Ghostwriting - Capturing style and voice

"It sounds exactly like them."

I was first trained in executive ghostwriting at Disney by someone who was later given the prestigious honor of being named a Disney Legend. I never knew this writing niche existed and was instantly fascinated. Since then, I've written for pivotal executives, influencers, and stakeholders across multiple industries at every place I've worked.

Writing for senior leaders means making it sound as if they wrote it themselves. It is a specialized art, involving capturing their style, values, mannerisms, speaking preferences alongside the mission and brand of the organization. I'm proud to write with diversity, equity, inclusivity, and ADA awareness in mind. I've written for leaders and audiences who identify with numerous racial ethnicities, cultures, gender identities, and sexual orientations, celebrating a wide range of uniqueness.

As respect and confidentiality are keys to successful ghostwriting, I will focus on some strategies that earn the trust of the C-suite.

Make their job easier

Company and department heads are busy, with levels of responsibilities higher than many of us can imagine. At its best, ghostwriting saves them time and provides value.

Authenticity

My approach is to write so it sounds like them, with their word choice, personality, tone, and style. This cultivates trust and reduces the number of revisions.

Research

Substance matters. I like to spend time researching the writing, speech, or thought leadership topic, as well as the person's values and vision about the subject.

Building trust

It's helpful when I get to spend time with the person I'm writing for. This allows me to observe how they naturally speak, understand their thought process, observe organizational patterns, and capture sense of humor. This also gives them the chance to get to know me and build rapport. If this is not possible, I rely on past videos or writing.

Audience engagement

Connection is key. Memorable ghostwriting builds synergy with the audience whether one person in a deal negotiation or millions of consumers in a campaign or special appearance. With a background in storytelling and business acumen for creating a call to action, I take joy in blending the best of both worlds.

I consider it a fun challenge and privilege to write for others. We are all part of an ensemble cast to elevate brands, generate healthy revenue, inspire others, and do some good in this world.

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