This morning, I had a realization that smacked me upside the head.
I have lived half of my adult life in countries other than the one I was born in: Australia.
I’ve lived in the UK for eight years, and in the US for twelve years, and that is where I live now.
I’ve never been a great one for planning ahead; a five-year plan is an alien concept to me. So when I decided to go live in London for a year, I never imagined it would turn into a lifelong voyage of discovery.
Also, I never imagined that I would raise two American children. I can tell you, bringing two kids into the US elementary system is a shock to all concerned. In her first week in California, my daughter stepped straight into a States test. The United States has so many states! (For comparison, Australia has six.) And each has a capital, mostly cities we had never heard of. I can assure you, the US states and their capitals are not part of the curriculum in pretty much any other country.
But it did occur to me that my globe-trotting is a massive advantage for me on some of the projects I work on as a ghostwriter. That international perspective, the ability to step outside of what is considered normal in the United States, may be precisely what you need to get a fresh eye on a situation.
Sometimes, of course, it’s a liability. If you tell me your life story as an American football star, I won’t understand most of what you’re talking about. Honestly, I may not be the best writer for you to work with.
Sometimes language is—not a barrier, but a cause for discussion. Working on Duluth Trading Company’s book, I made company founder Steve Schlecht guffaw when I wrote the phrase “fixing a roof.” I meant repairing; he thought I meant getting ready (fixing) to do something to the roof. I think. We figured it out.
Other times a 360-degree view is what you need. Working with Meredith Sandland and Carl Orsbourne on Delivering, their book about the digitization of the restaurant industry, I could bring my lived experience to finessing their descriptions of the food industry outside the US. Or writing Family Spirit, which is built around case studies of enduring family businesses like Riedel, Lavazza, and Glenfiddich: I understood how fine wine glasses, coffee, and whiskey might hold a special place in the heart of a particular culture. (It doesn’t hurt that I can personally appreciate the delights of those three things.)
Particularly if you are looking to write for an international audience, consider that you might benefit from having someone on your writing team who sees things with a truly global viewpoint.
To get a glimpse of the books I’ve had a hand in, visit http://www.sallycollings.com
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