Feature Article: What is a Ghostwriter?

by Gary McLaren

Do you believe in ghosts?

They are mostly unseen. Unnoticeable. And believe it or not they are moving behind the scenes in the publishing industry. If you're lucky you might catch a fleeting glimpse. They are officially called 'ghostwriters'.

A ghostwriter is a writer who writes on an assigned topic under someone else's name, with their consent. They often write books completely from scratch but sometimes their work involves rewriting or polishing an existing work.

Most books by famous personalities are actually written by ghostwriters. When you see an autobiography or memoir from a politician, businessperson, or celebrity, chances are that it has been written by a ghostwriter.

Here are a few examples. The autobiography "Ronald Reagan: An American Life" was ghosted by Robert Lindsey. "Learning to Sing", the autobiography of American Idol star Clay Aiken, was written with ghostwriter Allison Glock. The autobiographies of Doris Day and Sophie Loren were written by A.E. Hotchner.

So how popular is ghostwriting? Statistics are hard to come by since many people don't want to reveal that their book is ghosted. Some industry estimates suggest that up to fifty percent of all non-fiction books are ghostwritten.

A client may decide to hire a ghostwriter because the client does not have any writing talent or because they are too busy. Ghostwriters, for their part, are usually well-established writers already, and are selected on that basis.


What do Ghostwriters Write?
Ghostwriters are hired to write many types of documents, from autobiographies for famous personalities to e-books for internet marketing gurus, and even letters for politicians.

They also write fiction. Sometimes it is for a series of books written by several ghostwriters under one name, as with the stories of Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys. Ghostwriters also continue to write novels under the name of popular authors who have died, as in the case of Robert Ludlum.

Is Ghostwriting Ethical?
Although ghostwriting is a widely accepted practice within the publishing industry, some people outside of the industry complain that ghostwriting is deceptive. But that is not necessarily true. Consider for a moment the ghostwriting process. The client is the author of the work in that they are the person who is really behind the content. It is the client's ideas, the client's stories and experiences. It is the client's words recorded on hours of interview tapes. The ghostwriter is a professional consultant providing expertise in the area of bringing together all the information, organizing it, and writing it up in a way that will produce a marketable and readable masterpiece.


What Skills does a Ghostwriter Need?
A ghostwriter must be a good writer.

He or she should also have good interviewing skills, since they will spend many hours and days interviewing clients. They should have the ability to ask good questions that will draw out the best aspects of a story.

Another skill - which may need to be developed - is the ability to maintain the client's voice so that the book reads like the client, not the ghostwriter.


How is a Ghostwriter Paid?
Ghostwriters usually charge a flat fee for their work.

Sometimes they will reduce their ghostwriting fee in return for a percentage (perhaps 25-50%) of the royalties, or in rare cases they may waive their fee in return for a percentage of royalties.

The advantage of a flat fee is that a ghostwriter knows exactly how much he or she will be paid. The risk of relying on royalties is that even if the book is well-written, the ghostwriter has no control over the book's marketing and promotion.


Does a Ghostwriter get Any Credit?
More often than not, the public never knows that a book was ghostwritten. Sometimes ghostwriters are even legally bound to not reveal that they have ghosted a particular book.

Occasionally ghostwriters will receive some credit. The writer's name may appear on the cover as a co-author or it might read "as told to Jenny Ghost." Another way to thank the ghostwriter is under the acknowledgements, for example "...and thanks to Joe Ghoul without whom this book would never have been completed".


Are You Thinking of Becoming a Ghostwriter?
It could be an excellent career move. You've probably heard it said that everyone has a book inside them. Well, the fact of the matter is that not everyone has the time or the skill to write it.

As long as there is a story to be told, ghostwriters will continue to be in demand.


© Copyright 2006 Gary McLaren.

About The Author

Gary McLaren is the editor of Worldwide Freelance Writer, a leading source of information for freelance writers. If you would like more information on starting a ghostwriting business, check out http://www.worldwidefreelance.com/i/58.htm

Pointers for Interviewing

As I was rummaging through old files and notes from graduate school, I came across this list of pointers for interviewing. The tips are useful, practical and humorous, so I thought I'd share them with you.

Note: Some are taken from Dr. Ink of the Poynter Institute.

