Have you ever wanted to acquaint yourself with the relatively unfamiliar concept of ghostwriting in our country? This article aims to provide comprehensive answers to all the questions you might have about ghostwriting.
Not everyone proficient in the writing profession can excel at ghostwriting. Crafting a book on behalf of another person demands not only writing skills but also proficiency in various areas like research, empathy, and observation. Among the crucial attributes required for someone taking on the challenging task of writing for another is undoubtedly research prowess. Although ghostwriters often specialize in specific subject areas, they must continuously enhance their skills and knowledge in their chosen domain. Additionally, writing from the client's perspective might entail an extensive research process. Certain books might necessitate extensive interviews with the client who has commissioned the ghostwriter's services. Particularly in the case of life stories or professional experiences, effective communication skills are crucial for a ghostwriter.
In addition to all these considerations, ghostwriters must fulfill the requisites of working independently. This involves adhering to established deadlines, maintaining a respectful demeanor, being able to work freely, and demonstrating a professional language and approach that engenders trust among clients.
Prominent Ghostwriting Projects
It's not only novice writers who can benefit from ghostwriters' services; even renowned and experienced authors might opt for them. H.P. Lovecraft's Harry Houdini, Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne, and Alice Leonhardt's Nancy Drew books were written by ghostwriters. It's known that globally acclaimed authors like Tom Clancy, R.L. Stine, and James Patterson have also engaged ghostwriters. Additionally, iconic series like James Bond and "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," which have been mainstays on bestseller lists for years, were also penned by ghostwriters.
The Ghostwriting Agreement
The most pivotal aspect of engaging a ghostwriter lies in the contract that will be signed between the ghostwriter and the client. This contract not only delineates the scope of work, payment amount, and conditions but also safeguards the client's rights and confidentiality.
An individual who provides the names of books they have written in the past or authors they have worked with without obtaining permission will likely use your name as a reference for prospective clients in the future.
The initial section of the ghostwriting agreement outlines the writer's responsibilities. In this section, details such as the language of the work, writing duration, deadlines, minimum page count, and genre of the book are determined. Furthermore, this section might include clauses specifying that the ghostwriter will personally carry out the task, refrain from plagiarizing from other works, not publish the work under their own name, or assign it to another party. A professional ghostwriting agreement also usually states that the ghostwriter will not seek any claim to income resulting from the sale, rental, or staging of the work and will transfer all financial and intellectual rights to the author upon completion. Importantly, the agreement should address that the ghostwriter will not use the client's name or the work as a reference without the client's permission.
One of the most critical clauses of the initial part, which outlines the writer's obligations, pertains to the ghostwriter's commitment to maintaining the confidentiality of any information obtained from the client throughout the course of the project. This encompasses a wide range of areas, including business ideas, future projects, accumulated knowledge, copyright information, patents, trade secrets, correspondence, graphics, data, formulas, designs, plans, samples, reports, trade information, definitions, and production details, and should be stipulated in as detailed and explicit a manner as possible in the contract. Confidentiality is a cornerstone of ghostwriting and is safeguarded by this agreement. The contract should also explicitly state that the ghostwriter cannot use the client's or the work's name as a reference without the client's permission.
The second part of the agreement outlines the client's responsibilities. The client has the freedom to decide whether to publish the work or not. This section also specifies the total amount to be paid and payment dates. A portion of the payment, as determined by the ghostwriter, is usually made upon signing the agreement. Subsequent payments may vary among ghostwriters, but they often correspond to completed quarters of the book. The remaining balance is paid upon delivery of the work. This section of the contract also stipulates that in the event the client withdraws from the project after signing the contract, they will not be able to reclaim the payment made.
For a ghostwriter, the second part of the contract is essential, not only for its payment terms and conditions but also for the response times to sections sent for approval or requests for information from the client. Delays caused by the client in these matters should not be considered part of the project timeline specified in the initial part of the contract.
The contract is concluded by stating that it is governed by Turkish law and that the parties' names, addresses, page count, number of copies, and date are correct.
