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What People Misunderstand About Ghostwriting

I’m listening to a money mindset program called Your Wish is Your Command , by Kevin Trudeau, at the recommendation of one of my business coaches, and I was surprised that within the first few minutes of the first CD in a 14-CD set, the topic of ghostwriters came up.

Actually, Trudeau makes a sweeping generalization about super wealthy people who use ghostwriters that surprised me.

He claims that the super wealthy “don’t write the books. They don’t even know what’s in the books” that bear their names, because they use ghostwriters.

He’s wrong.

Now, I agree that many super wealthy, super busy people use ghostwriters to draft and publish their books (I’ve had the pleasure of working with several).

Certainly, not all super wealthy folks do, but some time-starved CEOs, celebrities, and philanthropists prefer to spend their time on activities other than sitting down and putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, to write a book. So, some do hire book ghostwriters to shepherd their projects.

Although the super wealthy are not the only authors to rely on ghostwriters, I do think he’s correct that they may be more likely to. However, plenty of people who are not billionaires opt to rely on ghostwriters for help in drafting the book they have in mind.

What Ghostwriters Do

Where Trudeau goes astray is in misunderstanding the role a professional ghostwriter plays in crafting a nonfiction book.

Yes, a ghostwriter helps structure the book and the ideas therein; sometimes they help generate possible title, too.

Yes, a ghostwriter helps determine where information should come from, whether from interviews with the author, interviews with family and friends, interviews with industry analysts, archival data, news reports, or a number of other possible sources.

Yes, a ghostwriter helps extract information from their client’s memory, through careful questioning, prodding, and active listening.

Yes, a ghostwriter then takes all that raw material provided by the client and creates a rough draft of the information discussed.

However, when Trudeau claims that a super wealthy authors doesn’t know what’s in the book that bears their name, he reveals that he doesn’t know how ghostwriters work.

What Ghostwriters Do Not Do

However—and this is important—nonfiction ghostwriters do not write books from scratch without significant input, guidance, and content from their clients.

Ghostwriters are hired by clients to assist in producing a book-length work, or really any written materials, based on the message the client wants to impart.

Maybe the author wants to tell their life story.

Maybe they want to draft a memoir that zeroes in on a particular time in their life, or to explain or explore a life-altering event.

Maybe they want to share a technique or strategy they used successfully within an organization they owned or managed.

Maybe they want to garner support for an idea they think will benefit the world.

There are many reasons someone might opt to write a book. The idea originates with them, however, and not with the ghostwriter, typically. (Once in a while a ghostwriter might approach a famous person or someone they admire to inquire if they might be interested in working on a book together, and in those cases the project is more of a collaboration than a true case of anonymous authorship.)

But to state that ghostwriters commonly create books for super wealthy clients without much, if any, involvement from the client is wrong. It’s incorrect. Especially since the client, the author, has final approval on the contents of the book.

Ghostwriting Clients Expect to Control the Project

Could it happen that a ghostwriter would draft a book without author involvement?

Maybe a work of fiction, where the client provides the story arc and characters. I’ve heard of fiction ghostwriters having a lot of leeway to shape the client’s idea.

But not with nonfiction. It would not be standard practice for that, no. Mainly because successful people like to be in control. That’s not a criticism, but I suspect it’s true for most of the super wealthy.

So, to suggest that a super wealthy individual would hire a ghostwriter to write a book, pay them for their work, provide no input or direction, and then allow it to be published without the author having studied it? Very unlikely.

I have trouble imagining anyone of prominence being so cavalier with their reputation to allow a book to be published when, as Trudeau claims, “They don’t even know what’s in it.”

That’s not how ghostwriters work.

If you’re thinking about hiring a ghostwriter to help produce your book, be assured that you, the client, are in the driver’s seat and have the final say on everything that goes in the book.

That’s how ghostwriting works.

Want help finding a skilled ghostwriter to help write your book or create well-written content? Fill out this form at the Association of Ghostwriters to receive the names of qualified candidates.

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“Ghostwriting and publishing services firm Scribe Media abruptly shut down yesterday, laying off its staff,” reported Erin Somers today on Publisher’s Lunch , summarizing an apparent sudden change of fortune for the venture.

Scribe’s approximate 100 employees were apparently notified by email Wednesday night that “Based on unforeseen business circumstances and faltering business based on unavailability of additional capital, Scribe is forced to shut down its operations and layoff employees at our Austin location on May 24, 2023.” Access to both employee email accounts and health insurance were abruptly terminated as of yesterday, too, with no severance offered.

