If there’s a book inside you, don’t wait: rope in a ghostwriter now to help you tell your story.
“One day, when I’m not so busy, I’m going to sit down and write a book to tell my story.”
How many times have you thought that? When will you not be ‘so busy’? You could be talking to a ghostwriter right now; while you are in traffic, or using the time wasted waiting for appointments, to get the bones of your story in place and get you on the road to the printed book you promised yourself.
There are many motivations for people who want to create a book, which include the simple desire to leave a printed legacy of heritage detailing their family history for grandchildren and future generations, or to create a permanent keepsake of treasured memories, such as their wedding, building their home, their child’s graduation, or an overseas holiday. You may feel that your own story of triumph over a tough beginning could help others to achieve the same success in a business career, or you may want to create an intimate story of your recovery from domestic abuse, or substance addiction, to encourage and empower others in such situations.
A ghostwriter is hired to write literary or journalistic works, speeches, or other texts that are officially credited to another person, you, as the author. Celebrities, executives, participants in news stories, and political leaders often hire ghostwriters to draft or edit autobiographies, memoirs, magazine articles, or other written material. Memoir ghostwriters often pride themselves in “disappearing” when impersonating others since such disappearance signals the quality of their craftsmanship. There is usually a confidentiality clause in the contract between the ghostwriter and the credited author that ensures the ghostwriter will remain anonymous. Sometimes the ghostwriter is acknowledged by the author or publisher for his or her writing services, euphemistically called a “researcher” or “editor”, but often the ghostwriter is not credited at all.
Ghostwriters are widely used by celebrities and public figures who wish to publish their autobiographies or memoirs. The degree of involvement of the ghostwriter in nonfiction writing projects ranges from minor to substantial. In some cases, a ghostwriter may be called in just to clean up, edit, and polish a rough draft of an autobiography or a “how-to” book. In other cases, the ghostwriter will write an entire book or article based on information, stories, notes, an outline, or interview sessions with the celebrity or public figure. The credited author also indicates to the ghostwriter what type of style, tone, or “voice” they want in the book.
In some cases, such as with some “how-to” books, diet guides, or cookbooks, a book will be entirely written by a ghostwriter, and the celebrity (e.g., a well-known musician or sports star) will be credited as author. Publishing companies use this strategy to increase the marketability of a book by associating it with a celebrity or well-known figure. In several countries before elections, candidates commission ghostwriters to produce autobiographies for them so as to gain visibility and exposure. One of John F. Kennedy‘s books (Profiles in Courage) is almost entirely credited to ghostwriters. Donald Trump‘s famous autobiography (Trump: The Art of the Deal) was produced by a ghostwriter. Several of Hillary Clinton‘s books were produced by ghostwriters. Nelson Mandela‘s autobiography (Long Walk to Freedom) was also produced by a ghostwriter. [i]
With over twenty years’ experience in the South African fiction and academic publishing industry, I can help you with all your research, ghostwriting, editing and proofreading requirements to create your envisioned manuscript.
Why put it off any longer? Mail me and let’s begin getting your story into chapters. You owe it to yourself to tell your story.
CINDY PHILLIPS
WRITER/EDITOR/PROOFREADER
EMAIL: cindytaylor709@gmail.com
Images sourced at https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/
[i] “The Straight Dope: Did John F. Kennedy really write “Profiles in Courage?””. straightdope.com.
^ Mayer, Jane (July 25, 2016). “Donald Trump’s Ghostwriter Tells All”. The New Yorker. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
^ “Who wrote that political memoir? No, who actually wrote it?”. washingtonpost.com. June 9, 2014. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
^ “Q&A: Richard Stengel ’77 on Nelson Mandela”. February 5, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
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