An Ability to Write?? Ghost Writers, What do they do?
I’ve gotten a few emails since yesterday… what is ghost writing? Okay yes some celebreties use them, and this is what ghost writing is known best for, but what about others? Are there different forms of ghost writing?
Yes there are,but most of the time we don’t think about them. Editing a manuscript or three? Outlining a manuscript or four? what can be done by someone else, who will get paid for their services?
See as Damaria so aptly put it, it’s a payment without a name. If you need money, this is a way to go. as she also pointed out, the pay is great the byline isn’t. Oh, the resume of a writer! It is the conundrum that all writers face, do we write and get a byline or do we write and get some money for the month?
I believe that ghost writing is a method that most writers can use. For example, (an example ONLY!!) for say 10 dollars, one can write an outline, and then get paid for said outline of a story or a non-fiction piece. Then they can do it again a few more times in a month, and work on their other projects. For them this means a bit of income. For others, it means that they have a steady stream of income.
A writer I know well mentioned to me that they do ghost editing. Similar to editing, only they get paid and they aren’t mentioned. According to them, the pay is good, and they do this for many authors. (Okay I might take them up on the “you miss seriously need an editor!”) For them, editing with a mention in the book bothers them, as they don’t want to be known as an editor but as a writer.
My question for you today is this: What does a ghost writer need to write? what abilities do you think they need? What services would you offer if you became a ghost writer?
3 Comments
Damaria Senne
I think a ghostwriter needs the ability to be a mimic. It's not just about being able to tell someone else's story, but using your craft to allow them to tell the story in their own words. See, every writer has their own style/voice/whatever distinguishes them from everyone else, and when I write as me, there are certain markers that canny readers can see which tells them it's me. But if I'm writing as someone else, then my voice as a writer needs to be subsumed, and the voice of the person whom I represent is the only one the readers hear.
Jill Edmondson
I have not yet dabbled in ghost writing (and am not tempted to because of time restraints, at least for nw… never say never…)
However, a friend of mine did a lot of ghost writing in the world of corporate communications. One of his clients was a health care organization, another big client was a construction/real estate development company.
In each case, the company did monthly newsletters to employees and stakeholders, each newsletter included a message from the president… which was written by my friend and approved of by the Big Boss.
I think it was cool for the company prez to hire someone to write it for him. The bosses in both cases were wizards at their inductry but not exactly rah-rah-rah wordsmiths.
Thus a win-win situation emerged: my friend got paid well to do a fun piece every month and the company president was able to deliver the message he wanted (with a little help…)
Cheers, Jill
http://www.jilledmondson.blogspot.com
JS
NEEDS TO WRITE about what the original face behind the piece wants. It's as straight as that. The Ghost Writer can choose the words (after approval) but not the topic.
ABILITIES required include adherence to the guidelined given by the orgiinal face behind the piece and writing craftly within the confines of those.
SERVICE i would offer is that I can be a ghost for anybody, given i get a fat pay check.