Beyond being a ghostwriter I am also a wannabe historical fiction writer. The plan is for my first novel to be about a woman that has fascinated me since childhood...Cleopatra VII. Now, I know there has been a lot written about her over the ages, but I haven't found a work of fiction that has left me satisfied. So, obviously I think I have a different perspective and something interesting to say.
I'm still in the research phase because I don't want to automatically use the commonly accepted stories. I'm teaching myself Ancient Greek, Hieroglyphics, and Arabic so that I can read the primary documents myself and do my own translations. I think this is important because just having one word that can be translated in a few different ways can greatly impact the meaning of the statement. The trouble is that while Cleopatra is widely known, there is not a lot of documentation out there about her life and accomplishments (well, other than the conveniently negative writings composed by Romans). It's odd that almost everyone knows her name and thinks they know her, but actually don't. It makes me wonder how many historical figures and events are like that.
Anyway, even though I'm still gathering the information necessary to truly create her character sketch, I decided it was time to start writing. While I have been working on this project for a few years now (most of my time is dedicated to ghostwriting) I didn't have anything on paper yet. For whatever reason, the idea of actually starting frightened me. Taking the novel from idea to reality was a bit nerve wracking. I'm not exactly sure why I was scared, but I knew that I had to break through those fears and just get going.
Oddly enough, it was a day-trip I took with a friend of mine that inspired me to get writing. She is an extremely talented and creative person and I always come home with tons of energy and inspiration after being around her. So, I decided to take that creative energy and go for it. I didn't think too much about it. I knew that if I stopped to think I wouldn't actually get anything written. So, I ran to the computer (yes, I really did run) and just started getting things down. I wasn't sure if I would start in the beginning, middle, or end but I knew that I had to get something done. As fate would have it, I was able to write the perfect opening paragraph (when I say perfect, I mean that it says exactly what I want it to say. I'm sure I'll reword it during editing).
So, if you have an idea for a book and have been waiting for the perfect time to start, just go for it! You'll never find that perfect time that you're looking for. There are a lot of people who dream about renting a cabin in the woods somewhere and writing that great American novel. But how many people actually do it? Not many. Some of the best literature ever written was composed at an inopportune moments; during times of war, economic crises, or even simply when a son or daughter finally went down for a nap. So, if you have an idea for a book that you've always wanted to write...go ahead and write it!
I can tell you that I feel so much better now that I have that paragraph written. I no longer have to face that blank page, and that is a very good thing.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
District Council
Wow! What an experience! The last time I wrote I was unsure about whether or not my time at the Disctrict Council meeting would be successful or not. I purposefully went in with no expectations. I thought that if there was no interest in my services I would just consider my time spent as a nice vacation to Appleton. LOL. Well, I'm happy to say that my time in Appleton was very fruitful! There was an incredible amount of interest in my booth and I walked away with fifteen (yes, fifteen!) possible clients! I got home on Wednesday and have already been contacted by two of those potential clients and things are going very well! One needs to talk with her leadership in order to make sure that it is acceptable to them that she write her book while she is still working as a missionary. The other client is thinking everything through and getting funding for the project. Of course that is all I can say about them and their projects.
This was the first time that I have purchased a booth at a conference like this and I will absolutely do it again. I highly recommend it to anyone out there that is looking for clients. It may not pay off every time, but it is clearly a fantastic way to spread the word about what you do and plant a seed. There were many people who came to speak to me even though they did not have an idea for a book or writing project. By the time we were done talking I could tell that the wheels were churning and they were considering what they could write about.
The only thing I will handle better next time is the food situation. There were many meetings going on at the Council so there were times where very few people (if any) visited with the exhibitors. In the future, I'll plan this out so that I can make sure that I can eat or sit and rest during these down times. It wasn't a matter of not having time to eat, it was that the options readily available were not exactly healthy. You know the whole "I have 10 minutes...I guess I'll get some pizza at the clubhouse" thing. I think I'll bring along some sandwich making goodies and keep them in the refrigerator in my hotel room in the future. So keep that in mind if you plan on getting a booth at a convention or conference!
I have no doubt that I will do this again. I met so many nice people and just had a blast. So, while word of mouth is still the best way to find clients as a ghostwriter, don't be afraid to step out and invest in a booth at a conference or convention some time. It'll be worth it!
This was the first time that I have purchased a booth at a conference like this and I will absolutely do it again. I highly recommend it to anyone out there that is looking for clients. It may not pay off every time, but it is clearly a fantastic way to spread the word about what you do and plant a seed. There were many people who came to speak to me even though they did not have an idea for a book or writing project. By the time we were done talking I could tell that the wheels were churning and they were considering what they could write about.
