This post is part of a series entitled, "Just Say Not to AI." Click here to pull up all the posts in this series (in reverse chronological order). For the first post in this series, click here.
Why do I want to talk about ghostwriting all of a sudden? It is because the ghostwriters are actively talking to the world about who they are and what they do. And, a lot of it is fueled by a "Just Say No to AI" undercurrent.
We all know that ghostwriting is a huge part of why and how some of the best selling popular memoirs get on our shelves. I have always been thankful for the work these writers do because the books they help write get people into the library, especially those people who don't consider themselves library users or even readers.
Recently there was a conference of ghostwriters and the New York Times wrote about it here (gift link).
One of the groups mentioned in the article is The Gotham Ghostwriters. From their "About" page:
We’re in the Trust Business
While we may be a ghostwriting agency on paper, we’re really in the trust business. Our clients are looking for more than a good writer — they want a true partner devoted to their success. This means that while credentials matter, chemistry matters more. If the client and the writer don’t click, the relationship won’t stick — and most likely neither will the story.
Our Method
That’s why, before a connection is made or a word written, the first and most vital service we provide is to listen — to your passions, your principles, and your priorities. We will pay close attention to what is motivating you to tell your story, what you want to accomplish in doing so, and what kind of collaborator will mesh best with your style. And throughout the process, just as you’d expect from a true partner, we will talk straight and be transparent with you about the costs and tradeoffs involved in the writer selection and publishing process. No upselling, no pressure tactics, and no bait and switches.
Our Team
We’re ex-agents and ex-editors, and we are your guide to navigating the path from idea to manuscript to published book.
Our Core Services
We work with clients on books, book proposals, speeches, and thought leadership content.
This group is out there connecting people who need a ghostwriter, with the writers, and in fact, they organized the conference in the article.
They have a separate arm for the writers they work with. They act like an agent connecting the writers with their clients. More info on their writers' network here.
This is a lot of background but I give it here so you understand the full picture. The short version is-- ghostwriting is coming out of the shadows because these authors deserve to be lauded for the work they do. They are helping some of our bestselling books even get on the shelves.
But also, hiding the fact that they are part of the process is very harmful. Without acknowledging the work of human helpers, the entire industry of celebrity and/or famous people memoirs could get inundated by AI slop. If we are not 100% clear that a human who is NOT the famous person on the cover took time and care to write the books, many people who want their stories out into the world might think AI can just do it for them.
Let me be even clearer-- having ghostwriters come out from the shadows is important for all of us to fight AI created books from becoming more prevalent.
Gotham Ghostwriters didn't just host a conference-- which was a great way to connect all the people involved and get the word out-- but they also host an award-- The Andy Awards for Nonfiction Book Collaboration:
The Andy Awards for Nonfiction Book Collaboration™ honor the spirit of collaboration—the AND—in nonfiction book writing. The only award for ghostwriters and paid collaborators, the awards are jointly presented by Gotham Ghostwriters and the American Society of Journalists and Authors, bringing collaboration out of the shadows and into a well-deserved spotlight.Both Author and Paid Collaborator must jointly submit the book for consideration and agree to share the award.
I love that the author and "paid collaborator" need to work together here. They are both honoring the best nonfiction book collaborations and making sure the partnership itself is being spotlit.
They just announced the 2025 winners here. That link includes all of the finalists as well. There are books here I know you have at your library. Also, if you scroll down, you can see 2024's lists and more resources. 2024 was the first year of this award.
Although this post has a lot of useful info, I also thought it needed the perspective of an actual ghostwriter. Good thing that I know one. Scott Kenemore is a speculative fiction writer, member of the HWA (among other writers groups), and a prolific ghostwriter. You probably have books by him and those he had ghost written-- both-- on your shelves.
I asked Scott to write about his experience as a ghost writer to help you understand everything I am trying to get across here today.
Take it away Scott.
By Scott Kenemore
I’m pleased to be asked by Becky to share some thoughts about working as a ghostwriter. It is something I very much fell into accidentally and never directly pursued. Yet, if readers of Becky’s blog are interested in possibly working as ghostwriters themselves, I hope that a brief accounting of my experience can be at least slightly helpful.
First of all, I feel like ghostwriters like to dance around the substantive details of their profession/avocation, so let me try to NOT do that here…
I ghostwrite about two books a year. I make more money ghostwriting than I do from my creative writing, but less than from my day job in corporate communications. (It is nice extra money, but you wouldn’t want to try to live on it.) Because I’ve been doing it for 15+ years, most ghostwriting inquiries now come to me; that is to say, I don’t have to hang out a shingle to get work.
I enjoy ghostwriting because I’m an introverted, quiet person, and ghostwriting forces me to go out and meet (or at least Zoom with) really interesting people. In the course of this work, I’ve met YouTubers who have become millionaires at half my age. I’ve met mafia soldiers who have “wacked” people (and were nearly “wacked” themselves).* I’ve met CIA and FBI agents. And I have met oodles and oodles AND OODLES of aspiring leaders in business, finance, and the arts.
