I am a ghostwriter.
As a matter of self-disclosure, you need to know that this is not an article for writers.
That said, I would not be offended if a writer were to glean something of use from it.
No, this article is written for those who hire the services of a writer.
If you hire someone to create a certain form of content, in a specific style, and for an intended outcome you need to read this.
Before moving on these folks need a name, let's call them contractors.
Why are contractors important to a writer? There are a couple of reasons; it is these folks, the contractors, that keep food on the table of a writer and contractors through no maliciousness can be the thorn in the side of a writer's passion.
While it may seem that in just three short paragraphs a story line has emerged, complete with conflict, protagonists, antagonists, and resolution nothing could be further from the truth.
This is a commentary on the state of the writer/contractor relationship.
Why another article like this one? Most writer/contractor roles are straightforward.
You, the contractor, have a message to convey and the writer needs the work.
While this sounds like a mutually beneficial relationship, it is somewhat incomplete.
It leaves out an important question: what type of writer do I need? Far too many contractors are of the opinion that a writer is a writer, is a writer, is a...
not so.
In 1967 Marshall McLuhan published his revolutionary work "The Medium is the Massage.
" The focus of the medium here is ghostwriting.
Let's explore the difference between a ghostwriter and other types of writers.
A ghostwriter significantly differs from other types of writers in several ways.
Let's begin with "what a ghostwriter is not" The ghostwriter is not "someone who writes for someone else.
" You see, while not bad, and certainly, a highly valued talent this answer is wrong.
This describes a writer, not a ghostwriter.
Since writing is all about language, those who are passionate about writing should make every effort to use correct language, or say what you mean.
When using the term "ghostwriter' I am describing a very specific role of a writer.
As borrowed from WikipediA, "...
a ghostwriter may have varying degrees of involvement in the production of a finished work.
This can range from editing and cleaning up a rough draft, to being hired to do most of the writing based on an outline provided by the credited author.
For some projects, ghostwriters will do a substantial amount of research, as in the case of a ghostwriter who is hired to write an autobiography for a well-known person.
Ghostwriters are also hired to write fiction in the style of an existing author, often as a way of increasing the number of books that can be published by a popular author (e.
g.
, Tom Clancy, James Patterson).
Ghostwriters will often spend a period from several months to a full year researching, writing, and editing nonfiction works for a client, and they are paid either per page, with a flat fee, or a percentage of the royalties of the sales, or some combination thereof.
The ghostwriter is sometimes acknowledged by the author or publisher for his or her writing services.
" ( http://en.
wikipedia.
org/wiki/Ghostwriter ) Ask any writer of experience and they will have tales of accepting an assignment, writing and submitting it, only to be told that the content does not meet what the project leader wants to say.
The message here is that the contactor had a specific outcome in mind, they had an inkling of what they wanted to say, but did not communicate it.
What the contractor needed was a ghostwriter, but they were not aware of it.
Why bother with what may seem like nit picking? To avoid confusion, misunderstandings, and to deliver what the customer needs.
Anyone familiar with writing knows that there are many genres, or expressive styles.
There are more genres than can be included here, but to illustrate this important point here are a few to provide an idea of what I am talking about.
Beginning with the Big Two forms of writing; fiction and non-fiction the list grows.
Even within these two seemingly simple types of style there are dozens of sub-categories.
Meanings and intent can become blurred.
Moreover, it does not stop there.
Just to provide an example of how confusing it can be for contractor and writer alike let's take a look at the categories included under writing and content of a popular online employment site Freelance.
com ( http://www.
freelancer.
com ) Writing & Content Academic Writing Article Rewriting Articles Astroturfing Blog Book Writing Cartography & Maps Copy Typing Copywriting eBooks Editing Fiction Financial Research Forum Posting Ghostwriting Grant Writing LaTeX Medical Writing Newsletters PDF Poetry Powerpoint Press Releases Product Descriptions Proofreading Proposal/Bid Writing Publishing Report Writing Research Resumes Reviews Screenwriting Short Stories Speech Writing Technical Writing Translation Travel Writing WIKI In case you think this is an isolated illustration compare this list to other popular online writer services.
Some sites may have a few more or less topics, but they are all there.
Is it any wonder that confusion abounds? You can find any number of writers competent to fulfill these categories, but the question remains; what type of writer is it that you need? What are some of the characteristics that separate ghostwriting from the others? Primarily, it is in the relationship between the contractor, the content, and the writer.
There is a story to be told, and how it all comes about is at the core of this relationship.
What should the role of a ghostwriter be? There are three main functions; 1.
A professional and accomplished ghostwriter will do the following: • Incorporate your voice into the work; what is it you want to tell others? • Honestly present the scope, focus and intent of the content.
• Tells the story as you intend to be told • Maintain story structure • Make no unilateral changes to your story.
2.
Whether fiction or non-fiction it is your story being told.
The ghostwriter maps out with you the elements of good content that match your intended story; • Story line or sales copy • Sub-plots or call to action • Characters or product • Identification of protagonist/antagonist roles or benefits • Clarify points where conflict occurs • Create a satisfactory resolve of conflicts • Tie all story elements together 3.
Advise, mentor, and recommend: • How to maintain your sensitivity to your story • Make recommendations to improve the story • Is always ready to provide justification for my recommendations • Works with you to select the most advantageous format for the message • Is supportive of your efforts Most of us have seen a cartoon representation of the harried writer sitting at a desk before a typewriter all the while filling a nearby trash can to overflowing with crumpled sheets of paper with only one or two words on it.
The ghostwriter does not start with a blank sheet of paper and fill it with only their thoughts.
The ghostwriter does not take a leap of faith based solely on the title or topic offered.
No, the ghostwriter works in tandem with you, taking the pieces of your story to produce a finished product that meets or exceeds your expectations.
There is a place for those who write content from scratch, just as there is a place for the ghostwriter.