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Ghostwriting 101
Written by: Ross FattoriArticle Overview: Some basic informaton about ghostwriting.
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Ghostwriting 101
One of the many forms of writing that I do is ghostwriting. People sometimes ask me if that involves writing scary stories for children.
Ghostwriting could involve writing ghost stories, I suppose, although I’ve never been approached with such a request.
In the writing trade, ghostwriting refers to any writing assignment, where an individual pays a professional writer to write a book, an article, speech or other written material, for which he takes credit.
The person who pays the writer claims ownership of the work by putting his name on it. In other words, the payee gets the glory, while the ghostwriter gets paid for her services.
If the ghostwritten material happens to be an autobiography or a memoir, a ghostwriter’s name may appear on the book’s front cover in smaller type, below the main subject’s name.
When professional athletes, big-name CEOs and famous entertainers want to write their memoirs, they often turn to a ghostwriter for help. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former GE CEO Jack Welch and high-profile entrepreneur Ivana Trump are modern-day examples of famous people who have hired ghostwriters to pen their respective autobiographies.
Many politicians, business executives, association members, entrepreneurs and academics have also been known to seek the assistance of ghostwriters, when writing speeches, newspaper columns, magazine articles and research papers.
Is ghostwriting a legitimate enterprise? Absolutely. If you are not a skilled writer (and have no intention of becoming one), then hiring a ghostwriter is a sensible and practical solution. Ghostwriters provide a valuable service for those who don’t have the time or the expertise to write at a competent or professional level.
Often the work of a ghostwriter involves conducting research, interviews, fact-checking, writing, re-writing, editing and proofing. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that the client never knows about (or needs to know about.).
If you’re thinking about hiring a ghostwriter, they aren’t hard to find. A quick Google search will yield a roster of talented scribes in your area. Or, try contacting a local writer’s group or a professional writers’ association.
Before hiring a ghostwriter, it’s best to meet with the individual first, before making any sort of commitment. You want to make sure that your personalities mesh, since you’ll likely be spending a good deal of time working together. I would advise interviewing two or three writers before hiring one.
As for rates, ghostwriters tend to charge according to their level of skill and experience. Rates vary from $50 to several hundred dollars per hour.
For a book-length project (200-300 pages), the minimum fee in Canada is $25,000, according to the Writers’ Union, with additional fees for research. Rates are usually negotiated in advance and fees are paid at different stages of completion. Writing agreements should include provisions in the event that an assignment changes.
If you’ve been asked to write a speech, a guest column or a research paper, or you’re thinking about writing your memoirs, then contacting a ghostwriter may be your answer. In certain instances, going this route will save you a lot of time and aggravation.
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Article Tags: association members, business executives, columns magazine, conducting research, executives association, ghost stories, ghostwriter, legitimate enterprise, payee, practical solution, president bill clinton, professional athletes, professional level, professional writer, research interviews, scary stories for children, skilled writer, valuable service, writing speeches, written material
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