Why I Create a Playlist for Every Book Project I Do

Ghostwriters need to adapt to each client’s unique voice. I’ve found music can help.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-woman-listening-to-music-3760685/

Every book project I work on gets its own playlist. 🎶 It’s one fun way I adapt to each client’s voice as a ghostwriter. Capturing the client’s unique voice is a must and there are a few things I do to help get it right:

1. Listen.👂In every interview with a client, I’m 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.
2. Read. 📚 If the client has previously published work, I take a read to get a sense of their style. If they don’t, 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.)
3. Jam out.💃 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 ✨️ vibe ✨️ of the client’s 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 can’t say for sure, but it’s definitely fun — and I’m a firm believer that the creative process doesn’t 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 — 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.

NOW that that’s done… I’d love to hear from you about this blog post in the comments! You can also connect via my blog: https://www.ask-communications.com/blog