A Few Words on the Ethereal Nature of Ghostwriting

Ghostwriting is a difficult skill to feature in a professional portfolio. Like the “silent corrections” that we editors make when we’re streamlining a direct quote to make it coherent and useful, the act of writing under another author’s name implies a certain amount of secrecy. That author often doesn’t want to admit that they needed help with certain things – and they certainly don’t want the hassle of a coauthor – so they won’t appreciate it if we raise our hand and say, “All those action sequences in that thriller? All those buttery-smooth transitions between ideas in that thought leader piece? The clever way those flashbacks weave into Chapter 4? That was me! I did that!”

Photo by Anderson Schmig on Unsplash

Code of Silence

 Maybe we keep our silence because we don’t want to embarrass anyone. More likely, we signed an NDA about our specific role in the project. Then we took our money and went away satisfied with that vague acknowledgment page credit – the nebulous “creative consultant” or the mysterious “with special thanks to.”

So yes, I’m burning to tell you all about my involvement with that fine piece of writing, whatever it might have been. And no, I can’t really say anything about it. Why not? Because someone trusted me with their secret, and I’m proud of my professional ethics. But confidentiality also means that if I’m trying to market my services as a ghostwriter, I don’t have a leg to stand on. Or maybe you just can’t see that leg!

Previous Attempts

A few years ago, when I regularly posted ads for my services, here are two ways that I tried to sell ghostwriting:

Exhibit A:

Ad Title: “Ghostwriter? Don't be afraid...”

Ad Copy:

There's nothing scary about ghostwriting. It doesn't involve disembodied moans and wails, chilly ectoplasm, or things that go bump in the night. Honestly! Your friendly neighborhood ghostwriter is nothing more than a medium to channel the written spirit of what you want to say. Think of me as an unseen helper breaking your ideas out of their chains behind the clammy brick wall of your procrastination.

As a channeler of ideas, I can work with you at any level:

* Capturing your story or message, and writing it from beginning to end

* Heavily editing or lightly polishing something you've already written

* Reviewing your style or approach if you need a little guidance

I've ghostwritten fiction and fact, bios and articles, business and personal correspondence -- and the bottom line is this:

If you want it read, I can help you make it readable.

Please visit my online portfolio to discover the wide range of work that I've done and to visualize what I can do for you.

 Exhibit B:

Ad Title: “Guest blogger? Meet ghost blogger!”

Ad Copy:

So now you're a blogger. Congratulations!

Or maybe not. Maybe you're blogging for someone who happily gave you a byline and now wants way more content than you thought you'd have to deliver. Blog ideas are easy for you (you probably have a long list), but execution? That's a different story. When your energies are required elsewhere and those deadlines won't wait, what you need is a ghost blogger.

Let's review what blogging means. Most would agree that blogging is the online sharing of a few hundred insightful, informal words about that cool idea or opinion you had last night or last week, or maybe about a sudden revelation that's actually been brewing for a while. Links are always nice in a blog, but you don't need citations, peer reviews, or endless rounds of sign-offs. It's just you thinking in public, reaching out to your readers, and showcasing your grasp of a subject through your unique spin. Long story short? It's supposed to be fun.

As your ghost blogger, I can facilitate a smooth flow of ideas, ensure good sentence structure, and be on point with the correct spelling and accurate punctuation that goes a long way toward establishing your authority on your subject – and as a writer who's fun to read.

Here's what I bring:

• As a longtime copywriter, I know how to make that crazy English language behave itself in writing.

• As an editor, I know when a writer is struggling to follow the rules of the craft while trying to engage and inform an audience.

• As a wordsmith who's served as both an off-site consultant and on-site team player, I know how to listen and deliver.

Please visit my online portfolio to discover the wide range of work I've done and to visualize what I can do for you. And then... let's blog!

Forget the Name, Focus on the Result

Ultimately, I think this may be the best solution for both of us as we face the conundrum of ghostwriting:

• You need the help of a writer who would be willing to let you take full credit for whatever we create together.

• I’m a writer who would be okay with that kind of arrangement.

So… do we have a deal?