Why I Create a Playlist for Every Book Project I Do
Ghostwriters need to adapt to each clientās unique voice. Iāve found music can help.
Every book project I work on gets its own playlist. š¶ Itās one fun way I adapt to each clientās voice as a ghostwriter. Capturing the clientās unique voice is a must and there are a few things I do to help get it right:
- Listen.šIn every interview with a client, Iām listening not just to what they say but how they say it. What words and phrases do they use? Are there certain types of metaphors they tend to use? Do they curse or would they never? I had one client who loved nature metaphors, for example, while I had another who was into nautical analogies. I note all of this in one go-to document that I consult (and update) throughout the project.
- Read. š If the client has previously published work, I take a read to get a sense of their style. If they donāt, I ask them what kind of writing style they hope to emulate. Ideally, they can point me toward some examples that at least give me a sense of the basics (e.g., formal versus laidback, flowery versus plainspoken, etc.)
- Jam out.š When it comes time to sit down and write, I like to have a go-to playlist for each client. The songs on that list capture the overall āØļø vibe āØļø of the clientās book. I blast the tunes to get in the right headspace before I kick off a writing session and then keep them running at low volume in the background as I start writing.
Does the music make a difference? I canāt say for sure, but itās definitely fun ā and Iām a firm believer that the creative process doesnāt need to be torturous and angst-ridden. What better way to add some joy than through music?
Thank you for reading! This is a space where I share personal thoughts ā an opportunity for self-expression that has nothing to do with my professional writing. None of the thoughts or opinions expressed in this blog should be construed as anything but my own, nor should they be affiliated with any company or person I contract with or write for.
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