Onboarding Ghostwriting Clients: How to Identify Needs, Set Scope, and Build Trust (Ep200)

Writer Craft Podcast

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28d ago 48:42

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Free masterclass: The Alchemy of Memory — Writing the Hybrid Memoir (Wed, Oct 8, 2025). Learn to braid personal narrative with research, family history, and big ideas—plus structures, privacy choices, and momentum tools. Includes a short meditation + oracle card pull. Save your seat → valerieihsan.com/hybrid

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Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates):

(Valerie): planning my free masterclass on hybrid memoir writing for October 8th.
(Erick): booked all the conferences for the rest of the year; new ghostwriting ads; working on new series of stories;
What are you reading?

Valerie:
(need recommendations for audio books)
Just finished: The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland (Rachael Herron)
Sounds Like Love (Ashley Poston)
Creative Act (Rick Rubin)
(Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman;
Erick: Voice of the Fire (Alan Moore)
Lost in the Dark (Brad Weismann) Gettysburg: The Last Invasion
gaming books (DnD campaign)
Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits):

Tidbit #1:
Tidbit #2:

Segment 3 (Main Topic):

Notes:

Mindset as a customer vs the provider: Customer: 1. Know what you need 2. Know where you are in process 3. Know how you are talking to 4. Have willingness to learn what I don't know; Provider: 1. Identify what client needs 2. Can I provide that 3. Build rapport 4. Where does the job fit in the calendar? 5. Signing the contract

Hiring and Firing (+ screening process): start with identifying what the client needs. (Receiving 5 or 6 emails a week.) Screen out those that don't have an idea of what they want, unrealistic expectations (always unhappy with results); build relationships/collaborations; sub-contractor contracts because too many anchor projects; referral service/hub -- writer running a writing business; Know what you are willing to do

Red Flags: need too much education around industry (pie in the sky expectations); respect and value for the work/time/energy; wants something that you don't know how to do or don't want to offer (do you need the $, try it and see if you like it);

Forecasting Jobs: anchor jobs and satellite jobs

Ideal Client: temperament, communication, adaptability, rapport (educated about writing a plus), open to suggestions, know what they want

And don't forget:

Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.

Get 48% off the Magic Mind :

https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout.

#magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance

Find Us:

Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.)

Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor

Patreons:

https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries

Tools:

ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link

204 episodes

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