Blog - News and Updates from the World of Ghostwriting and Self-publishing

Why hire a ghostwriter?

Posted on September 29 2014 by Mark Graham
Don't Miss That Sale: Home Performance - Based Selling

This how-to business book that teaches methodology on home performance based selling is a collaboration between Arne Raisanen and Mark Graham Communications.

Hiring a ghostwriter is a good idea for anyone who has a valuable, interesting story to tell – and not only because you may not have writing skill or the necessary time to accomplish your goal.

Here are several reasons why hiring a ghostwriter might be the ideal solution for you if you’ve thought about writing a novel, biography, business book, self-help book, or screenplay and don’t quite know where to start:

1. A ghostwriter has publishing experience
You might be a fine writer, but if you’re trying to get a piece published and have no publishing experience, a ghostwriter can help you tailor your work to make it more attractive to a publisher.

2. A ghostwriter can help you make more time for other things
Let’s say you’ve got a great idea for a self-help book, but other commitments have a lock on the majority of your time. A ghostwriter can help you meet your obligations and get your book done by freeing you from the many time-consuming aspects that all successful writing projects require.

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The power is in the story

Posted on September 24 2014 by Mark Graham
The Circle of Na'mow

Inspired by real life events, this fascinating story is a collaboration between Gretchen Wiegand, Anna McDermott and Mark Graham Communications.

“It was a dark and stormy night.”

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

“Once upon a time…”

Who has not been captivated by a good story? Who has not found themselves invested in the outcome of a great character?  A powerful narrative has a way of capturing the attention and imagination of audiences in a way no other device can. There is excitement, drama, tension, and knowledge in stories. Of course, not all stories are meant solely to entertain. Some are written to sway opinion, create support, impart information, and produce understanding..

Storytelling stories is also an effective way to impart ideas and information. Storytelling allows us to share individual experiences while exploring old and new ideas. In fact, storytelling is ideal for turning dull, uninteresting ideas into compelling, captivating narratives. It is the easiest and most effective form of persuasion there is. Marketers use storytelling to connect with audiences and communicate a message in ways that elicit empathy and persuade people to take some kind of action. The power is in the story.

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Everyone has a self-help or how-to book they’d like to write – what’s yours?

Posted on August 8 2014 by Mark Graham
This unique self-help book on turning your dreams into reality is a collaboration between Jason McKinney and Mark Graham Communications.

This motivational self-help book on realizing your dreams as a reality is a collaboration between Jason McKinney and Mark Graham Communications.

Writing a self-help book or collaborating with a ghostwriting partner on a how-to book is a great way to scratch all kinds of creative itches. Perhaps you’re really good at a particular craft, sport, profession, or art and would like to share your knowledge. Maybe you’re an outstanding cook with recipes you’ve collected over the years, or you would like to share business and leadership skills you’ve perfected.  Even if a topic is not readily apparent to you, there are tips and techniques for writing a self-help book that can help you get started.

Let’s start with the basics:

Learn a little about the self-help market
Self-Help and How-To represent is the most popular genre in the book industry. Before you set finger to keyboard or share your idea with an established ghost writer, it’s a good idea to understand the self-help market to avoid pitfalls later on. There are many published resources on this topic that can help you determine the level of interest for your particular subject matter as well as opportunities for getting it published.

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How to write a How-To book that people will read

Posted on March 12 2014 by Mark Graham
This wonderful self-help book on teaching horsemanship to children with autism is a collaboration between Nacon Wilde and Mark Graham Communications.

This wonderful self-help book on teaching horsemanship to children with autism is a collaboration between Nacon Wilde and Mark Graham Communications.

There are many ways to write a book. Not all of them will achieve the success envisioned by the author. To make sure that your target market will get past the cover of your book and delve into its contents, here are a few tips from the experts.

Put some cats in danger. Not literally, of course. This refers to the old adage, “curiosity killed the cat”, and the timeless advice to writers to begin with a strong hook; one surefire way to keep readers turning your pages is to ask questions, directly or indirectly. If you can spark their curiosity, your readers will be compelled to read until they get some answers. You wanted to know what was going to happen to those cats, didn’t you?

