Come On…. You know you want to… When people find out I’m a ghostwriter they are always curious and will ask lots of questions. But, I think there is one question that everyone wants to ask a ghostwriter but doesn’t because they don’t want to appear rude…
“If you’re such a great writer – why not write your own books?”
It’s a fair question. I write non-fiction. Unlike fiction writers whose ability to write is limited only by their imagination my ability to write is limited by my knowledge.
Ghostwriting allows experts who may not have the time or inclination to write a book to work with a writing expert to bring their ideas to life. I couldn’t just go out and write a book on whatever I fancied without significant research and study in the field. My expertise is in writing books – and I’ve already written a book on how to write a book! It’s not possible for me to churn out books willy-nilly without having a huge amount of knowledge in that area. To write books across multiple subject areas, I need to team up with the topic experts. The ability to write is mine but the content that I’m writing about is the authors.
I also love learning new stuff. There is often a very steep learning curve because I must be able to understand the author’s thinking, methodology or material well enough to translate that to the page. Often the author will have spent years accumulating that knowledge, and I have to get across it in a matter of weeks. That’s challenging but, when it’s on areas I’m interested in it’s also incredibly rewarding. This is why I don’t work with everyone who asks because sometimes I’m just not that interested in the topic. It’s also why I’m pretty useful in a pub quiz.
I also love the collaboration. I used to wonder if I was hiding behind the role. Being a ghostwriter allows me to write, which I enjoy but without the visibility and judgement. But actually I am a ghostwriter through choice not because I’m scared to be an author in my own right. Actually, I am an author in my own right and have written 8 books of my own but I prefer working with other people to complete something neither of us could have done alone. I love the collaboration.
Other Reasons I’m a Ghostwriter
And finally, a 2014 survey of the publishing industry showed that 54% of traditionally-published authors and 77% of go-it-alone writers make less than $1,000 (£600) a year. That’s not going to pay the bills! This is also why I don’t believe hiring a ghostwriter is a good idea unless there is value and benefit beyond any potential royalty income.
As much as I enjoyed writing my own books, especially the success series which took classic books and gave them a modern twist, they didn’t make much money. Better than the industry stats but not enough to retire to Barbados (or frankly even Bournemouth!) I’ve also written How to Write a Book in 33 Days. I’m not even sure how many of those I’ve actually sold. Thankfully, my intention for that book wasn’t really to make money. Not everyone can hire a ghostwriter and not everyone should. This book is therefore a step-by-step guide on how to write a non-fiction book so that would-be authors can feel confident enough to try themselves.
