“Get my book published,” tops many a bucket list.

As we hurtle towards the end of yet another year, thoughts turn to what we hope to achieve in the forthcoming 12 months.

Hope is an important word, because writers need an abundance of hope.

In her book, Grit, about the psychology of achievement, Angela Duckworth quotes bestselling-author Ta-Nehisi Coates, who says, “Writing is failure. Over and over and over again.”

This may sound like a bleak summary of the writing trade, yet the image of screwed-up bits of paper surrounding the stressed writer, head in hands, is a prevalent one. As is the notion of repeated rejection as recounted by the now successful authors whose words we’ve all read, from JK Rowling to George Orwell. Indeed failure is par for the course when it comes to writing a book and getting it published.

And therein lies the crucial consideration. This bucket list-topping goal of getting a book published comes in two parts – 1) writing the book and 2) getting it published.

Fortunately, there are more options available for those with author-based accomplishments at the forefront of their imagined future than ever before; options which can circumvent the head-in-hands image of writing and subsequent rejection.

Hiring a ghostwriter does not guarantee publication of a book. However, having a good ghostwriter on hand does improve the chances of such an outcome. Why?

Because:

• Ghostwriters are well connected. Between us, United Ghostwriters have decades of experience and a wealth of contacts in the publishing industry. We also know how best to present your book to potential publishers, if you intend to go the traditional publishing route. We can write your book proposal and the necessary sample chapters to whet the appetite of those publishers and provide guidance on the submission process.
• Ghostwriters do more than just write. We coach, edit and advise, too. Indeed, we can offer whatever you need to get your manuscript into its best possible shape before submission, whether that’s ghostwriting the entire manuscript for you, coaching you so you can write to the best of your ability or editing and reviewing whatever you may have written.
• Ghostwriters know how to craft words into bestsellers, so when your book does hit the bookshelves, it has a better chance of being bought, read and well reviewed.
• Ghostwriters can advise on the best routes to publication. For example, some of us here at United Ghostwriters can offer you a full self-publishing service or can point you in the right direction. This means we can help you take your book from manuscript, through the proofreading, typesetting, cover design and book production process and see your book on Amazon, with no need to secure a publishing deal (or even face rejection).

Yes, ghostwriters can help you bring your dreams of becoming an author to fruition by providing you with ‘hope in action.’  According to leading positive psychologist, Charles R Snyder, a goal and a determined plan create practical pathways to an improved future and this, coupled with belief in one’s ability to achieve one’s goals, is the key difference between hope and optimism.

So while it’s good to be optimistic about what the future holds, you’re more likely to have something to feel optimistic about if you have a practical plan of action to bolster your hopes.

To create a practical pathway towards achieving your goal of getting your book published in 2019, we’d be happy to help.

 

Cheryl Rickman writes about hope in The Happiness Bible (Octopus Books, January 2019) and has written/ghostwritten 14 books in total. Visit www.CherylRickman.co.uk and www.writer.uk.com to find out more.