Have you ever had a million-dollar idea? Maybe it was for an invention that you think could change the world, or maybe it was some revolutionary system for something that could make people’s lives easier. Or perhaps, that million-dollar idea is for a book- a story waiting to happen- all you need are the words. Well, what if I told you there’s a service for turning those million-dollar-book ideas into a reality? Ghostwriting is a service that is steadily becoming more popular among aspiring authors because it allows authors to write their stories without ever writing down a single word. Ghostwriters meet with these aspiring authors and discuss their ideas for their stories; then, they get to work writing them. It’s a very interesting process, but its hands-off nature often puts people on edge about the possibilities of concept theft and poor writing. I’m here today to tell you a little more about this process and to hopefully put your creative minds at ease.
One of the brilliant things about hiring a ghostwriter is that it enables you to have as much creative freedom as you want. The output will reflect the input, so the author may give the ghostwriter as much feedback, criticism, and overall input as they would like, and the end result will either sound more or less like the author’s vision for the book. Say an author has an amazing concept for a story but not much else; the author may present this idea to the ghostwriter, and the ghostwriter will either verbally talk about their ideas before writing or write up a few different drafts for the author to choose from. The ghostwriter can do all of the heavy liftings in terms of fleshing out said concept and turning it into something tangible that people can actually read. Conversely, if the author has a very clear vision and lots of ideas, the ghostwriter can take all of this information and transcribe it so that it can be read and (ideally) enjoyed. In other words, the ghostwriting process can be as hands-on (or off) as the author pleases.
The other great thing about ghostwriting has to do with why they are called such. These phantom scribes are referred to as “ghostwriters” because when it comes time for the book to be published, their name is invisible on the work as if they were an invisible part of the writing process. In other words, their name does not go on the finished work, and they are not credited for the story that sprouted from the author’s ideas. In terms of pay, they are paid for their services as writers, but once this service is no longer needed, they no longer receive payment for the book they assisted in creating. When an author signs a contract with a ghostwriter, the writer relinquishes the legal rights to the work, thus putting it in the author’s name. The author then receives any profits from sales. Additionally, because the ghostwriter’s name won’t appear in the book at all, there is no incentive for the writer to change the author’s story or creative choices in favor of their own. If the writer thinks they have an idea that will work better, it won’t do them any good to change the author’s concept into theirs because the writer won’t receive any credit for it. This eliminates the fear authors might have over having their visions changed or altered without their permission.
All in all, ghostwriting is a very savvy solution for aspiring authors. It enables authors to get their creative juices flowing and helps them understand the mechanics that go into writing and bringing a concept to fruition with the guidance of an experienced writer. Hiring a ghostwriter is a smart solution for anybody who wants to write but just doesn’t know where to begin.
