Intro to Ghostwriting Rubrics

Purpose Introduce the scope, the instructors, and the logistics of Ghostwriting Professional Designation Program

Expectations Demonstrate the ability to self-assess

Purpose Present the means to landing high-end clients: the 5 elements necessary to establish and maintain your authority, the skills and mindset necessary to incorporate those elements into your life and livelihood, and a brief introduction to Ghostwriting Psych

Expectations Recognize the breadth of theories, skills, and mindsets needed to launch a professional-ghostwriting business

Purpose Establish the parameters and importance of the book industry’s editorial accountability with emphasis on gatekeeping-algorithm compliance: Microsoft Word templates, styles, formatting, and coding (1-4 MSW4W); Chicago Manual of Style grammar and editing guidelines (1-5 CMS); and Basic Writing Conventions 

Expectation Extrapolate the parameters and importance of editorial accountability

Purpose Introduce how to manipulate Microsoft Word to decode, style, format, and code book-industry manuscripts and documents

Expectation Demonstrate the ability to adopt new technical skills

Purpose Introduce the book industry’s default style guide and the specific exceptions for book proposals, query letters, and synopses

Expectation Demonstrate the ability to adhere to CMS v. APA, MLA, AP, or any other familiar and comfortable style guide

Purpose Review fundamental writing protocols for verb choice, conjunctions, paragraphing, person, tense, multi-word modifiers, and story vs. report

Expectation Adhere to these conventions in all assignments and projects

Purpose Introduce the four phases of creative analysis—critical thinking, debate protocol, abstract reasoning, and focused ingenuity—as they apply to ghostwriting books

Expectation Demonstrate the ability to identify and distance from a topic’s appeal to emotion (logical fallacy); to identity/validate its core intent and perspective; to identify/validate the opposite core intent and perspective; to identify the missing elements or “dots” that would strengthen each side’s position; to recognize the possibilities (What if?) and importance (So what?) of the issue; to deliver all the above in concise yet effective prose that does not reveal your personal perspective; and to adhere to Basic Writing Conventions and Chicago Manual of Style 

Purpose Challenge your ability to step outside your comfort zone

Expectation Demonstrate a willingness to challenge yourself, broaden your focus, expand your mindset, and grow your potential by accepting unfamiliar, unpleasant, embarrassing, or difficult material

Purpose Introduce the process of disassociating from your emotions about a manuscript or book, honing your creative analysis skills, and nudging your mindset needle

Expectation Demonstrate the emotional ability to detach from a project’s emotional appeal and perspective and the analytical ability to discern its core point; to recognize the value of its intent and perspective; and to determine its efficacy

Purpose Introduce the tactic of seeing the other side of any coin, to recognize the validity and power of other perspectives, and to expand your own perspective

Expectation Demonstrate the analytical ability to recognize the value in opposing arguments; to identify obstacles to reader satisfaction; and to discern the value in opposite or negative intents and perspectives

Purpose Introduce the process for discerning thought patterns, vital points, connections and disconnects, implausibilities, and time stamps to recognize what is and isn’t on the page

Expectation Demonstrate the evaluative ability to determine a book’s overall strength and validity

Purpose Introduce the process for discerning the “What if” (market expansion, nonfiction applications and illustrations, fiction scenarios) as well as the “So What?" (reader appeal, supply-chain expectation) aspects of a title to recognize new possibilities and intrusive distractions

Expectation Demonstrate the evaluative ability to develop effective modifications that address the negative issues identified via debate protocol and abstract reasoning; to determine the impact those modifications/corrections would have on potential markets, reader satisfaction, and salability; and to determine nonfiction tie-in markets for fiction titles

Purpose Present a polished, compelling, comprehensive, yet concise analysis that engages, encourages, and endears us to the author, i.e., potential client

Expectation Demonstrate the industry-professional ability to present your expertise and value without talking about or selling yourself

Purpose Introduce the variables ghostwriters must know about the book industry: the players, the concept-to-sales sequence, the publishing options, the marketing possibilities

Expectation Demonstrate the ability to do industry-specific online research

Purpose Introduce the theoretical progression from ancient scriptures to modern ghostwriting 

Expectation Recognize ghostwriting’s historical roots and ethical responsibilities

Purpose Introduce the complexity, scope, challenges, limitations, rules and ethics of professional ghostwriting 

Expectation Demonstrate your ability to apply creative analysis to comfortable and uncomfortable material and to concisely compare your current abilities v. projected positioning

Purpose Introduce the various mental, emotional, psychological, and active business adjustments necessary to nudge your current perspective, self-regard, and attitude toward that of being an elite specialized expert and a book-industry insider

Expectation Recognize where you are as you start this program

Purpose Extend critical thinking, debate protocol, abstract reasoning, and focused ingenuity to client relations and project management

Expectation Demonstrate the ability to identify and distance from a topic’s appeal to emotion (logical fallacy); to identify/validate its core intent and perspective; to identify/validate the opposite core intent and perspective; to identify the missing elements or “dots” that would strengthen each side’s position; to recognize the possibilities (What if?) and importance (So what?) of the issue; to deliver all the above in concise yet effective prose that does not reveal your personal perspective; and to adhere to Basic Writing Conventions

Purpose Introduce the differences between journalist/freelance-writer closed-purpose and ghostwriter open-purpose interviewing

Expectation Demonstrate the ability to “deep listen,” interpret, and concisely expound on new knowledge