You Might Need A Ghostwriter
A ghostwriter is an emotional-labor-intensive writer for hire who helps authors access their hard-to-reach lived experiences. When an author is too busy, too afraid, or unenlightened about how to journalize their story, the ghostwriter is there to offer a reality check on what needs to be done to get started. One misconception about ghostwriters is that we help writers cheat, or we simply just write for other people. I like to think that we help authors navigate the different avenues of getting a story to the surface.
A good ghostwriter knows that literary content creators are thriving in a dismantled publishing industry, meaning the barrier to entry is damn near collapsed. A traditional publishing deal is no longer the only way to become a successful author; writers can publish pristine essays on a blog for free; compile them into a self-edited, self-designed e-book; post a purchase link on their social media; and print on demand as orders roll in—much more sustainable than printing hundreds of books at once, hoping to sell out. No more department bureaucracy! If successful, that same book can help the author secure speaking opportunities and lead writing workshops.
So where does ghostwriting come in? Having the ability to write well consistently is not a requirement. We have to help the author access information they probably thought they’d forgotten about. As much as I would love to know everything about someone just by looking into their eyes, I am not a telekinetic, and that would look creepy if I tried it! A tactful ghostwriter has a custom list of questions for the author, so the end product comes to fruition. The author’s detailed answers, in turn, become an overview of the entire project, and it is from here that the ghostwriter can start on the work, while regularly checking in with the author, of course.
I would never promise an author a thriving writing career, a publishing deal, recognition, awards, or any of the glitz and glamour many authors hope for. My only promise is to keep an impartial investment in the outcome of the product, whether it be a manuscript, essay, or an individual literary grant application. An author doesn’t pay me for my words; rather, they pay for an easy-to-work-with collaborator, the emotional aspect that I bring to a project, and my advocacy for their voice. (And *drum roll* reduced stress and on-time submissions.)