Being an author is considered a messy, messy job. The good news is — people love a mess. Why do you think the term “hot mess” is coined as intriguing and interesting? Because people like it, they think it automatically means there is a great story behind the words.
Some of the best novels I have written first came to me looking like a clan of multiple bachelorette parties at 3 AM — incoherent, out of sorts, stumbling and slurring — pretty much flat out drunk off their asses. Do I really need to tell you what’s fun about that? Just search TikTok for “bachelorette party” and you will see why. No one can look away.
The messier your book outline is, the better. It’s my job to take that outline, understand it, re-organize it, then sort of “pitch it” back to you. I love watching a client’s eyes sparkle and light up when they are being read back their OWN story after I clean it up and add compelling context. It’s why I love being a freelance ghostwriter for memoirs and novels.
A lot of times, authors have their characters, tropes, plot, and story — but what’s missing is the build up, development, descriptors, and perhaps even some twists or turns. I feel honored to be the person that gets to take these ideas and add my own concepts to bring these stories to life — for people all over the world to read and share. No matter the genre or category, messes make great books.
How do I turn a mess into a page-turning novel?
You are probably scared to death to show anyone your chicken scratch notes and pages of unraveled thoughts with a ghostwriter (or anyone else, for that matter). You might think it’s YOUR job to organize your outline and make sure everything is easy to understand before talking to a professional writer. Not true. It’s my job to work with you to develop the characters according to how you see them in your mind, create the timeline of events, add more context to each plot line, set the stage for locations and surroundings, and determine the best tone, language, and style — depending on the audience. I’m not going to lie to you, it can take a lot of work to flush out the poop and write a fantastic, page-turning, gripping novel. That’s why I charge the rates I charge! But as we all know, you get what you pay for.
Messy authors in history
Every book genre has a different target audience. Even commercial trade books, which are by-and-large considered acceptable to mass market to ‘anyone’ and ‘everyone’ have readership type. For example, “Atomic Habits” by James Clear is (and has been) a top 100 bestseller for years. It stands the test of time for its incredible testament to life change, and people love that they can relate to the advice and covered topics. The same person who will pick up this book and read it cover-to-cover may never pick up “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Both books fall into the same trade category… but both books, or neither book, may be enjoyed by the same reader.
The messy author theory applies to both books, though. Atomic Habits is about cleaning up your messy life. It surely started out as a total uproar of scattered thoughts and practices before it became the structured lit that helps millions of people.
Even the most famous authors like Edgar Allan Poe and Ernest Hemingway are known for being messy, living under pressure and with tragic lives marked by mental illness, poverty, difficult personalities, and untimely deaths. Novels that have been studied in classrooms and celebrated for decades or centuries — all started out because a human being had a messy thought that turned into a messy piece of paper. Many of the best authors and writers are flat out messes!
Ready to turn that mess into a bestselling book? Hire a freelance book writer.
My experience is vast and my methods for which I have found my past clients have been largely through referrals and connections. I’ve always held down at least one “stable” job while also writing on the side. Recently, I joined Upwork to continue my journey of freelance writer for authors and transition my writing into a full-time career. If you’re here because you saw me on Upwork — but also saw that I have no rating and no project history — don’t let that stop you from hiring me. Remember, we all start with one step forward when we open a new door.
