Ghosting Around

As writers, we have the skills to bring our stories to life. Understanding the importance of structure, grammar, and how to entertain readers in an engaging way also means we have skills others don’t.

Some people have the most fascinating tales to tell, but they don’t know how to go about sharing them. So why shouldn’t they employ a writer to help them tell their story? It’s no different to calling in a plumber to fix a leaky tap. When we need a job doing, we call in a professional.

Writing other people’s stories is called ghostwriting because the writer is usually invisible. The writer does the work, but the client gets the credit.

Some may think this is unethical. After all, if a book has by Joe Bloggs on the cover and it turns out somebody else wrote it, then it is understandable readers may feel misled. However, the name on the cover is whose story it is, not who decided which words to use.

Confidentiality Clause

Celebrities, or their publishers, often insist on confidentiality clauses, preventing ghostwriters from telling anyone they wrote, or worked on, the book.

In traditional publishing, ghostwriters aren’t typically paid royalties. Instead, they’re receive a work-for-hire fee, which compensates them for the time they spend writing the book. Many prefer this because they know exactly how much they’ll earn from the project.

There aren’t many in the publishing industry who can correctly estimate how much income a book will generate, so receiving a fixed sum can be hugely beneficial for ghostwriters. The downside is, if the book sells extremely well, they don’t get any further financial benefit from it.

While the confidentiality clause means ghostwriters receive none of the credit for writing the text, it also means they do not have to be bothered with any of the book’s marketing. Every cloud, as they say!

However, some clients are happy to credit the ghostwriter who helps them bring their story to life. Sometimes, they may mention this in the book’s acknowledgements, or it may even extend to a credit on the book’s cover, often accompanied by the phrase “as told to”.

Freelancing Fit

As a sideline, ghostwriting can be useful for writers because it can fit in around other freelancing commitments. It’s also a great way to smooth out those troughs all writing businesses experience during the ebb-and-flow of freelance work.

It’s not just celebrities looking to hire ghostwriters. Ordinary people lead fascinating lives, too. Some might argue ordinary people’s lives are far more interesting than those of celebrities. One such writer to discover this is Caroline Brannigan (https://www.carolinebrannigan.com/), who has been writing other people’s stories for sixteen years.

‘I was a successful freelance feature writer working for The Times, Sunday Times, Telegraph and lots of other papers and magazines,’ she explains. ‘I was getting a bit tired of the celebrity culture as ordinary people interest me more, so in 2008 I set up my memoir writing business. I expected it to be a sideline, but it has taken over, which is great.’

And it really has. In the last sixteen years, Caroline has written over 150 memoirs on behalf of her clients.

Memoir Service

For Caroline, the writing is just part of the service she offers. Many of her clients only want a few copies of their book printed for close family and friends, so Caroline helps them with this process, too.

‘I write the stories of ordinary people who want an heirloom for family and friends,’ she explains. ‘I don’t work with famous people and won’t take on anyone who wants to have a bestseller because that would be misleading. I’m not a book seller.’

Typically, telling other people’s stories involves sitting down with them and listening to what they have to say. This usually takes place through a series of interviews, which may be face-to-face, online via services like Zoom, or over the telephone.

Interviews take several hours, so it’s important Caroline gets to know her client. She creates a map of memories from which to draw, which becomes her outline, and helps her remain focused on the story her client wants to tell.

She also discusses with her clients about the finished product they have in mind. So they want to include family photos? Are they looking for a hardback or paperback cover? How many copies do they need?

By producing the physical book for them, her clients see two proofs of their memoir. They see it at the manuscript stage, when they can check key details, such as facts and dates, and again at the interior design stage, when they see the page-layout proofs.

It’s important to be clear and upfront with potential clients about the ghostwriting process to manage their expectations. Caroline finds her way of working helps keep clients informed and allows her to relish the writing process itself.

‘Over sixteen years, I have developed a carefully structured process which stops problems happening, so I’m free to enjoy the work. From a writing point of view, my favourite bit is the second edit when I can really make the words sing.’