The only thing I will handle better next time is the food situation. There were many meetings going on at the Council so there were times where very few people (if any) visited with the exhibitors. In the future, I'll plan this out so that I can make sure that I can eat or sit and rest during these down times. It wasn't a matter of not having time to eat, it was that the options readily available were not exactly healthy. You know the whole "I have 10 minutes...I guess I'll get some pizza at the clubhouse" thing. I think I'll bring along some sandwich making goodies and keep them in the refrigerator in my hotel room in the future. So keep that in mind if you plan on getting a booth at a convention or conference!
I have no doubt that I will do this again. I met so many nice people and just had a blast. So, while word of mouth is still the best way to find clients as a ghostwriter, don't be afraid to step out and invest in a booth at a conference or convention some time. It'll be worth it!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
How I Find Clients
One of the other questions I tend to be asked relatively often is how I find my clients. So far, all of my clients have come to me because of recommendations. Oddly enough, that seems to be true for many people in this industry. It's really all about getting your foot in the door. Once you have that first client, things just tend to build from there (trusting that you have done your job well!).
Next week, I'll be trying something new. While I am in negotiation with two new authors right now, I have a few openings for new projects so I have decided to purchase a booth at the District Council meeting for Assemblies of God Pastors in Appleton, Wisconsin. It's from March 31-April 2. I'll have information about the services I offer and a few examples of my work with me. I'm rather excited about it. I have never done anything like this, so I'm not really sure what to expect. There should be about four hundred pastors there, so there are many possibilities! If I walk away with a new project, I'll be beyond thrilled. But if all I do is plant a seed for a future project I'll be happy too. I'm also going to get the chance to unveil one of my recent projects: "Growing the Church: Double in Three to Five Years" by Pastor Dave Ford. How exciting! So, if you're planning on attending the event, make sure to stop by my booth and say hi!
I seem to have found a bit of niche with pastors and other Christian authors. So far, all of the authors I have worked with have been pastors (I'm in negotiation with one author who falls into the "Christian testimonial/self-help" genre) and it has been such an honor. In the past I've talked about how much I love the idea of giving a literary voice to people who may not have one otherwise; helping pastors share their thoughts and stories is a great delight.
Well, it's getting late and I have a big day tomorrow. I'll be working in the nursery at my church during both services and we're expecting a lot of kids since it's Easter! I'll make sure to blog when I get home from the Council Meeting to let you know how things went. Thanks for stopping by! Happy Easter! God bless!
Next week, I'll be trying something new. While I am in negotiation with two new authors right now, I have a few openings for new projects so I have decided to purchase a booth at the District Council meeting for Assemblies of God Pastors in Appleton, Wisconsin. It's from March 31-April 2. I'll have information about the services I offer and a few examples of my work with me. I'm rather excited about it. I have never done anything like this, so I'm not really sure what to expect. There should be about four hundred pastors there, so there are many possibilities! If I walk away with a new project, I'll be beyond thrilled. But if all I do is plant a seed for a future project I'll be happy too. I'm also going to get the chance to unveil one of my recent projects: "Growing the Church: Double in Three to Five Years" by Pastor Dave Ford. How exciting! So, if you're planning on attending the event, make sure to stop by my booth and say hi!
I seem to have found a bit of niche with pastors and other Christian authors. So far, all of the authors I have worked with have been pastors (I'm in negotiation with one author who falls into the "Christian testimonial/self-help" genre) and it has been such an honor. In the past I've talked about how much I love the idea of giving a literary voice to people who may not have one otherwise; helping pastors share their thoughts and stories is a great delight.
Well, it's getting late and I have a big day tomorrow. I'll be working in the nursery at my church during both services and we're expecting a lot of kids since it's Easter! I'll make sure to blog when I get home from the Council Meeting to let you know how things went. Thanks for stopping by! Happy Easter! God bless!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
So, how did you become a ghostwriter?
There are a few things that seem to happen every time I meet someone and tell them what I do for a living. First, the person inevitably asks me jokingly if being a ghostwriter means that I actually write stories about ghosts (believe me, I’ve heard it more times than I can count). But soon after that I am often asked how I got into the business.