Many freelancers had received no notification as of this afternoon.

Scribe’s Origin Story

Founded in 2014 by Tucker Max and Zach Obront as Book in a Box, the Austin-based company’s promise was helping aspiring authors speak their books into existence primarily through transcribed interviews.

Scribe’s transcript-based approach differs from other ghostwriting firms, which rely more on ghostwriters to help produce a manuscript through a tailored information-gathering process. Rather than converting straight transcripts into chapters, firms such as Gotham Ghostwriters and Kevin Anderson & Associates pair experienced ghostwriters with authors to collect and curate relevant material. In many cases, that involves supplementing author interviews with archival research and secondary interviews.

The company changed its name to Scribe Media in December 2021 and changed hands, with JeVon McCormick taking the helm as president, CEO, and “majority co-owner,” while Max and Obront stepped back from full-time involvement.

Scribe’s publishing packages, which include ghostwriting and an a la carte offering of other editorial and marketing services, range from $24,000 to upwards of $135,000 according to Max on the company’s website .

A Turning Point

McCormick took over at Scribe Media in 2021 which, at that point, boasted 900+ books published in its seven-year history, and a 94-person workforce, supplemented by 350 freelancers, according to Max. There was also an impending move to a new 20,000-square-foot headquarters. More recently, those numbers continued to increase, with more books published, more bestsellers, and more staff.

Yet less than two years later, it appears Scribe Media is closing its doors. According to industry insiders, after multiple years of attempting to grab market share through lower pricing, the strategy caught up with the venture and funding simply ran dry.

Although the shutdown seems sudden, according to Publisher’s Lunch, employees may have been tipped off that something was amiss following a recent issue with payroll.

Despite its sudden shuttering, Scribe’s situation appears to be an anomaly in an industry that has been growing steadily for the last 10+ years. Multiple ghostwriting agencies and professional ghostwriters report continued growth and profits even during a shaky economic period, suggesting that Scribe’s challenges were due more to its business model than the market in which it operates. Book ghostwriting services continue to thrive, confirm other agency CEOs.

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Table of contents:

• Where to start your ghostwriter search
• Avoiding Scammers
• Ask for a zoom meeting
• Request writing samples
• Red Flags
• Big discounts available
• Big claims
• No names
• Unorthodox payment terms

Ghostwriting agency scams are well-developed and capable of swindling almost anyone.

The number of authors who have reached out to tell me they’ve been scammed by a fraudulent ghostwriting agency has increased exponentially in recent weeks. (Many get in touch after seeing this article I wrote on the topic.) In the last month, I’ve heard from at least four individuals who paid companies for ghostwriting services, only to quickly learn they wouldn’t be getting what they paid for.

Michele (not her real name) had written 21,000 words of her first book, a memoir, but was having trouble finishing it. With a full-time job filling her days, she was finding it almost impossible to find the time to work on it, she told me. She felt stuck. To try to move her project forward, she paid a website that promotes ghostwriting services for its bestseller package, which promised a ghostwriter would help her finish her manuscript.

Before paying, Michele checked the company out as thoroughly as she could, going so far as to click through to the Better Business Bureau reviews posted about the company that were linked to the site. They were all glowing and confirmed Michele’s hopes that the company was a smart way to get her manuscript finished.

However, after handing over the fee, she continued conducting her own due diligence and realized the Better Business Bureau (BBB) write-ups were as fake as the site on which the reviews were posted; it wasn’t the actual BBB at all. The true BBB reviews confirmed her suspicions that it was a scam.

Nervous, she requested a refund from the agency. The company’s representative pushed back on her request, suggesting Michele would only get 40% of her payment back, despite the fact that the company had done no work yet.

“The whole time I couldn’t tell if I was talking to real people or AI robots,” Michele says, reinforcing her sense that the business was not legitimate.

This story has a happy ending, however. Michele got her money back by disputing the charge through her credit card company.

What Michele endured has happened to many other aspiring authors, unfortunately. It’s hard to tell how many people get scammed each month, but based on the increasing number of questions and messages I’m receiving at the Association of Ghostwriters, I fear the count is rising.

