Jonathan Williams, Expert Ghostwriter
As a ghostwriter, I help people write books that make a difference. Read on to find out a little about who I am and what makes me different.
Basic facts: I was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. I have lived in Utah (I previously lived in Provo [where I attended BYU] and Salt Lake City and recently moved from Ogden), and I now live in Little River, South Carolina, which is near Myrtle Beach and close to the North Carolina border. I am married with a boy and a girl. My son has autism, so that subject is close to my mind and heart, and my daughter is the most amazing artist I’ve seen for someone her age, so I’m proud she inherited my father’s art talent that seems to have skipped me.
On a more personal note, I’ve battled depression in the past, and I understand a little of what it’s like to suffer from mental health challenges. And to get even more personal, my wife and I lost twin boys at 21 weeks, so we′ve know a little of what others have suffered.
Education: I have an M.A in English from the University of Utah and a B.A in political science from Brigham Young University.
Work experience: For many years, I worked as a technical writer in the Washington, D.C. area. I wrote user manuals, operational manuals, release notes, help guides, online help, proposals, and so on. How exciting! Okay, not really, but it was a good living, and I learned a lot. I also wrote newspaper articles, marketing collateral, advertising copy, and print ads. The gigs I worked at included Fannie Mae, The USPS Office of the Inspector General, Orbital, and a host of commercial software companies. Through all these assignments, I learned a lot: about writing, and about people.
In 2007, I relocated to Utah where I continued to work in business writing. And then, in 2010, something happened—I got canned!! I was working for a company whose goals and practices I didn't agree with, and during a team meeting I let slip what I thought was an innocent observation about how our team could actually learn from others’ critical comments. My boss didn’t see it that way, and within a few months, they pushed me out. It hurt, but it was also liberating. Free of the corporate world, I started my own business and signed on as an affiliate for a firm that helped companies cut costs by analyzing their waste and recycling. I loved it. I prospected and met with C-level execs and helped them save money on their trash. It was challenging—I had never done sales before—but it was fun. I was my own man, and running my own tiny business taught me about sales and small business basics. I also learned to network and market my business.
How I got into ghostwriting: One morning in mid-2013 while I was attending a business networking meeting, a ghostwriter visited our chapter. As soon as he said the word ghostwriter, a light went off in my head, and I started thinking about making a change. I eventually hung out my shingle, and I’ve been hooked ever since. As a ghostwriter, I use my storytelling ability and my writing and editing chops honed from my time as a business writer and tech writer to help my clients tell their stories. The bottom line is, I love to write, I’m good at it, and I have the happy clients to prove it.
My philosophy on writing good books: To me, ghostwriting is all about telling stories. And I love helping people tell stories where someone changes, learns, or grows. I’m fan of good self-help books and have noticed that the best ones incorporate personal stories. Stories have power and can convey information and emotion like nothing else. I’m a generalist at heart, but I especially enjoy helping my clients write about entrepreneurship, business, sales, earth science, history, and the arts.
Fun stuff: I love electronic gadgets, and I’m an audiophile, which means I love listening to music on good stereo equipment. I also love riding my bike and being outdoors. My wife and I are very happy that we moved closer to the coast in 2021. We love warmth, sun, and the sound of waves crashing. And of course, I love reading good books and watching good movies. I also enjoy travel and can′t wait to explore all that South Carolina and North Carolina have to offer, especially their cities (Charlotte, Asheville, Wilmington, Raleigh-Durham, Columbia, and of course Charleston).
My secret sauce: If you want a ghostwriter who listens, is sensitive, and won’t get in the way of your story, I am your guy. I find that I often wax nostalgic. Walk me by an old train station or the old town section of a city, and I wonder what we’re now missing. I also served an LDS mission to Japan and can still speak a little Japanese.
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