I’ve always wanted to be a writer since I was a child but never thought that I would actually be able to pull it off. It makes sense in a way because the publishing industry isn’t exactly the easiest business to be successful in. If you can even get published, the majority of authors will never have a best-seller. So, I tried to come up with everything else under the sun that I could do with my life. I knew that I wasn’t a nine-to-five type of person (the mere thought makes me cringe!) and I’m definitely creatively inclined. I thought of becoming a fashion designer. However, I found that I love to sketch and come up with ideas but don’t enjoy sewing. I love to decorate so I thought of becoming an interior designer but it just didn’t feel right. I make and sell jewelry and thought of dedicating myself to it fulltime; but again, it just didn’t feel right. In the back of my mind was always that quiet desire to be a writer.
However, the reality of becoming a ghostwriter was really a complete surprise. It was one of those God moments where He just gently pushed me in the right direction. I was meeting with Pastor Dave Ford from my church, World Harvest Community Church, just to talk over coffee about what my post-college plans were (this meeting took place right after my graduation). I talked about my jewelry and how I wished to expand into working with metals and then all of a sudden I just blurted it out… “And my big dream is to be a writer.” I had never told anyone that other than in passing to my parents once or twice. At first I couldn’t even believe I had said it. Then, in a completely unexpected twist, Pastor Dave told me that had wanted to write a book for years and that he wanted me to write it for him. I had never thought of writing for other people before. I had always just thought about what I would say with my own voice. This great opportunity (and what I would later find to be a great pathway into the industry) just simply landed in my lap. So, there it is. No great planning or strategizing. It just happened!
As we started with the process I found that I was really enjoying it. Learning more about Pastor Dave and why it was so important to him to say what he wanted to say was an interesting experience. I recognized that I had been given the chance to put into literary form great ideas that were really going to help its readers. I also realized that while I would still try to get my own books published one day, I had really found a great way to make it as a writer. Now that I have some experience as a ghostwriter, I find that the entire process is fascinating. I love it from the moment authors excitedly tell me about the books they want to write all the way to the end when I hand over the completed manuscripts. One of the more unexpected aspects of this job is that I inevitably develop relationships with the authors I work with. Although I had known Pastor Dave Ford for years, it wasn’t until we started working on his book “Growing the Church: Double in Three to Five Years” that we truly became friends.
I love to tell people about how I got started as a ghostwriter because I think it’s an opportunity to tell people not to brush aside the dreams they have in their hearts. God gives you talents and aspirations for a reason. You’ll be surprised how when you least expect it, a door will open for you and you’ll be given the chance to live the life you want. Your job is to walk through that door and take the chance.
I’ve always wanted to be a writer since I was a child but never thought that I would actually be able to pull it off. It makes sense in a way because the publishing industry isn’t exactly the easiest business to be successful in. If you can even get published, the majority of authors will never have a best-seller. So, I tried to come up with everything else under the sun that I could do with my life. I knew that I wasn’t a nine-to-five type of person (the mere thought makes me cringe!) and I’m definitely creatively inclined. I thought of becoming a fashion designer. However, I found that I love to sketch and come up with ideas but don’t enjoy sewing. I love to decorate so I thought of becoming an interior designer but it just didn’t feel right. I make and sell jewelry and thought of dedicating myself to it fulltime; but again, it just didn’t feel right. In the back of my mind was always that quiet desire to be a writer.
However, the reality of becoming a ghostwriter was really a complete surprise. It was one of those God moments where He just gently pushed me in the right direction. I was meeting with Pastor Dave Ford from my church, World Harvest Community Church, just to talk over coffee about what my post-college plans were (this meeting took place right after my graduation). I talked about my jewelry and how I wished to expand into working with metals and then all of a sudden I just blurted it out… “And my big dream is to be a writer.” I had never told anyone that other than in passing to my parents once or twice. At first I couldn’t even believe I had said it. Then, in a completely unexpected twist, Pastor Dave told me that had wanted to write a book for years and that he wanted me to write it for him. I had never thought of writing for other people before. I had always just thought about what I would say with my own voice. This great opportunity (and what I would later find to be a great pathway into the industry) just simply landed in my lap. So, there it is. No great planning or strategizing. It just happened!
As we started with the process I found that I was really enjoying it. Learning more about Pastor Dave and why it was so important to him to say what he wanted to say was an interesting experience. I recognized that I had been given the chance to put into literary form great ideas that were really going to help its readers. I also realized that while I would still try to get my own books published one day, I had really found a great way to make it as a writer. Now that I have some experience as a ghostwriter, I find that the entire process is fascinating. I love it from the moment authors excitedly tell me about the books they want to write all the way to the end when I hand over the completed manuscripts. One of the more unexpected aspects of this job is that I inevitably develop relationships with the authors I work with. Although I had known Pastor Dave Ford for years, it wasn’t until we started working on his book “Growing the Church: Double in Three to Five Years” that we truly became friends.
