Ghostwriting Tactics to Masterfully Capture a Client’s Voice

by Cris Yeager
DIGITAL MEDIA GHOST
Ghostwriting

If you plan to ghostwrite or have already begun a ghostwriting career, you'll hear words like voice, style, character, and attitude. How does capturing a voice work if you're a new ghostwriter or a writer in general? You must communicate a person's character and attitude - how will you know if you have done it well?

---

Those in the profession of ghostwriting have used many different techniques to capture the voice of their clients and make it sound as if it's coming from them rather than them. Based on your individual styles and preferences, there are some of these methods that work better than others, so you should choose the one that suits you best.

It goes without saying that one needs to have excellent writing skills to be a successful ghostwriter. Though the profession often requires people to set their egos aside and relinquish work to others, a variety of skills are necessary, one of them being the ability to mimic someone else's voice.

The importance of the client's voice
It's important to be able to capture your client's voice as a ghostwriter. If you really want to make your piece sound as though it's the author's work and not your own, you should make an effort to really get to know your client and to understand the tone, diction, syntax, and writing style he or she is likely to employ.

Even though a client's voice may vary depending on their subject matter and audience, you can ensure your work always sounds natural. Understanding your client's writing style can help you create natural-sounding, conversational pieces. If your clients have experience ghostwriting or blogging, it will give them an idea of what they'll need to feel comfortable working with you. There are also cases when it would require more research about a subject that the client has thoroughly researched. Simply put, learn some writing samples to ensure what you've written already aligns with the new material.

However you want to term it, this is key to your getting a job as a ghostwriter. No matter what kind of content you create, or if you are contributing to a blog that already exists, you must write as if the client wrote it.

Here's how to do it properly
The best way to do that is to practice. To show the potential employer a variety of what you can offer, including a few different styles and options in your portfolio. You could also provide samples to clients that allow them to hear how the text sounds coming from themselves. This will provide variety for them when deciding on who to hire for their needs.
A ghostwriter must be able to capture the tone and style of the client in addition to their voice. When working on content for the client, a ghostwriter should understand the writer's writing style and what topics they prefer to discuss.

These are some ways you can start to write like a different author:

• If they've written previous pieces, read them carefully and add your own words until you feel you have matched their style.
• Whenever you don't know how they will sound, start writing and then erase the phrases you know they won't say.
• Put words into the voice of someone else every day, whether it's a paragraph written in the style of a favorite author or a tweet written in the style of a celebrity you admire.

Move forward with confidence
To effectively imitate your client's writing style, you must understand how they speak. Getting the right amount of research and planning is essential for being a successful ghostwriter. Through a concerted effort to challenge yourself as a ghostwriter, you'll be prepared for the opportunities that appear when they happen.

---