Where to Start Your Ghostwriter Search

Given the potential value a ghostwriter can provide to authors who need help communicating their message, it’s easy to see why someone would turn to a ghostwriting agency. If you’ve been trying to find a ghostwriter yourself, you can reduce your risk of getting scammed by using legitimate organizations with professional ghostwriters. Some of your best options include:

• American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA)
• Association of Ghostwriters (which I run)
• Gotham Ghostwriters
• Kevin Anderson & Associates
• Scribe Media
• The Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA)

This is not an exhaustive list, but it should help you track down some potential candidates with the qualifications you’re looking for.

Avoiding Scammers

If you stick with writers who are affiliated with the above organizations, your odds of being scammed are much smaller. It’s possible that a scammer could infiltrate one of these groups, but rather unlikely because of the qualification requirements all have.

However, there are some other steps you can take to confirm you are dealing with the ghostwriter you think you are:

Go directly to the source. Get in touch with the ghostwriters you’d like to consider working with through their websites or social media accounts. If they have supposedly been hired to work on your book through a ghostwriting agency, confirm they are aware of your project. Many authors who have reached out to their purported ghostwriters discover that the ghostwriter is not actually affiliated with the agency claiming them as their employee or contractor and has never heard of their book.

Ask for a Zoom meeting.

Since scammers have impersonated professional ghostwriters by text and email, get your ghostwriting candidate on-screen, live, so you can confirm they look and sound like the person whose photo you spotted in their professional bio or social media pages.

Request writing samples.

Review the examples the agency or writer provides, but then also Google sentences from the work to see what book or magazine or website actually published the material. Does it match what the ghostwriter or agency claims? For example, when you Google a writing sample that is supposed to be from a book titled Leadership 101 for College Students (which I just made up as an example), is that where Google finds it?

In a nutshell, don’t just take the company’s word for it.

Red Flags

In addition to confirming that your ghostwriter is who they say they are, watch for these signs that the ghostwriting agency may not be legit:

Big discounts available.

When a website or company offers a discount and uses high-pressure sales tactics to get you to commit right now, back away slowly. Legitimate publishers and ghostwriting agencies want your business, but they don’t offer huge sales or discounts and they won’t pressure you to sign today. They’re busy enough.

Big claims.

The most successful scammers feature the covers of bestselling books, numbers such as “1500+ books published,” and list major publishing houses on their websites, to lull you into a false sense of security. Be skeptical. Check their claims, such as by emailing authors who supposedly used the company’s services, to confirm they are, in fact, a client.

No names.

If you search the company’s website and can’t find the organization’s history or startup story, the name(s) of the founder(s), or names of writers and editors, be suspicious. Most legitimate companies will gladly put you in touch with a live person. That said, there are a few scam sites that have stolen the photos and bios of a handful of real ghostwriters and claimed them as their own. These include Joel Mark Harris, Thomas Lee, Jennifer Locke, and David Stokes, to name a few.

Unorthodox payment terms.

If you’re asked to pay via sites like Venmo or Zelle, or using PayPal but specifying the money is being sent to a friend, don’t do it. You will have no recourse as soon as your money leaves your account, unlike when you pay via a credit card or indicate you’re sending money in payment for a product or service on PayPal. Similarly, checks provide less protection, too.

Ghostwriting scammers are good, so if you get caught, don’t be embarrassed. You are most definitely not alone.

Do work quickly to file a dispute with your credit card company, however, to try to get your money back. And then let me know by emailing me at marcia@associationofghostwriters.org. I’d like to be made aware of new scam sites that are emerging so I can warn others.

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Table of contents:

• A Ghostwriter
• A Collaborator
• Cover Credit Secrets

Behind-the-scenes ghostwriters play a different role than writing collaborators or partners do.

We’re hearing the term “ghostwriter” and “ghostwriting” much more frequently these days, as everyone from industry experts to leaders to celebrities are freely acknowledging that they did, in fact, hire a ghostwriter to assist in producing their book.

And why shouldn’t they?!

Ghostwriters exist to help aspiring authors formulate, organize, draft, and polish their book idea(s). That is what they do.

Hiring someone who is skilled at a particular type of task is the American way. That is why we hire attorneys when we need advice regarding a legal matter, accountants when we have tax questions, interior designers when we have no clue how to make our home inviting and organized, and wedding planners when a marriage ceremony is in our future. We hire experts to help us achieve a better outcome than we could on our own.

Which is exactly why aspiring authors are now seeking out professional ghostwriters—because they want their books to be well-written.

Before you hire one to work on your book, however, first think about how much of the work you want to hand off to someone else.

