The latest in the my #AskAGhost series, which addresses common questions I get as a ghostwriter.
The #AskAGhost 👻 series answers common questions ghostwriters get from clients and potential clients. This week's topic: "What if I don't want to talk about myself in my book?"
"I don't like talking about myself." I hear this from my author partners more than you might think.
While the experts I work with are eager to share their knowledge and experience with their readership, some balk at the idea of sharing themselves. Nonetheless, personal anecdotes help make a book uniquely "yours" and transform it from simple how-to guide to engaging narrative.
My answer for authors who are worried that their book is going to sound too 𝑚𝑒, 𝑚𝑒, 𝑚𝑒—"Think of the personal anecdotes you might share ... Are they only about you? Or do other people appear in them?" Nine times out of ten, it's the latter. The anecdote may include the author but it also includes others. It's about that interaction they had with the nurse who cared for their ailing loved one, or that fraught 3:00 a.m. conversation they had with their spouse one late night, or that boss who mentored them early in their career that they never forget.
Such anecdotes don't read as 𝑚𝑒, 𝑚𝑒, 𝑚𝑒 but as moments of human connection, brought to life on the page. And that's what really makes a story resonate with readers. This approach tends to reassure even the most reluctant main character, allowing them to settle into the storytelling process.
Ghosts, anything to add? And, as usual, if anyone has suggestions for what to include in the #AskAGhost 👻 series, let me know!
Thank you for reading my blog! This is a space where I share personal thoughts — an opportunity for self-expression that has nothing to do with my professional writing. None of the thoughts or opinions expressed in this blog should be construed as anything but my own, nor should they be affiliated with any company or person I contract with or write for as a ghostwriter.
NOW that that's done... I'd love to hear from you about this blog post in the comments!
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