Honoured and Humbling

For Charlotte Peacock, author of Nan Shepherd’s first biography, Into The Mountain, ghostwriting happened almost by accident.

‘A friend asked if I’d ghostwrite a memoir for his mum,’ she says. ‘It turned out I loved writing books for other people and my ghostwriting career took off from there.’

Charlotte (charlottepeacock.co.uk) enjoys helping other people share their life stories. ‘I love what I do. I get a real kick out of helping people tell their stories and turn their ideas into text. It’s also humbling.’

Not every client has a cheerful story to tell, and as a ghostwriter, you might be one of only a few who know what they’ve been through.

‘I always feel so honoured when people feel they can trust me with their experiences—especially when these involve trauma. Telling their stories is a form of catharsis and it’s a privilege to be a part of that process.’

It’s tempting, especially when starting out, to accept any job offer that comes your way. However, Charlotte recommends careful consideration of whether a job is appropriate for you, and if you are the most appropriate writer for the client. Ultimately, this could be a long relationship you’re embarking on.

‘I’m picky about the projects I take on,’ she says, ‘because I need to feel the book is something I really want to write. And I need to feel a strong connection with the author. The ghostwriting process is collaborative. So it’s crucial we click, as we’ll be working together for six months to a year. Sometimes longer.’

That said, Charlotte considers every opportunity that comes her way. ‘I specialise in creative non-fiction, which is true stories that read like fiction. But I can turn my pen to pretty much anything—from business and self-help books to novels and screenplays.’

Captivating Clients

As with any new business venture, finding clients can be the most troublesome part to begin with. When Caroline began her memoir-writing business, she simply advertised her services.

‘I started by advertising in print media, but now most of my work comes through word of mouth and people need to book in advance.’

Charlotte has experienced something similar. Once word gets round, clients often approach ghostwriters directly.

‘These days my clients find me via my website or through publishers and literary agents,’ she says. ‘Clients often ask to work with me again on other projects, so I must be doing something right!’

Instead of advertising in print publications, there are several websites where ghostwriters can register their services nowadays. Check out sites like upwork.com, freelancer.com, and fiverr.com. LinkedIn’s network of business users means including ghostwriting on your profile page could attract busy executives looking to outsource their blog posts or regular newsletters, as well as any book ambitions they may have.

Use your personal website to promote your ghostwriting services, and explain the kinds of projects you’ll consider, how you will work with clients, and how they can contact you. Both Caroline’s (https://www.carolinebrannigan.com/) and Charlotte’s (https://charlottepeacock.co.uk/services/ghostwriting-services/) sites do this and explain how to make that initial contact.

If there are certain genres, or projects, you don’t want to consider, then make this clear. It’ll save wasting time later.

Spooky Starts

Ghostwriters need to be excellent wordsmiths, so sell your writing skills. Highlight in particular those skills you think will be most appropriate for the ghostwriting projects you’d like to specialise in.

Have a standard contract template that you can adapt as needed. The Alliance of Independent Author’s website has a useful sample agreement (https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Sample-Ghostwriter-Agreement-1.pdf). Make it clear who owns the rights in the words you will write (typically your client), what you’re being employed to write, how many words that might be, and when you will deliver the work. Consider how many revisions you’re willing to undertake. If you don’t limit it, it may become a never-ending project.

State what the fee will be for the project and when payments are expected. Clarify if the client wants a confidentiality clause in the contract, too. Not every client does, and those who don’t may offer you an endorsement for promoting your services.

Ghostwriting can be a big or small part of your writing business. Ultimately, it’s all about telling stories, which is what every writer does. But perhaps the biggest compliment a ghostwriter can receive is when their client says their writing sounds just like them.

Business Directory – Ghostly Guidance

Caroline Brannigan’s Top Tip:

‘If you don’t do it from the heart, you won’t succeed.’

Charlotte Peacock’s Top Tip:

‘Be honest with yourself. If it bothers you that you’ll never get the credit, ghostwriting is not for you.’

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