How Do Ghostwriters Operate?
A significant number of ghostwriters work remotely and freelance from their homes. Additionally, some publishing houses and editorial companies also employ in-house ghostwriters. You can also find ghostwriters on platforms like LinkedIn and websites dedicated to freelancers.
Upon project approval and the signing of the contract, a ghostwriter embarks on the research phase. The first thing a ghostwriter needs is a comprehensive understanding of the client, their needs, the category of the desired work, and other books in that category. If available, the client might provide videos of their speeches and writing samples to help the ghostwriter better grasp the client's language and style of expression. Especially during the early stages of developing their writing style, new writers are often heavily influenced by the voices of the authors they read and admire the most. Thus, the client's favorite authors can also aid the ghostwriter in developing a suitable language and tone for the client.
The working style of a ghostwriter is largely guided by the client's requirements. While some clients may simply request a book in a specific field without interfering in the content, others might provide a predetermined content structure for the book. In the latter case, the client would need to prepare the "Table of Contents" for the book. The ghostwriter can then create content in line with these headings to compose the book.
However, there are situations where the ghostwriter might need to guide the client. For instance, in non-fiction subjects, certain topics that the client envisions might not suffice for a single book and could potentially yield material for multiple books. The client's desired sections and headings might not match the content well, or the sequencing could be inaccurate. In the realm of fiction, some stories might lack the depth to be contained within a single book, while others could be developed into a series. In such cases, the client might follow the ghostwriter's suggestions for necessary adjustments or could request the ghostwriter to create content according to their desired terms.
As in any book-writing process, the initial research phase is crucial for ghostwriters. After assimilating the client's requests and understanding the content to be written, the ghostwriter can begin the writing process. Writing might start off slowly due to the need to establish a suitable narrative style that aligns with the client's preferences, but once the language settles, the pace should pick up. Similarly, seeking approval from the client for each draft of the content is standard practice during the initial stages. This step is important for better comprehension of the client's requests and serves as an opportunity to make any necessary adjustments to the writing style. Frequent client approvals during the initial stages prevent a scenario where the client withholds approval for the entire content due to issues such as mismatched language, content misalignment with the client's vision, or inadequate reflection of the client's tone.
By the time the ghostwriter completes the first draft, at least half of the content should have been approved by the client. The project timeline stipulated in the ghostwriting agreement usually marks the completion of the first draft. Subsequently, the client is allotted time to read, annotate, and provide feedback on the first draft. Once the requested revisions and changes are incorporated, the final draft is prepared, marking the completion of the project.
Finding the Right Ghostwriter
It might be erroneous to assume that an accomplished ghostwriter can work with any type of client. Ghostwriters generally choose clients and fields based on their educational background and experiences. For example, a ghostwriter with a legal education might focus on legal content, whereas someone with a background in child development might work on children's books. Similarly, a business graduate might choose to write on topics related to social media or human resources. Individuals who have taken creative writing courses or have worked as editors and translators for publishing houses might opt for fiction-based ghostwriting.
Establishing a successful working relationship with a ghostwriter and producing high-quality content hinges on the communication skills of both parties. One of the biggest challenges ghostwriters face is clients having difficulty communicating their expectations and what they anticipate from their desired book. Therefore, before a client signs a contract with a ghostwriter, it's imperative for the client to have a clear understanding of their expectations, dedicating ample time to consider this matter and express their desires accurately. Unless the client is requesting a generic piece, the content produced by the ghostwriter will heavily rely on the client's guidance.
To ensure you have selected the right ghostwriter, you can review their contract, request a meeting through platforms like Zoom to discuss project details, or even ask the ghostwriter to provide a brief writing sample related to your chosen field. While a short text and a lengthy book adhere to different principles, this will at least acquaint you with the ghostwriter's language and style of expression.
Throughout this process, don't hesitate to meet and converse with different ghostwriters to create a successful work and achieve a high-quality outcome. If desired, you can also request a confidentiality agreement to protect your name and the rights of the project you intend to work on during these discussions.