You have the expertise. Let’s find the story.

Lately I’ve been toying around with the words I use to describe what I do for people. I often introduce myself as a content writer, which is accurate by definition, but people always hear copywriter. And while I do write copy, I'm really good at crafting content. 

In talking to other entrepreneurs, the term ghostwriter comes up a lot, but that term doesn't feel quite right to me. It makes me think of novels and autobiographies. And that's not what I do. 

I help people find the words that were already there, and I draw them out into meaningful content that inspires their audience. At the end of the day, my goal is to help my clients uncover their voice and apply it in a way that helps them meet their goals. 

When I first start working with someone, I don't immediately open my computer and start writing. Instead, I listen. I listen to what they're saying and what they're not saying. I lean into their passions and get a better understanding of their pain points. I ask questions to understand what they love about what they do, what frustrates them, what took them years to learn, and what they wish their customers understood. 

In those conversations, their voice begins to shape. The listening. The questions. The discernment. The thinking. That's where thought leadership is formed. The writing is how I help them make those ideas accessible and meaningful to others. 

And when it's all said and done, the story still belongs to my client. It's their reputation on the line. And, ultimately, what I've provided them is content they can be proud to put their name on. The expertise, experience, and perspective is theirs. And when they read the finished piece, they think: That's exactly what I meant. 

That's where the magic happens for me. 

They bring the expertise. I help them find the story ... and the words worth sharing.