Monthly Archives: September 2019

A Few Words on Writing a Book

Posted on by Jacinda Little

This is going to be a short one because it’s pretty simple.

If you want to write a book, you need only two things: Passion and Accountability.

Passion for Writing a Book

Motivation comes and goes; it’s never enough. Only a genuine passion for your subject matter will work to maintain steady commitment.

When is your passion strong enough? When you think about it all day; when it colors every decision you make; when you can’t imagine living without it.

If you feel that way about your intended subject matter, then you have the passion it takes to write a book.

Accountability for Writing a Book

If you’re going to start (and finish) writing a book, you must be accountable to someone. It’s rare that anyone can keep a commitment they’ve made to no one except him or herself. There are too many opportunities for excuses and procrastination.

In order to persevere through the rigors of writing that book, an author must be accountable to an agent, a publisher, a ghostwriter or a coach. It rarely works any other way.

Do You have what it Takes?

When you think about having what it takes to write a book, your mind might turn to things like superior intellect, killer grammar and spelling…or the free time to get it done.

In truth, none of that matters.

You bring the passion.

I’ll bring the accountability.

Let’s write that book together.

There’s no better way to express your passion than to share it. A book will pass that passion along; it will preserve it for posterity. Contact me today. You know you want to.

 

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The Delectable Oddities of Ghostwriting

Posted on by Jacinda Little

As a ghostwriter, I get a real charge out of helping people to impart their wisdom to those who need it most. I have two sets of clients: The Author and The Readers. When both are satisfied, I’ve made a ripple.

That ripple most often comes in the form of a full-length book or a blog article, but some projects are unexpected, unconventional…odd, even.

I’ve got to admit, they might be my favorites.

The Macabre

“I want to make people laugh while they’re mourning.” This from a man who had just learned of his terminal cancer. One month later, the humorous statement had been carved into his headstone.

The Vengeful

“He needs to know what he did to me.” This from a woman who had just found out her lover had been cheating on her. I didn’t realize that her PayPal account had been linked to his checking account until after he received the six-page letter. Of course, I issued a refund.

The Generous

“I don’t want them to know where it came from.” This from a woman who wanted a letter drafted to her church — a letter that would accompany a $100,000 gift. It couldn’t be in her style; her identity would have to be protected.

The Dishonest

“My dad will pay you.” This from a premed student at one of the most prestigious universities in the U.S. Of course, I didn’t take the job.

The Touching

“I am losing my mind.” This from an elderly pastor, who disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. He wanted his last sermons to be written in his voice, in his tongue-in-cheek style, so that his congregation would not suspect a thing. His wish, of course, was my honor and pleasure.

The Whimsical

“No one can know it’s me.” This from a student who “borrowed” his mother’s over-sized ceramic garden squirrel to accompany him on a study-abroad trip to Spain. I built the website, uploaded the photos, and posted daily updates on Sebastian’s adventures.

The Nervous

“I can’t sound stupid.” This from a television journalist who had just landed her very first assignment. She wanted questions written for a scheduled interview — relevant questions that would keep her subject talking. This was the first of five ghostwritten interview scripts. Today, she’s interrogating guests like nobody’s business.

Never Boring

Those are just a few examples of unusual ghostwriting jobs I’ve fielded, and big parts of why I love this vocation. The people I meet, the messages I get to impart, and the things I learn about the world are precious to me.

Have you been struggling with finding the words to express yourself? Do you have wisdom to impart or a technique to teach, but you’re having difficulty putting it into words (either written or spoken)? Contact me. We should talk.