach as an editor is to ensure that that your words stand alone, with no images. If you add images, please have them commissioned specifically for the book. Never use generic clip-art images from the internet. I repeat: never use any generic images.

The Book Cover

The very rough book cover design is currently a bunch of proposed generic dollar-sign design elements and some preliminary text. The back jacket text will need to be re-written (I will do that). And does your wife endorse the old-school photo of the woman’s ample cleavage? Probably not. If you use such a photo, you will ensure that no woman will ever buy your book. Why alienate half of your possible readers with this photo?

I would put more effort into this. The cover is extremely important and it has to be well designed. The book is about how to get rich. Do you own a yacht? Can you get a yacht and have some photos taken of it on a tropical island? Do you own a jet? A Rolls-Royce? You need to go more upscale in your thinking. Gold dollar signs are a bit cheesy.

When the Author Asks for More Ideas for Content

You ask for ten recommended ideas… You mean like stock trading tips, or advice on setting up an offshore shell company to shelter assets, or how to buy art at auction, or how to flip real estate, or how to make money on the Internet? There are a million ideas you could add, and the book could be 80,000 words. Truthfully, the content needs to come from your personal experience. As I’ve mentioned, stories are always good. Real stories from your own life are the very best.

This is your guidebook and your road map for someone who wants to do what you did. Teach them how they can do it too. Open the door for them.

– Thomas Hauck is a leading freelance book editor and ghostwriter based in Gloucester, Massachusetts. For your free consultation, contact Thomas today.