I am very blessed to work a full time job in addition to my own creative writing and ghostwriting. I grew up in a family that imploded financially. My parents required a lot of financial help from me, especially toward the end of their lives. I have always had to make my way myself, and to hustle whatever jobs I could get. I don’t think that mindset will ever entirely go away, and I’ll probably always be open to setting aside nights and weekends for ghostwriting work.
I am, however, sort of suspicious – if that is the correct word – of people who are interested in ghostwriting ONLY for the monetary aspect. Whenever another writer is impressed by what I got paid to ghostwrite something, I always want to say: “Well, if you think that’s impressive, you know something else you could write – for even MORE money? The annual report for Goldman Sachs. And also, you could just go be an investment banker. Why not just do that instead, if money is the only goal?”
So anyhow, my first experience with ghostwriting probably came in 2002 when I moved to Iowa City and did some manuscript editing for Cheeni Rao at Iowa Book Doctors. People would send Iowa Book Doctors novels they couldn’t get published, and MFAs like me would punch them up and send them back. (I think we generally did more good than harm. Generally.)
After my first book – a horror themed self-help satire called THE ZEN OF ZOMBIE – was published in 2007, people started reaching out to me for assistance with editing and writing projects. Occasionally, my publisher would ask me to “punch up” a book that had already been written. Other times, I might be asked to work with someone who was an expert in a particular field and help them write a book from scratch.
Many of the “secrets” for building success in ghostwriting are traits and practices that would help anybody succeed in any field, anywhere. For example:
· Always do good work.
· Work quickly and try never to need extra time or ask for extensions.
· Be personable and kind to everyone you interact with.
· Don’t ask for too much money, at least not at first.
· Cultivate good social skills and interviewing skills; as a ghostwriter, you’ll be interacting with a wide variety of personality types.
· Don’t take things personally. You may deal with clients who insult you and/or your work. You may deal with clients who call your excellent suggestions terrible, and think that their own awful ideas are good. You’ll need to manage “strong personalities.” Remind yourself that all clients are temporary.
And when it comes to best practices specifically related to ghostwriting, I’d add:
· Try to get the hang of figuring out how someone’s life can fit into the accepted story arcs that people expect when they pick up a book. (Manuals like Robert McKee’s STORY or even Joseph Campbell’s THE HERO’S JOURNEY are not bad places to start if this is new territory for you.)
· Be flexible about your relationship to the work. For example, you may have clients who want it to remain super duper secret that they used a ghostwriter. They won’t want you to tell even your own husband/wife/partner that you worked on their book. Other clients may want the “with Scott Kenemore” beneath their name to be big and bold because they desire total deniability for the project. If someone dislikes part of the book (or the WHOLE book), they want to be able to say: “Yeah, THAT part? That was all the stupid ghostwriter.”
· Read the kind of books you’re going to be ghostwriting. For example, if you are hired to ghostwrite a “How to succeed in business” book, you should read several contemporary books in that category/genre.
· Keep in mind that many projects will fall apart or fail. That’s OK and normal. About one-third of the projects I’m contracted to do fall apart in some way and never get to the finish line. It’s frustrating, but apparently part of the gig. Always get an advance or negotiate a “kill fee” with an eye to this contingency.
I don’t know if I am typical, but ghostwriting seems to come about gradually. I always tried to do excellent work, quickly, and without asking for too much money – and I did that for a LONG TIME. I was reliable and consistently delivered. I could successfully tolerate strong personalities. This approach always led to more opportunities, and my terms and fees slowly improved. (When I get asked if I can do something now – but at a price point that’s too low for me – I try to share the wealth and refer the job to a writer who is trying to start out in ghostwriting.)
At this juncture in the essay, I’m acutely aware that my tale may be disappointing because: I can tell you how to become a ghostwriter over many, many years… but not quickly. And most people want things quickly. (Including me! I don’t want to read a book about how to become a millionaire by the time I’m 80. I want to get rich quick! I want that money now! Ah well.)
After all these years, I still enjoy ghostwriting because it’s a good way to meet interesting people and make extra money while still “being a writer” and pursuing my/your own creative work. Certainly, I have had times when I’ve taken on a whole bunch of ghostwriting to try to reach some financial milestone, but I never wanted to be “just a ghostwriter” for the money forever. (Again, just go work for Goldman Sachs or found a tech company if that’s you. It’s a much, much easier route to financial freedom.) But I’m fine with a life where ghostwriting is “part of the mix.” Two of my biggest literary heroes – HP Lovecraft and Gore Vidal – both did ghostwriting. It is certainly not beneath me. I still enjoy the challenge of learning all I can about a new topic and then working with my collaborator to turn it into an excellent book. But I think the GREATEST honor in ghostwriting is to be asked to help someone tell their personal life story, or the story of their family. To do that kind of work well, you can’t fake it. You really have to give a damn. I always try to.
To conclude then: Do good work. Give a damn. Be nice. Meet deadlines. Don’t take it personally. Cultivate your interpersonal and social skills – especially if you’re an introvert like me. Accept that it may take years to build a place for yourself in the racket.
And, oh yeah, good luck out there.
*The most disappointing thing I have ever learned in the course of ghostwriting is that mafia members do not actually say “wack.” Instead, they say things like: “He had to go away” or “He couldn’t be around anymore.”
But I still like saying wack.
Wack.
