Writing for Non-native English-Speaking Clients Challenges My Skills, Expands My Perspective, and Brings Deep Fulfillment

Languages and cultures different from my own have always fascinated me, and that fascination led me as a kid to read fairy tales and mythologies from all over the world. As a teen and then as an adult, it led me to learn Spanish and travel to places as far-flung as Tajikistan and Botswana. 

I became a Spanish translator for the US DOJ, and in my personal life, dabbled in other languages—Russian, Mayan, German, modern Hebrew. I seek out the mom-and-pop ethnic cuisine restaurants in my hometown and even try cooking recipes from different parts of the world.

So it probably comes as no surprise that English-as-a-second language (ESL) clients have a special place in my heart. It is my privilege as a ghostwriter and writing coach to help them express their ideas and stories in my native tongue while retaining their authentic voice. 

Over the past few years, I’ve worked with several. Here are three things I’ve learned from three different ESL clients who exemplify why they bless me.

They Teach Me So Much

Ange is a personal finance coach, and taking her through my planning process for a prescriptive nonfiction book was so much fun! An immigrant to the US herself, she has a passion to help other immigrants learn how to handle money, bills, and planning for the future in a system that often works differently from what they’re used to. 

The difference between what she had to say and what a native English speaker would is that she drew not only on her professional expertise for the book’s content, but on her personal experience as an immigrant both in Europe and in the US, as well as the cultural savvy she’s gained in the different countries she’d lived and worked in. 

I learned a lot from Ange. I’m privileged to work with such a global citizen like her.

They Challenge Me as a Writer

Working with non-native English speakers is not all fun and games, though. Often, writing or coaching them pushes me as a writer, both linguistically and creatively. 

A current memoir client from Japan has a love of language as deep as my own. While she’s pretty fluent in English, as you’d expect, her grasp on the language is not as intuitive as mine. As an avid reader as well as a writer, I sometimes word her thoughts in a way that, to me, seems natural. However, not everything resonates with her. A word or phrase I’m used to may sound off or strange to her ear.

When that happens, we talk through it. Sometimes, she defers to my cultural and professional expertise. Other times, though, she’s still uncomfortable with the wording, and it’s at these times that I grow. I have to tap into my creativity, finding ways to reword things that:

1) still make sense to a native English speaker without sounding awkward, and

2) she feels comfortable with.

I’m grateful for these tests of my language and writing skills. They push me to advance in my craft so I can better serve future clients. And when I get it right? The satisfaction feels great.

The Work is Fulfilling

Speaking of satisfaction, the fulfillment I get from working with ESL authors is special. Several months ago, I translated and edited a children’s book by Rocío Z. Oubre, who had written the original text in Spanish. Once I did that, she asked me to translate the book back into Spanish text that would more closely mirror the edited English version. 

Because of this, over the course of the project I had to:

1) work with two sets of punctuation and grammar rules

2) on different versions of the same text while

3) trying to ensure a natural flow in each language. 

The client was thrilled with the results for both versions of the book—hurray! But what made her appreciation of my work even more satisfying was the pride of achievement, of feeling competent, of knowing you’ve done a complex job well.

English Doesn’t Have to Be Your First Language for You to Share an Amazing English-language Story

When I first got into ghostwriting, I was excited. I’d always wanted to be a writer, and while I’d been writing for decades in various capacities through work, school, and volunteering, I finally had a job with “writer” in the title. 

Yet, I’ve been pleased to find that being a ghostwriter and writing coach doesn’t mean I have to leave my skill set as a linguist behind. I can incorporate my passion for other cultures and perspectives in my writing business by serving ESL clients. And in the process, I learn, grow, and find great joy in fulfillment.

If English isn’t your first language and you’re considering writing a book, don’t be nervous about reaching out – I’m always excited to work with ESL authors to make the best possible version of your story.