A Ghostwriter

If your best-case-scenario is to hand over all of your notes and ideas to a professional writer and have them make sense of what you have, that’s, almost by definition, what a ghostwriter does. They take the information you give them and structure it into a book.

A ghostwriter is part project manager, part writer, part therapist, and part publishing consultant. They assume the heavy lifting when it comes to producing the chapters of your book. It is also up to your ghost to tell you when they need more information from you, to fill in gaps they have identified in some of your material.

Of course, the author—meaning you—need to give them the information required for the book, either in phone calls, video sessions, or written form, because you are the subject matter expert. But it’s primarily the ghost’s responsibility to tell you what they need.

That is one option—to hand off the writing work to someone else, who will work anonymously. However, you have another choice.

A Collaborator

One variation of a ghostwriter is a collaborator. Some people use the term interchangeably with ghostwriter but I think there is a nuanced difference.

Where a ghostwriter is the driving force in drafting the manuscript, a collaborator is more of an equal partner. Granted, you likely have the vast majority of expertise being shared in the book, but a collaborator works side-by-side with the author rather than behind the scenes, as a true ghostwriter does.

A collaborator is a writing partner who guides the author, asks questions to extract ideas and memories that might fit in the book, just like a ghostwriter does. However, there is more of a back and forth with sharing ideas and material as chapters are written. Sections of the writing are shared for feedback with one another, which are then added to, edited, and shaped to improve the content and the quality.

Cover Credit Secrets

Collaborators are more frequently recognized on the book’s cover—which is also known as giving “cover credit.”

When you see someone’s name “and” another name, the author is often signaling that they had a collaborator, or writing partner. For example, “Jane Smith and Rachel Poole.” The author is telling you that Rachel was a big contributor, to the point of being a collaborator or partner in the project.

Another option the author has, if they want to acknowledge they had help, is to use a “with” credit. A “with” cover credit is more typically used when the author relied on a writer to do much of the writing work. Yes, the content came from the author, but pulling the material together was done by the name following the word “with.” As in, “John Jones and Tim Roberts.”

In both cases, the author is proud of the book and wants to give credit where credit is due by recognizing their ghostwriter.

Of course, as the client, you also have the option not to identify the ghostwriter at all. That is still quite common. Many ghostwriters don’t care whether their name is on the cover, although most would appreciate a mention in the acknowledgments, even if they are referred to as an editor or book coach.

So, before you start interviewing ghostwriters to help in writing your book, be clear about what role you want that writer to play. Do you want them working behind-the-scenes with material you provide or do you want them working alongside you as you talk through the book’s chapters together? Knowing which you would prefer can help you find the writer who will help you create the best possible book together.

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• Chapters from books you’ve authored
• Magazine articles
• College writing assignments
• Blog posts
• College writing assignments
• Draft something on the client’s topic from scratch

Because many ghostwriting clients demand that their ghostwriter sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to preclude them from sharing any work they’ve done, how can ghostwriters demonstrate their skill and experience?

What can ghostwriters show prospects when asked for writing samples without violating their NDA?

It’s a good question and, fortunately, there are some ways to deliver examples of your abilities without outing previous clients. Here are some ideas:

Chapters from books you’ve authored.

Some ghostwriters began their careers with the publication of their own book(s). If you’re in that camp, use chapters from your books as writing samples.

Magazine articles.

If you write short-form articles for magazines, newspapers, or as content for brands, use some of those links as proof of your writing skill.

Blog posts.

Even if you’re new to ghostwriting, you can use blog posts as samples of your work. And if they are in any way related to your client’s book, so much the better.

College writing assignments.

Ghostwriters pursuing their first project may not have much in the way of published works, but how about pulling out an assignment you completed for a class you did well on and that you’re proud of?

Draft something on the client’s topic from scratch.

Although this can be time-consuming, if you’re short on writing samples, use this as an opportunity to write up something on your prospect’s topic. You can then share it when asked for writing samples in the future, too.

Request permission from clients to share excerpts of a chapter, with identifying information crossed out or changed. Several of my past clients have granted this permission when I’ve asked after the fact. I still don’t reveal the project, but I can share pieces that offer a look at my writing ability.

Ghostwriting clients ask for samples both to gauge your writing skill and to see if your style matches theirs. Of course, if you have samples from different projects that demonstrate your ability to match your client’s voice, make sure to point that out. Being able to adopt someone else’s voice is more important than showing your own.

