Writing a children’s book is more than rhyming lines and having a good illustrator by your side. It is a skill that requires a lot of hard work and dedication to master. To meet these challenges, several aspiring children’s book authors often seek the help of children’s book ghostwriters.
While hiring a ghostwriter for your children’s book can offer several benefits, the most important factor they struggle with is hiring the right professional for the job. Of course, making the right choice can be a challenge for several reasons.
Before you struggle any further with making the right choice, here are some important factors you must consider while hiring the right ghostwriter for your children’s book.
- Ask About Relevant Experience
If you want the best children’s book ghostwriters to collaborate with you on your endeavour, one thing you cannot compromise on is their experience. It is always a good idea to hire a professional who has proven experience working with children’s books.
Their experience with children’s books is enough for you to consider them as a suitable professional for your needs. However, asking them about their experience with different genres of children’s literature can bring you closer to your suitable match.
For example, if you are considering writing a fantasy book for children, hiring a ghostwriter who has a demonstrated track record of writing fantasy children’s books must be your ideal choice. Someone with relevant experience not only understands the right usage of language but also knows the likes and dislikes of the target audience.
Similarly, it is also important to ensure that they are also familiar with the children’s book format you are considering to work in such as board books or interactive storytelling. Having these discussions with the ghostwriters aspiring to work with you early can ensure a smooth workflow and partnership.
- Inquire About Knowledge of Age Groups
Children of up to 3 years of age need board books, and the ones falling between the age range of 6-10 years old require chapter books. These are just two of many age groups in which books for children are categorised. You can only trust a children’s book ghostwriter who is well aware of these age groups and their unique needs.
For example, children in developmental ages have different expectations from a book than young adults and so on. If you are considering writing a book for children in the developmental age, the ghostwriter you are considering must have a deep understanding of the audience and the books in the genre.
From being able to tweak their writing style to using the right vocabulary and managing their tone, in-depth knowledge of a genre can enable ghostwriters to help you write a children’s book that shines bright and wins the heart of a young audience.
Do not just take their word for believing that they have the relative knowledge and experience. You can ask them for relevant samples that serve as evidence of their storytelling techniques in their previous works.
- Gauge their Creativity
When you seek a ghostwriter, you must not look for someone who only listens to your instructions and buries their head in a book. You need someone who can listen to your ideas and also offer their own opinion to nudge you in the right direction.
An ideal ghostwriter must be able to respect your vision for your children’s book but should not hold back from saying their piece. Creativity from both sides can bring out the best in your children’s book to engage young minds.
As a trial, you can ask the ghostwriter aspiring to work with you to have a brainstorming session with you. One session can be enough for you to gauge their creativity, imagination, and originality and whether they are a suitable match for your vision for a children’s book.
While having a creative spirit can be one of the most important requirements for someone seeking a ghostwriter, make sure that the ones you consider are respectful of your vision and aspirations to ensure a smooth creative partnership.
- Learn About Their Adaptability
One of the biggest reasons why authors fear hiring ghostwriters is because they think that their uniqueness will be lost. There is no doubt that every author has a unique voice, but replicating it is not an impossible task.
Professional ghostwriters are very versatile. They understand the importance of maintaining uniqueness in an author’s voice and how it can establish a connection with young readers. You must ensure that the ghostwriters you are considering are versatile and adaptable.
You can look at their portfolio to see some of their best samples. These samples can help you see how the tone and usage of words in one work differs from the other. Such samples can help you feel confident about hiring them.
In addition to their usage of words, also make sure that you consider how well they can convey emotions, dialogue, and character personalities. It is crucial to ensure that their usage of every characteristic and element resonates with the target audience.
- Access their Knowledge About Educational Goals
Most children’s books have an educational perspective. Whether you want to teach the children the alphabet and its usage, specific concepts, or the importance of being honest in any situation, your ghostwriter should have an in-depth understanding of your educational goals.
It is always recommended that you work with a ghostwriter who understands your goals and helps you seamlessly integrate them into your children’s book while keeping the short attention span of children in mind.
Always remember that just because a ghostwriter says that they will be able to help you achieve your educational goals through your book is not a good enough reason for you to hire them. You must ask them for evidence of their abilities to pursue them further.
When evaluating their skills, make sure to pay attention to their ability to seamlessly integrate educational material into compelling narratives. This ability can captivate young readers and deliver valuable learning opportunities to young minds.
