We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Loren Stephens a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Loren with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My father was president of our family-owned paint company founded by his father and his father’s three brothers. Every morning, my father got into his leased maroon Chrysler – which my mother jokingly referred to as the “hearse” – and drove from Westchester across the George Washington Bridge to Hoboken, New Jersey. He’d leave at 7 in the morning and return at 7 in the evening. For a brief period, I worked for him as the temporary switchboard operator, channeling Lily Tomlin with my inner Ernestine as in “Is this the party to whom I am speaking?”
I observed how hard my father worked, spending hours in the laboratory or speaking to customers who were spread up and down the eastern seaboard and as far west as Chicago. It sometimes irked me that while his father and his brothers would saunter through the factory, smoking cigars and flirting with the accounts payable ladies, my father barely had time to breathe. He shouldered the burden of keeping the factory humming and the money coming in so that the family could enjoy the lifestyle to which they had become accustomed – a nice lifestyle indeed, with apartments in brownstones or overlooking Central Park, and a summer cottage on a lake in New Jersey. He never complained and saw it as his duty as the only son to work hard.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am the founder and CEO of two ghostwriting companies based in Los Angeles, Write Wisdom and Bright Star Memoirs. My author/clients live all over the United States. Thanks to Zoom, I don’t have to be concerned about traveling for weekly meetings. With a team of journalists, including my son, Josh Stephens, Write Wisdom and Bright Star Memoirs have written 40-plus books. The genres include memoirs, self-help books, histories of how a company got started, and novels. What has been particularly interesting is that when a number of clients come to me for help with a novel, they already have a general idea of the plot and cast of characters. We turn these elements into a fascinating, well-crafted book. It is exciting to help clients fulfill their dream of writing a book. To keep our prospective author/clients abreast of what we’re up to, we publish a quarterly newsletter with announcements about the upcoming books and projects our team is working on under their own name. We open the newsletter with interesting developments and news in the world of publishing.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Being an empathetic listener – most of our author/clients eventually tell us about aspects of their lives that they might not have fully examined or thought about. Studs Terkel liked to say, when interviewing someone, the simplest question may be the best, ‘”And then what happened.”’ Listen to skilled interviewers like Terry Gross on NPR to learn how to be an effective interviewer. Her book, All I Did Was Ask: Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists, is an essential text for anyone interested in becoming a ghostwriter.
Being a voracious reader – I always recommend that writers spend half their time writing and the other half reading different genres, always with an eye to what makes for a great essay or book. I love expanding my vocabulary, and reading the writing of other authors is the easiest way to do that. David Ulin penned a wonderful book about the lost art of reading. I encourage you to pick it up and take notes.
Being a curious researcher – without exception, every book I have written required extensive research. I rely on the internet to seek out nonfiction books that address a particular topic or period I’ll be writing about. For example, I’m currently working on a novel about the advertising business in the 1960s. Think of the TV series, Mad Men. Despite a stint as a copywriter for TV commercials during a summer break when I was in college, I looked for books by prominent figures in the field to help me gain a better understanding of Madison Avenue, its precepts, and atmosphere. I delved into From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor: Front Line Dispatches from the Advertising War by Jerry Della Femina; Mary Wells Lawrence’s memoir, A Big Life (In Advertising); and Ogilvy on Advertising by David Ogilvy, filled with his rules on success in the business.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
The primary challenge I face is maintaining a steady stream of author/clients who are willing to wait for the availability of me or one of the Write Wisdom team. As an entrepreneur, I recognize the importance of never taking ‘word of mouth’ or my network for granted in this very competitive field. To ensure my name is front and center when individuals consider hiring a ghostwriter, I work with a team of publicists skilled in promoting both me and my companies.
I actively seek speaking opportunities and avenues to attract potential clients, and offer valuable insights in my newsletter regarding what to expect from the ghostwriting process. It’s about finding the right fit – determining which member of my team is best suited to collaborate with a prospective author/client. Some projects may not align well with our company, and I’m transparent about this, suggesting alternatives if needed. I firmly believe that ‘givers gain.’
Even if we’re not the right fit, I strive to provide guidance for moving forward, whether through recommending relevant classes or suggesting other ghostwriting companies with expertise in their field of interest.
I also extend thanks to my former author/clients who have recommended me to someone. In the extremely competitive field of ghostwriting, there is nothing more valuable than a satisfied client who gives an enthusiastic endorsement.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.writewisdom.com; and lorenmstephens.com
Image Credits
Daniel Reichert Photography
