Does HOW you write your book matter?

Reflections on my unique 'book shaman' process as a professional ghostwriter

Jan 28, 2026

“They don’t care how you get there,” he said, “just that you get the book done.”

I heard this recently from an experienced ghostwriter. He was speaking about how his clients want to offload their writing and have a trusted partner who can produce a polished book for them.

But the way he said it felt so… transactional. Cut-and-dry. As though writing a book isn’t a transformational experience of personal growth that changes you from the inside out. As though you can just snap your fingers and suddenly be an author.

As soon as I heard this, I felt little alarm bells going off in my body, and an inner voice that immediately said, Well, that may be true for your clients, but I work with people who very much care about the “how.” I watch them change throughout the process.

Granted, I know some aspiring authors are looking for only a very surface-level experience—a transactional experience. “I pay you, you write the book, that’s it.”

Maybe in that model, the process doesn’t really matter. The writer is focused on the timeline, word count, and deliverables. Get it done. Make it sound good. Move on.

To me, that’s a very old-school, masculine, limited way of doing things. It screams the “rise and grind” mentality that corporate has ingrained in many people.

No offense to everyone still operating in that way, but that approach absolutely does not work for me. ;) Nor is it the approach I take when guiding my clients through the process of writing a book.

Even as a ghostwriter, I don’t see authorship as “outsourcing” work or completely handing off the process to someone else.

I’m doing the writing, but the author is very much still involved. And it’s a journey. The work is still happening inside you. Authorship isn’t something I do for you—it’s something I help you step into.

I believe the creative process has more to offer us.

My clients and the creatives I love working with are looking for depth, which means the “how” is actually quite important.

To us, the “how” matters—a lot!

Let’s use a yoga analogy for a moment.

Say you take an advanced class and you’re working on intense backbends. Different styles of yoga would teach entry into those poses in very different ways.

How long are you spending on the warm-up?

Is the teacher offering modifications?

Are you there to “get” the pose or enjoy the journey along the way?

In an Ashtanga class, for example, the teacher might use a hands-on adjustment to get you into the pose rather quickly—and if they move you through it too fast, the experience can feel jarring, abrupt, or even invasive. (I’ve heard horror stories of teachers who push too hard and can cause injury if a student isn’t super vocal about pushing back or saying ‘no’ to an assist. Yikes!)

A more gentle class might encourage the use of props, breathing for 10-20 seconds at different stages of the pose, and moving at the pace that’s right for you. The teacher might remind you that you have permission to observe rather than push into a pose that you’re not ready for.

In a heated class, you’d also have a different experience because of how warm your muscles are.

All very different ways to get from point A to point B.

The how matters.

It could be the difference between a student feeling empowered and coming back to take a teacher’s class again, or saying, “Woah, that was too much!” and being scared to do yoga at all (or injured and needing to recover for who knows how long).

Okay, Rachel, you might be thinking, but isn’t book writing wayyyy different than taking a yoga class?

Yes.

And also… no.

Writing a book isn’t the same as taking a yoga class—but it does affect your nervous system. And it can make a huge difference if the person guiding you through the process is aware of this or not.

Are they pushing you?

Or is their guidance an invitation? An offering? A series of options and you get to pick what feels good?

Are they checking in with how you’re actually doing?

Is your publishing team respectful of your needs and aware of your vision, or are they just trying to make money and move on to the next paying customer?

Writing your book is a process of moving into unfamiliar territory.

And when we do that, there are very different ways it can go.

One path asks you to abandon yourself to “get through it.” To override your instincts. To rush. To push past what feels uncomfortable… which is maybe how you were programmed to operate starting from a young age in school or how you’ve been trained to work if you have a job in corporate.

But what if writing your book is a chance to do things a different way? To heal perfectionism and the “hustle” mentality and shift into something softer?

When authors are working in “hustle” mode, it can often (unfortunately) look like this:

Defaulting to what the ghostwriter or publishing professionals want instead of speaking up about what you know is right for you as the author
“Cranking out” the book at a speed that feels overwhelming to you
Saying yes to a structure, outline, or framing that doesn’t feel true to you because “they’re the experts” and you don’t want to slow things down
Letting someone else make creative decisions you actually feel uneasy about—because pushing back feels uncomfortable or unsafe
Powering through interviews or feedback rounds even when you feel emotionally exhausted or disconnected (or feeling like “I just want this to be over”)
Ignoring the subtle signals in your body that say this pace isn’t working because you don’t want to be seen as difficult or behind schedule
Treating your book like another item on your to-do list instead of something that means a lot to you and is shifting your identity
Approving sections of the book you secretly resent because they don’t sound like you—but telling yourself it’s “fine” because the book is getting done (eeesh!)
Pushing past tears, grief, or anger—stuffing those emotions down instead of voicing how you’re really doing

On that path, authors get overwhelmed. They sometimes even shut down. They get to the finish line, book in hand, but they feel totally depleted and exhausted. The thought of having to put in effort to promote their book sounds awful, and it’s usually because the nervous system is in a “freeze” state, meaning you’re disconnected and even dissociated.

The book might still get finished. But it often comes at the cost of your relationship with yourself.

So, what’s the other option when you hire a ghostwriter? Isn’t there a better way? Thankfully, yes there is!

The other path is one where we walk more slowly and deliberately. Where the process gets to be nourishing, energizing, and fun. Where you get to embody being an author.

This path involves honoring the inner work that comes with writing a book, too.

Instead of pushing past discomfort, we stay with it—just long enough to build more resilience and capacity.

The way I work with clients, we pay attention to how their bodies are feeling. We talk about the doubts, fears, and hesitations that are coming up. We learn how to remain present when vulnerability shows up, rather than trying to run from it or “force” our way through it.

We don’t just barrel past all of the emotions and opportunities for growth. We sit with them.

Often there is shadow work to be done. It can look a lot of different ways:

Asking for more time, a different approach, or a pause—without apologizing for needing it
Noticing when you want to rush through a chapter because it feels vulnerable or “too much,” and pausing to ask what story, truth, or emotion you’re avoiding
Naming when something in the process doesn’t feel aligned and having a conversation about it instead of silently tolerating it
Recognizing when perfectionism shows up as “I have high standards” and gently questioning whether it’s really about control, safety, or fear of being seen
Befriending your inner critic and getting to know her rather than just telling her to “go away” or “be quiet” (Because she won’t… she’s still there. She’s part of you!)
Noticing the inner voice that says, “Who do you think you are to say this?” and getting curious about it
Acknowledging grief, anger, or resentment that surfaces as you write, rather than stuffing it down because it’s “inconvenient”

Now you might be wondering, if I hire a ghostwriter, do I really have to deal with all of that? Or can’t I just have the ghostwriter get the book done for me?

This is where my “book shaman” approach is quite unique.

And this is where, if you’re looking for a surface-level experience, I’d say that you’re not the right client for me.

When I ghostwrite, I’m not just getting the words on the page. I’m creating space for you to process, heal, transform, and grow.

Yes, I’m doing the writing—but I’m also helping you expand on a soul level. I’m helping you stay connected to yourself as you step into authorship, instead of losing yourself in the process.

I’m showing you how to meet new parts of yourself, to honor your unique creative gifts, and to embrace and use your voice.