The definition of a ghostwriter
A ghostwriter is someone who’s hired to write a book (or any other written material) on behalf of someone else who will be credited with its authorship. When we think of ghostwriters, we often have in mind celebrity autobiographies. But any form of writing might be written by a ghost - novels, how-to books, memoirs, thought leadership books, magazine articles, journalism, etc.
Copyright for the work lies with the author (the person who's hired a ghost to write their book). Most ghostwritten books don’t credit the writer at all, and there’s usually a non-disclosure agreement as part of the contract. However, ghosts are increasingly being given credit in the form of ‘with John Smith’ or ‘and John Smith’ following the author’s name.
Why do people use ghostwriters?
Often it’s because the ‘author’ has a great idea or message, or skills and knowledge they want to get ‘out there’. Or perhaps they’ve lived an interesting life that would make a good autobiography or memoir, but they don’t have the skills to write, structure and edit a several hundred-page book. Sometimes it’s because they simply don’t have the time to write the book themselves.
Then there are the books that are released under the name of well-known and highly marketable novelists. Using ghosts allows publishers and authors (and sometimes the estates of deceased authors) to continue churning out new novels in far greater numbers than if the author was writing them all him or herself. Ever wondered how authors like James Patterson appear to be so super-productive, or authors, such as Robert Ludlum, still seem to be rwriting books after their deaths? Ghostwriters. (In the case of the latter, they’re often based on ideas and notes that the author left behind.)
Why do ghostwriters do it? Don't they want to be credited for their work?
Being a ghostwriter requires a range of skills beyond the writing itself - establishing a harmonious working relationship with the author, good communication, research skills, interviewing, and the subtle ability to write in the author’s own ‘voice’ so it sounds as though the credited author has written the book. Most ghosts take great pride in the ability to ‘disappear’ and derive great satisfaction from the work they do. The books I write under as the Life Story Writer are written in the first person, as if by the person whose story I’m telling; it’s their name that goes on the front as the author. One of my greatest joys is to receive a comment like this one from a recent client: ‘the family said they smiled, laughed and cried all the way through reading it. It was like their Dad was talking directly to them.’
Isn't it immoral?
There's a point of view that, somehow, using a ghostwriter is 'cheating. But from the perspective of the ghost, they’re paid to write books they would never have produced otherwise and get to work on a range of exciting and varied projects with interesting clients. Ghostwriting projects can be well paid and most ghostwriters are very happy with the work they do.
From the perspective of the reading public, it’s true that there can be a sense of betrayal when you discover your favourite author whose books you’ve been loyally buying and reading for the last ten years is no longer actually writing them. But the fact that people keep buying and reading those books speaks for itself, and often the ideas and storylines have been created by the original author who hands the writing work over to a ghost.
In the case of ‘how to ‘books, thought leadership books, and even some memoirs and autobiographies, there’s an even greater justification that the ideas and stories contained in a book belong to the credited author, and, as long as the writer is properly rewarded for their work, it’s not a problem. According to the Constant Content blog,‘ghost writers have become a critical part of the publishing industry’. A fact recognised in the US earlier this year, with the first ever Gathering of the Ghosts, sponsored by the American Society of Journalists and Authors and Gotham Ghostwriters.
I'd like to write my life story for my family, but I don't know how to start/I'm a bit overwhelmed by it/I haven't got the writing skills/I haven't got the time.
All excellent reasons for using a ghostwriter!
Think of it as hiring someone who will listen non-judgementally to your story, prompt you when you miss something out, do further research to fill in contextual background, take the time to work with you to structure your story so that it flows and comes to life on the page - and then write it as though it was you telling your story yourself!
What to look for when choosing someone to write your life story
Many ghost writers are self-employed; others work through agencies. A quick internet search will give you lots of options at varying prices, so it’s important to know what to look for, and choose someone who will approach your project with integrity and professionalism. Here’s a checklist:
You should be able to meet and talk with your proposed ghostwriter before you commit to going ahead. You will be committing to working closely together over several months, so you need to be sure that you feel comfortable with the writer you choose.
The nature of ghostwriting means that ghostwriters generally aren’t able to tell you about projects they’ve previously worked on, but they should be able to show you samples of their work
They should give you a clear explanation of what the costs will be, and the process for payment. Some writers charge a set amount per word; others have fixed price packages which include a specific length, number of interview hours, number of photographs, number of finished books offered for a given fee.
Although the ghost will write the book, you will need to be actively involved in the project too, and your ghost should give your clear information about how they work - how, when and w here the interviews will happen, time scales for the project, what the process is for reading and amending the text, the visual aspects of the book including photographs and interior and cover design.
Your writer should provide a contract covering the above matters, as well as issues such as: how to withdraw; what happens if you need to change the arrangements mid-project; who will own the copyright of the book; what happens if your requirements change during the project, for example, if you realise you need more words than you anticipated; copyright and confidentiality.
Conclusion
It’s a big decision, choosing someone to write your life story for you, so do your research before you commit. Once you’ve found a writer you feel comfortable with and got the details set up, enjoy the process! It’ll be interesting, challenging, and hopefully a lot of fun, and you’ll end up with book of your life to treasure and pass on to your loved ones.
I'm
a ghostwriter specialising in writing life story, memoir and
autobiography for anyone who wants to share their story. You don't have to be famous or indeed think that you've done anything special with your life. Some of my favourite projects have been for people who think they're 'just ordinary'. In my view, no-one is ordinary, and everyone has a story to tell. For more
information head over to my website, www.lifestorywriter.co.uk, or send me an email at penny@lifestorywriter.co.uk