What other suggestions do you have for providing writing samples?

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• Give them a number
• Per-hour
• Per-word
• Per-project
• Keep value in mind

One of the most common discussions we have as ghostwriters has to do with how to figure out what to charge for ghostwriting services. What’s fair? What’s the going rate? How should I structure payments?

These are the frequently-asked questions.

And the best answer is to quote and structure payments in the simplest way possible for the client at a rate that is profitable for you.

Give them a Number

When a client asks how much it will cost to have their book ghostwritten, they want a number. That way, they can determine if their budget is large enough to cover your fee or not.

That’s their main concern.

How, exactly, you came up with that number is not as big a deal to them, honestly. They may be curious about your thought process or calculations, but they don’t need to know the intricate details. And they probably don’t expect you to break down your cost estimate in excruciating detail.

Even if they do expect it, don’t provide it. Or don’t share your calculations and considerations with them. Don’t give them room to ask you to justify why you estimate one type of task will take 30 hours and something else 16. Giving tons of detail only opens the door to attempted negotiation on those points, which only complicates the process and your fee.

Instead, keep it as simple as possible in order to ensure your work is profitable.

Before you quote a number, however, you should run through some multiplication and division.

The three general ways to calculate a fee are: per-hour, per-word, and per project. (The Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) has a rate sheet that does not include ghostwriting, and which I think is low, but you might check out as one reference point.)

Per-hour

Quoting a ghostwriting project based on an hourly rate can be smart if you don’t know how long a task will take. By billing based on actual time spent on the work, you’re assured of being paid for all of the time you invest, which is good.

However, if you are a fast writer, you will likely earn less than you could have if you used other methods of quoting.

Before you go quoting on an hourly basis, make sure your hourly ghostwriting rate is significant enough to cover all of your expenses, taxes, and profit. My personal opinion is that ghostwriters should be charging at least $50/hour. At least.

But even if you don’t provide price quotes based on an hourly rate, you should determine your own hourly rate to be used in calculating fees, and use that as a reference point.

Per-word

Another approach to quoting ghostwriting work is on a per-word basis. The advantage of quoting a ghostwriting project based on a set per-word fee is that the math is easy. For example, a 40,000-word book at $1/word is $40,000.

Per-word quoting is advantageous because the more words you produce, the more you earn. (How much time it took you is not part of the equation as far as your client is concerned.)

The only potential problem with a per-word rate comes in with respect to editing and scope creep. You can draft a magnificent article, let’s say, but the client may decide that editing is required. And that’s work you’re not being paid extra to do, whereas when you’re working per-hour, you likely don’t care how many rounds of revisions the client wants, since you’re being paid.

That’s the downside of quoting per-word.

It’s often useful to calculate a ghostwriting project both based on your standard hourly rate and compare that to the per-word rate, to see if you can make money.

For example, if you’ve been asked to write a 15,000-word ebook that you think will take 60 hours to draft, compare your two calculations.

If you bill on an hourly basis and your hourly rate is $75, the corresponding rate should be $4,500.

And if you quoted on a per-word rate of, say, $.50/word, your quote should be $7,500.

Only you can decide which approach to take, but you want to try to confirm that you will at least earn your standard hourly rate for the work. In this case, you would, though the per-word rate might be more advantageous.

Comparing the two rates is important because it can let you know when a project could be profitable and when it would not.

Let’s look at a different project where, for example, you’re being offered $.25/word to write a 1,500-word thought leadership piece. That’s a potential fee of $375.

That might sound too low for the work to be done, so you run an hourly calculation. You suspect that it will take 8 hours, since there is only one interview to be done. What would your hourly rate be for that assignment? Only $46 and change. Since your standard (or minimum required) hourly rate is $75, you know this is not a profitable assignment for you.

Of course, you can still decide to take the assignment if you’re looking for more work, or you can try to negotiate the per-word rate up. Or you can decline it. But at least you have a better sense of whether it’s a profitable project for you.

Per-project

Another potential way to quote work is using a per-project fee, also called a “flat fee.” Clients tend to like this approach because they know what their bill will be from the outset. Sure, you may use your hourly rate and your own calculations of how long you think the work will take to come up with that project fee, but the client does not see those behind-the-scenes numbers.

The advantage of a per-project fee to you is that if you can get the work done in less time, you earn a higher profit. As you become more experienced, this likelihood becomes much greater.

