Is Ghostwriting the same as cheating? Well, if my daughter came home from school and told me she had accepted a fistful of dollars for doing another person’s work, or that she herself had parted with her hard won allowance to have the same done for her, my ire would most certainly be riled.
Yet this is precisely what I do for a living 90% of the time with a smile spread across my face. What’s the difference?
A ghostwriter by trade completes the work of another, then accepts a fair fee in lieu of credit. A ghostwriter’s clients claim authorship of content they didn’t create in exchange for money they would likely consider supremely well spent. Both sides are happy, instilled in a system that’s been in style ever since the days of Cyrano.
How is this different from my daughter doing the same thing in school? Do a few decades really delete the parallel?
A good ghostwriter must be able to easily claim either side of an argument. So please indulge me, I’m about to rationalize.
A ghostwriter has a well defined relationship with his clients, deeply rooted in mutual benefit. One person provides a service while the other benefits from their craftsmanship – not too different from a caterer, tailor or architect.
Of course, one could argue people rarely hire caterers and inherit the accolades for their cuisine, but on the other hand ghostwriters are rarely writing from nothing. They are most often starting from the thoughts, notes, drafts, or bullet points provided by their clientele.
Bottom line: there is a strong difference between the world of a child’s classroom and that of a writer’s desk.
Ghostwriting is a routine practice, globally acknowledged and regularly engaged in by politicians, celebrities and leaders of every shape and size. There is no stigma against the practice, as those people who hire ghostwriters are often simply employing a writer far more quipped than they to help synthesize the success they’ve had so that they may move it from one venue to another.
Yes, if my daughter did this I would most certainly see it as cheating. School isn’t just about rote memorization, it is about discovering who we are and how we learn. The last thing that any reasonable parent would want is for their child to learn early in life is that cheating is a rapid route to get from A to B.
Let’s face it, those for whom cheating is instilled as an early habit, might never develop the resources that would lead them to ever need a ghostwriter in the first place.
Peruse my portfolio or contact me today to discuss your copywriting project.
I can’t wait to hear from you!
SeanMichaelPlatt@gmail.com
(562) 972-6842.
Ghostwriters
Ghostwriters are often hired to write books for people who either have ideas in their head that they do not have the time or skill to articulate, or professionals interested in increasing their authority who do not have the time or skill to get their ideas down.
You often see this frequently in the business world. The difference in speaking fees come down solely to the authority of the speaker. Ghostwriters can help business professionals command more time, money, and respect.
Ghostwriters work from outline, interview, or pre existing text. Regardless of the starting point, a ghostwriter does not receive credit for their words. It is a rare project indeed to see ghostwriters sharing a byline with their “author.” In this rare case, ghostwriters may be listed as a coauthor or editor of the finished product, or perhaps listed as an editor somewhere in the acknowledgements page. Some of the most in demand ghostwriters in the world have made such a name for themselves that they can command a byline such as, “as told to… (insert ghostwriter’s name).
Why are ghostwriters willing to forgo any opportunity for fame and fortune?
The answer is simple. A ghostwriter may have plenty of bylines of their own yet they write with enough speed that they can be professional writers on the side. Many ghostwriters bring in substantial fees, though this is changing now with new competition flooding in from India and China. Still, there are many instances when ghostwriting can easily clear anywhere form $25,000 all the way to $100,000 for a manuscript of exceptional quality.
Ghost writers with a great reputation are hired for the quality of their work, not their household name, and the best ghostwriters are able to run with their pick of the best projects. They also have the flexibility to tweak with various pay schedules. For example, some ghostwriters might opt to accept a lower fee in they are penning a book that they expect to be a runaway success. They could accept their flat fee to ghostwrite the book, on top of any royalties or residuals the book will generate over its shelf life.
This is far from common practice, however, and is mostly relegated to those few ghostwriters who have the most experience, best reputation, or highest caliber work. If you aren’t one of those souls who has to have their name on the byline, choosing to be a part of the legion of ghostwriters could be a lucrative career move.
I love writing and can produce more content than I could ever take credit for. Being one of the world’s ghostwriters for me makes perfect sense.
Email me today to discuss your next ghostwriting project. I look forward to hearing from you!
Ghostwriter Dad
Ghostwriters
