When writing a children’s story, or any story for that matter, there’s a certain momentum you get into. A work flow or groove.
You become absorbed in your writing.
There are times when the story just flows and you up your pace. Then other times you need to work a little harder and the work pace may slow down.
But you can go at your own pace. You’re in control.
As a ghostwriter, though, you can’t always go at your own pace. I’ve had a few clients who took long pauses in their projects.
Interestingly, all of these projects had nothing to do with payments because in each case the projects were up to date.
It seems that client pauses can happen for various reasons: sickness, life, or work.
No matter what the reasons, when a client takes a long pause, it can create at least two problems for the children’s ghostwriter.
- As the writer, you lose your momentum.
Mentioned above, when your momentum is interrupted, you lose it. The rhythm, the flow is gone.
And depending on how long the pause it, that momentum can need serious revival when the project moves forward again.
What this means is when the project is picked up again, you need to become reacquainted with the story. Depending on how complicated the story is, the longer it will take to get up to speed.
I’m currently working on a rewrite of a very complicated young adult story that’s over 100,000 words. The author took a long pause, revising the latter part of the story before sending it to me.
The project should be starting up again very soon and I’ll have to get back into the story to be able to build up the momentum again.
This adds more time and work into the project that wasn’t accounted for.
Another aspect of losing momentum, is the story itself.
If I’m in that flow and it’s stopped, will the remainder of the story be the same. Will I find that ‘groove’ again and tell the best story possible?
So far, I think I’ve been able to. But I can see how the story could be affected. Long pauses aren’t a good thing.
- The writer’s workload can be challenged.
As a working children’s ghostwriter, you get new projects that need to be scheduled into your workload.
When a client pauses a project and then picks up in a month of two, you’re already into those other projects. You’ve developed a momentum for each of them.
If you only have one or two other projects going on, it’s not that difficult to include the paused project.
But if you have four or five projects going on, and one is a middle grade or young adult, being able to juggle a paused project back into the mix can be challenging.
You don’t want to take time and attention away from current projects.
So, what’s the ghostwriter to do?
The answer to this question depends on the writer.
I always work the paused project back into my workload. I keep my current projects in the forefront, though.
Fortunately, long pauses on projects don’t happen to me often, especially very long ones. Although, in 2020 I had three projects paused. It could be due to the year, or possibly it was a coincidence.
Whatever the reason, from experience I now have a clause in my freelance agreement that allows for a fee to resume a project after a two-week pause. I do of course take into consideration the circumstances involved.
So, if you’re working with a ghostwriter, be aware that there is a writing momentum. And it’s important to keep that momentum going for the story and for the ghostwriter’s time and workload.
Whether you need help with ghostwriting or rewriting, or coaching, let me take a look at your children’s story. Just send me an email at: kcioffiventrice@gmail.com. Please put “Children’s Writing” in the Subject box. Or, give me a call at 347—834—6700
Let’s get your idea off the launch pad or your outline into a publishable story today!
Or, if you’d rather give it a shot and do-it-yourself, check out my book, HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN’S FICTION BOOK.
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