How to tell when your draft is finished
From first draft to final draft
When is your book complete? When is it ready for your publisher to send it to the typesetters? This question applies to every book ever written, whether or not a ghostwriter has been employed. Here are some factors to bear in mind when considering the words — your words — which your ghostwriter will send you.
1. The first draft you read is exactly that: it's a first draft. The path to publication is a long one and the first draft is one of the stages. You may be thrilled by what you read, you may be cautious, you may feel unsure about certain elements. Rest assured, that's what every client feels, because it's what every writer feels: the first draft is the first rung of the ladder.
2. Once you have taken an initial read, it's often a good idea to set the text down and forget about it for a few days. Graham Greene memorably said: forgetting is the compost of the imagination. Let the words sink in for a few days and then start the process of analysis. Does this text sound like you? Is it what you were hoping to achieve?
3. Refresh your memory of the brief you first established with your ghostwriter. What was the story you initially wanted to set down? What reaction did you want readers of your story to experience? Now, how does the text you've just been sent perform in that light?
4. Take advice, but be careful from whom you seek it. Almost all successful books, the bestsellers, are the products of teams, whether or not they are ghostwritten. They have been carefully crafted by a small army of acute minds, whether they be editors or agents or publishers or writers. So, do seek out independent opinion to establish whether the text is hitting the right note, but don't always expect every family member or friend or colleague to give you an accurate view. Critiquing someone else's book can sadly often be an opportunity to "have a dig" so be selective in whose opinion you seek out. That slightly vexatious friend who tells you they could write a certain passage better is telling you more about their relationship with you than about the accuracy of the text.
5. Don't shy away from talking turkey with your ghostwriter. If you feel a story which you discussed should not now form part of the finished book, then say so. It's your book. Maybe your ghostwriter will disagree with you, and maybe you will be convinced by their argument, but if not, then keep control of the process.
6. If you have taken the time to choose the ghostwriter who will best serve your aims, then do try to heed their advice when it comes to certain elements of the text of which you are unsure. Professional ghostwriters don't try and put words into your mouth for no reason, they work hard to achieve the voice you explained to them you wanted.
7. Most professional ghostwriting contracts set out clearly the process of revisions following the first draft and an effective and sympathetic ghostwriter will respond positively to your requests. Trust in the process you established at the start and the final draft will be the text that you wanted.
8. Take enjoyment in this final stage and celebrate the fact that, between you and your ghostwriter, you have created something significant which will hopefully impact on a huge number of people. Congratulations!
By Simon P