The disadvantage with flat fees occurs with scope creep, or when the client adds in small tasks for you to address that you hadn’t counted on. Maybe an interview you hadn’t anticipated, or another round of edits, or comments from your client’s spouse. Those extra hours add up, and other than pointing back to your agreement that outlines the scope of work, it can be difficult to decline the work without causing irritation on the part of your client.

However, most ghostwriters lean towards quoting on a project basis and then break that larger fee into interim payments based on milestones. That is, when you submit 25% of the book, for example, you get a payment. When you submit 50% of the book, you get another payment, and so on.

Keep Value in Mind

When it comes to calculating your hourly rate, your per-word rate, or your project rate, you need to start with your expenses so that you can be assured that you’re earning enough to keep a roof over your head. But an even bigger factor is how much value you’re providing your client—that should inform what you ask them to pay.

Value-based pricing is why a ghostwriter working on his first project will earn less than a ghost who is working on her 50^th. The years of experience and success have driven that price up.

So don’t talk yourself out of increasing your rates if you’ve been doing this for a few years. Clients benefit from the short-cuts you’ve figured out, the process you’ve honed, and the pitfalls you’re going to help them avoid.

Which means that as long as you’ve confirmed you will cover your basic expenses, ask for more. And then ask for even more the next time.

Because you’re worth it.

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Table of contents:

• Raise your rates
• Include contract expiration dates
• Set boundaries
• Take a vacation

Even if you didn’t make New Year’s resolutions on January 1, how about taking a little time today to think about how you can improve your business in the coming year? These ideas and plans don’t necessarily need to be framed as “resolutions,” but, rather, how about as tactics or improvements?

Taking even little steps to work on how your ghostwriting business functions, can have a tremendous impact on your happiness, job satisfaction, and financial health.

Here are four things you can do this year to boost your business and personal well-being:

Raise your rates

Raise your rates. Raise your rates. Too few ghostwriters are earning what they’re worth, which means they’re giving their value away.

There are plenty of organizations and individuals who are willing to pay well for skilled writing help. Either because they don’t have the ability, the interest, or the time to tackle writing tasks themselves, many opt to outsource it to a professional, though not all are willing to pay professional rates for quality work.

Sure, there are clients who will only pay a fraction of what the work is worth. It’s likely they do this across the board in their business and life. They’ll only pay pennies when they should be paying dollars. And you don’t want them as clients. They’ll take too much of your time, leaving you with earnings that are a fraction of what they could be.

Include contract expiration dates

We’re hearing more frequently about clients who decide to take an unexpected hiatus from their writing project. That’s fine, as long as the ghostwriter has been notified and is willing to put the work on hold. Otherwise, that work, for which they had blocked off time, causes a major hole in their schedule and bank account. That can lead ghosts to have to scramble to fill time they thought they had already sold.

An even bigger problem, however, is when that same client suddenly reappears months or years later expecting to pick up where they left off. Unless you’ve addressed this in your agreement with them, you may get stuck with continuing on the project without extra compensation for the stop and start.

So, this year, consider adding a clause that addresses what happens when a client goes AWOL for a matter of days or weeks. Perhaps after 30 days of no word or no work you consider the project cancelled, and which triggers a restart fee when the client wants to get back to work later in the year. There are a number of ways to structure this, but plan in advance for sudden stoppages so that you don’t lose money.

Set boundaries

It’s important not to let your professional work rule your life. The best way to avoid that is to set business hours—when you are officially open for business. During those hours, you’ll answer the phone and respond to emails and texts. But outside of those hours, you won’t.

Communicating those operating hours to prospects and clients is also important, to set expectations. If you never respond to emails on the weekend, or after 6:00 pm, tell them. And then stick to it.

If you start responding at midnight, or within 5 minutes of a client reaching out, they may come to expect such responsiveness. Instead, consider scheduling your response for the next day, so you can cross it off your to-do list but not give the impression that you’re sitting at your computer 24/7 waiting for their email (even if you are).

Take a vacation

Regular rest and rejuvenation is important for your mental and physical health. Granted, it’s hard to plan much travel in the current age of COVID, but think of ways you could get away from your current view to another safe space. Maybe that means renting a lakeside cabin or ski chalet, with its own kitchen, to avoid too-close socializing. Or maybe you elect to take a weekend away in a hotel to recharge with room service and a pretty view. A staycation, when you spend time at home not working, can also be a safe way to relax.

I hope that taking care of yourself and your business is on top of your priority list for 2022.

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