Don’t waste time. People want to know how you can help them, so be straightforward with your details. The title of your book and the first paragraph are of the utmost importance. First impressions are everything. If you’re going to include any long, personal anecdotes, save them for later on in your book. Continue reading →

What to look for in a ghostwriter: a personal connection

Posted on February 25 2014 by Mark Graham
This wonderful self-help book on re-partnering is a collaboration between Deborah Potashnik Hecker PhD and Mark Graham Communications.

This wonderful self-help book on re-partnering is a collaboration between Deborah Potashnik Hecker PhD and Mark Graham Communications.

Hiring a professional ghostwriter is a popular choice these days for people with a story to tell or personal experience to share.  It often seems that the more personal your story, the more difficult it is to share the writing process. Ironically, this is often the time when you need the best possible collaborator. Allowing a ghostwriter into your story calls for an extraordinary degree of trust.  Ghostwriting is, first and foremost, a partnership, and a personal connection is essential to the success of this partnership.

When you are passionate about your story or your experience, the ghostwriter, as your collaborator, will naturally tap into your passion and bring that passion into his or her writing or editing. If a ghostwriter isn’t moved by your passion, he or she is not the right fit for your writing journey.  Continue reading →

What to look for in a ghostwriter: talent vs. experience

Posted on January 9 2014 by Mark Graham

What to look for in a ghostwriter: talent vs. experience

It’s easy to understand how someone can hold their writing projects and ideas near and dear to their hearts. Letting a professional ghostwriter get involved is a big step. How can you be certain you’ve chosen the right ghostwriter to help you accomplish your goals? Two valuable traits of a ghostwriter are talent and experience, but what if you have to choose? Investing your time and money is important, so a decision like this shouldn’t be made lightly, especially when the success of your writing project may be dependent on the help that you choose.

A talented writer can be a tempting choice, but relying on talent alone is a risky strategy.  Continue reading →

Everyone can write the book of their dreams…

Posted on October 23 2013 by Mark Graham

Everyone can write the book of their dreams...Writing books isn’t just for the literary-inclined. The old saying may go “if you want something done right, do it yourself,” but in today’s world, if you want to publish a book, you’ve got more options than chaining yourself to a computer. By collaborating with a ghostwriting service, your ideas, visions, or dreams can be shared with the world in a polished, professional book, giving you an air of credibility as an expert in your field. From business books to biographies, self-help books to screenplays, Mark Graham Communications offers a variety of ghostwriting services to help you transform your intangible ideas into the real deal. Continue reading →

What does it mean to create a great voice when you’re writing?

Posted on October 9 2013 by Mark Graham

What does it mean to create a great voice when you’re writing? Creating a specific voice for any writing project is a great strategy for successful writing. What is a voice? In writing terms, it means choosing your words carefully to create a distinctive personality. You want your readers to feel like they are interacting with a real live person, with a rich history and even personality quirks.

The voice that you choose for your writing project can lead your readers to feel differently about your story, characters and even your style. Consider the following two examples of text, both describing the same scene. Continue reading →

Who is my audience?

Posted on May 15 2013 by Mark Graham

Who is my audience?When you embark on your writing adventure, one of the key factors to consider is your audience. Who will be reading what you have written? Who are you addressing? Depending on the type of project you have in mind, the answers to these questions may be different. Every piece of writing has an audience; you may be writing for a general group of readers, a select few individuals, or even just for yourself. Continue reading →

Passion is the key to a great story

Posted on April 9 2013 by Mark Graham

Passion is the key to a great storyEvery endeavor worth pursuing begins with passion. Writing is no different. If you are passionate about your story, it translates into all aspects of your writing. Without passion, a story is merely a collection of words, and your reader will know it within a matter of pages.  Passion is what grabs hold of a reader’s imagination and runs with it all the way to the end of the tale. It’s an element that simply cannot be imitated. You either have it or you don’t. Continue reading →