I See What You're Saying

·E154

Owning Responsibility for Their Story: A Ghostwriter’s Approach to Drawing Out Central Events | Jennifer Locke | Ep. 154

April 1
48 mins

Episode Description

What does it really take to draw someone’s story out of them?

In this episode, Michael Reddington sits down with ghostwriter and nonfiction strategist Jennifer Locke to explore how powerful listening, trust, and patience help uncover the stories people struggle to tell.

From building deep trust with clients to identifying the central event that shapes a narrative, Jennifer shares how her approach to “therapeutic listening” allows authors to open up, process their experiences, and bring clarity to their message.

This conversation goes far beyond writing.

It applies to leaders, coaches, interviewers, and anyone responsible for understanding and representing someone else’s story.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

  • What “therapeutic listening” looks like in practice
  • How to build trust before asking someone to share their story
  • Why removing judgment is critical to great communication
  • How to identify the central event in someone’s story
  • Why patience allows better insights to emerge over time
  • How to guide conversations without taking control
  • The importance of helping others feel safe, heard, and understood
  • How to navigate emotional moments in conversations
  • Why clarity of audience and message shapes better outcomes

About the Guest

Jennifer Locke is a USA Today bestselling business book ghostwriter and nonfiction book strategist who helps entrepreneurs and thought leaders elevate their brands through books.

She has been writing fiction since 2011 and brings a fiction writer’s approach to her nonfiction and ghostwriting work. Jennifer has ghostwritten business books published by both business presses and Big Five publishers.

Whether writing fiction or nonfiction, Jennifer lives for stories and is passionate about bringing them to life for her clients.

Chapters:

  • (00:00) - Introduction to Jennifer Locke and Ghostwriting
  • (04:05) - How to Interview and Draw Out Someone’s Story
  • (08:36) - Building Trust Before the Work Begins
  • (14:29) - What “Therapeutic Listening” Really Means
  • (18:20) - Handling Emotional Moments in Conversations
  • (22:00) - Identifying the Central Event in a Story
  • (27:27) - Structuring Conversations Without Losing Trust
  • (31:17) - Why Judgment Destroys the Work
  • (34:53) - Navigating Time-Constrained Conversations
  • (39:38) - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Writing
  • (42:02) - Resources for Writing Your Own Book

Links and Resources:


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Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media

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