When conducting an interview, remember to do the following:

1. Shut up.
   
2. Shut up some more.
   
3. Work from a list of questions and never veer off.
   
4. Shut up again.
   
5. Get there early. Stay late. Take note of the surrounding.
   
6. Interview a person on his or her turf.
   
7. Ask for other sources e.g. articles about the topic, photos, etc.
   
8. Write down things you see and not just the answers to the question.
   
9. Use your notebook to show that you are conducting the interview.
   
10. Put your notebook away in the end, but keep on talking. Ask follow-up questions. A surplus of information is better.
    
11. Hang around and watch the person interact with others.
    
12. Ask the most important questions more than once and in different forms.
    
13. Ask the slam-the-door (controversial and sensitive) questions last.
    
14. Shut up. Listen to the interviewee.
    
15. Fill out or copy your notes as quickly as possible.

I've made it a habit to review these pointers before conducting an interview. They do help a lot, especially when you're not working around with a camera or a recorder. I just have to remind myself every now and again to shut up. ;o)

Helpful Online References

You may find that your search engine yields a gazillion online references from dictionaries to encyclopedias to maps. You don’t have to wade through all those, of course. Here’s a short list of online references that can help your web writing and research.

» via OnlineMediaBeat.com

Handy References

The writer on a roll doesn't have to go rolling down the street just to get information that can be readily available and is literally at an arm's length. Get these handy references and save on time and energy:

Dictionary. I'm a huge fan of Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries so I personally recommend them. But I would say that Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary is just as good. You can choose to have both print and CD versions of your dictionary of choice as long as you can easily find the word that you're looking for.

Thesaurus. Remember that this is as indispensable as the dictionary. You can also get a print or a CD version of this. I personally recommend Roget's Thesaurus. Don't rely on your word processor's thesaurus -- it sometimes gives the wrong advice. ;o)

Dictionary of English Usage. Make sure that you're using the right word in the right context. When in doubt, consult a dictionary of English usage. I use Merriam-Webster's Concise Dictionary of English Usage. Other writers prefer Fowler's Modern English Usage. Take your pick.

Desk Encyclopedia. I recommend a desk edition of encyclopedia just for quick reference. You can always resell your copy a year later and get an updated edition. Of course, it's best if you can get a CD version of your favorite encyclopedia.

Grammar Book. It's good to refresh your knowledge of grammar once in a while, sans your scary grammar school teacher. I personally use grammmar books published by Oxford. But you can use any grammar reference which you're most comfortable with --even the one that you used during your freshman year at the university.

Style Guide. Every writer must have one. I personally recommend the Chicago Manual of Style for everything - books, newspapers, magazines, technical documentation, web writing, etc. If you're bent on technical writing, though, try the Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications.

March 1 - 7 is National Ghostwriters Week

[Press Release via NewsReleaseWire.com]

Give Your Book the Ghost of a Chance: March 1-7 is National Ghostwriters Week

Ridgeland, SC 29936
February 28 2006

Almost 50 percent of all books and countless articles in magazines and journals are written by ghostwriters—professionals who create long and short pieces for clients who don’t have the time or the skills to commit their ideas to paper. Though ghostwriters’ names don’t appear on the books and articles they write, they are true Renaissance men and women, whose wide array of clients typically makes them knowledgeable about a great many things, from real estate to pirate lore. In honor of these unsung heroes of the printed word, March 1-7 has been declared National Ghostwriters Week.

Many celebrities and even famous writers use “ghosts” for their books, but many more business professionals than you might imagine do, too. “No matter what your profession, a well-crafted book or article can do amazing things for your career,” says Dawn Josephson, founder and President of Cameo Publications, a company whose editorial services include ghostwriting for business professionals and speakers. “You’ll gain credibility, positioning, and profits, even if you’ve not yet developed the idea beyond the ‘scribbles on a cocktail napkin’ stage.”

Depending on the length of the work to be ghostwritten, ghostwriters interview clients for as little as an hour or as long as two days to determine the work’s target audience and purpose, and to structure an outline of key ideas. In the case of a book, clients receive constant communication with the ghostwriter, who sends chapters for approval as the work progresses. “You receive a completed manuscript in a matter of a few months,” says Gail Westerfield, an editorial specialist at Cameo. “And when you’ve been carrying the seed of a book around inside you for years, as most people have, it’s extraordinary to suddenly have it right in front of you, ready to show the world your great ideas.”

Because ghostwriters complete books in months, not years, and articles in days, not weeks, their clients’ ideas remain timely and relevant to the target audience. What’s more, with writing professionals to guide them through the writing process, clients find they can better organize their thoughts and formulate ideas more quickly. Ghostwriters know the publishing industry’s standards, too, so clients are more likely to receive favorable responses to their work.

Dawn Josephson, the Master Writing Coach™, is a professional speaker and internationally-acclaimed author who has ghostwritten 20 books and over 1,500 articles. She is the creator of The Ground Rules™ book series. Gail Westerfield has an extensive writing and editing background; she has ghosted dozens of articles and is currently at work on two books.

For more information, visit the Cameo Publications website at www.CameoPublications.com or contact David Josephson toll-free at 866-372-2636 or by email at david@cameopublications.com