I love to tell people about how I got started as a ghostwriter because I think it’s an opportunity to tell people not to brush aside the dreams they have in their hearts. God gives you talents and aspirations for a reason. You’ll be surprised how when you least expect it, a door will open for you and you’ll be given the chance to live the life you want. Your job is to walk through that door and take the chance.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
New Beginnings
In the Bible, the number eight represents "new beginnings." It seems fitting that my career is really being launched this year. Words cannot express how grateful I am for all of the opportunities that have come my way. I love being a ghostwriter because I'm always learning something new and meeting new people. That's great for me because I have a very short attention span!
This job really fits me because I get bored really easily. Because of that I can handle (and actually appreciate) working on several projects at once. There is a limit however. It's always been tough for me to say "no" when someone asks me to do something, so I know I'll be getting to the point soon when I'll have to turn down projects. I suppose I'll create a waiting list, but in all likelihood authors won't want to want 4-6 months before they can start their projects. I think knowing that I will have to let a project go will be the hardest part of becoming successful in this business.
I cannot tell you how excited I am about where I am in my life right now. I have wanted to be a writer since I was a child, but never really believed that it was going to be possible. It is such a pleasant surprise that God has placed these opportunities at my feet. I guess that just goes to show you that you have to just let go of fear and trust the God has everything under control.
I'm not exactly sure what to tell you to expect from this blog. When my jewelry website is ready I will also be blogging on that site, but that one will be more focused on gemstones I've come across, new design ideas, trips I'll be taking to mine my own rough, etc. This blog will most likely be a little more of a free-for-all. I have always found that I am better able to express myself through writing, so expect to read about ideas that are going through my head, plans for future books, stories from my experiences with publishers, and much more.
Also, it's likely that as it gets closer to July of 2009, you'll be hearing about the trip I'll be taking to Scotland and England. I am beyond excited about it! My entire family (parents, sisters, cousins, Aunt/Uncles, etc.) will be going to Edinburgh, Scotland for a big clan reunion. We're then heading up to Banchory to see our family's castle (Crathes Castle). Then, since we'll be landing in Heathrow airport on our way home we'll be stayng an extra couple of days in London! This will be my first trip to Europe and I can't wait! I am very much looking forward to every part of the trip but I have to admit my heart starts to beat a little faster when I start to think of spending a day in the famed British Museum!
So, thanks for visiting and make sure to stop by my newly launched website at http://www.alainaburnett.com!
This job really fits me because I get bored really easily. Because of that I can handle (and actually appreciate) working on several projects at once. There is a limit however. It's always been tough for me to say "no" when someone asks me to do something, so I know I'll be getting to the point soon when I'll have to turn down projects. I suppose I'll create a waiting list, but in all likelihood authors won't want to want 4-6 months before they can start their projects. I think knowing that I will have to let a project go will be the hardest part of becoming successful in this business.
I cannot tell you how excited I am about where I am in my life right now. I have wanted to be a writer since I was a child, but never really believed that it was going to be possible. It is such a pleasant surprise that God has placed these opportunities at my feet. I guess that just goes to show you that you have to just let go of fear and trust the God has everything under control.
I'm not exactly sure what to tell you to expect from this blog. When my jewelry website is ready I will also be blogging on that site, but that one will be more focused on gemstones I've come across, new design ideas, trips I'll be taking to mine my own rough, etc. This blog will most likely be a little more of a free-for-all. I have always found that I am better able to express myself through writing, so expect to read about ideas that are going through my head, plans for future books, stories from my experiences with publishers, and much more.
Also, it's likely that as it gets closer to July of 2009, you'll be hearing about the trip I'll be taking to Scotland and England. I am beyond excited about it! My entire family (parents, sisters, cousins, Aunt/Uncles, etc.) will be going to Edinburgh, Scotland for a big clan reunion. We're then heading up to Banchory to see our family's castle (Crathes Castle). Then, since we'll be landing in Heathrow airport on our way home we'll be stayng an extra couple of days in London! This will be my first trip to Europe and I can't wait! I am very much looking forward to every part of the trip but I have to admit my heart starts to beat a little faster when I start to think of spending a day in the famed British Museum!
So, thanks for visiting and make sure to stop by my newly launched website at http://www.alainaburnett.com!
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