Not every story has, or should have, a prologue or epilogue. Many authors will prefer not to include either, though they can add sparse but essential text that opens and closes their story – especially so with fiction.
When writing fiction for a client, I always ask if they’d like to include either or both, and to date, my offer has been taken up; and, in my opinion, their stories were enhanced as a consequence.
It is probably the popular assumption that all professional authors want to be best-sellers in their own right. If your earnings from royalties, film rights and speeches do not provide a living wage, then you may earn your living by teaching, editing – or ghosting. Read more “Ghostwriting is a career, not a hustle”
‘Good writers have one thing in common,’ said my English teacher at school. ‘They’re all big readers.’
That gem of advice make an impact on me then and has followed me ever since. Not that I needed much encouragement to read – I’ve always been a bookworm – but it was inspiring to know that my hobby wasn’t only enjoyable in its own right, but also helping me to express myself in writing.
If I asked you about the most important skill for ghostwriters, chances are you’d respond; ‘writing’. The clue is in the title, right? But there is another, equally strong requirement. (And no, it is not being a ‘ghost’). Ghostwriters need to be expert interviewers too. People like me can be the best writers ever, but if we can’t get the story out of the author’s head and onto the page, the collaboration will not be successful. Read more “Ghostwriting – What to expect in an interview”
That’s a big question. And the answer is, no, it could not.
However, ghostwriters remain the most secretive and arguably most disregarded group of professionals in the industry.
Did you know that almost ALL non-fiction books are written by ghosts, and if not from scratch, then heavily edited?
Many big fiction authors, like James Patterson, also use ghostwriters to churn out their latest bestsellers too. This is because they cannot keep pace with the insatiable demand for new titles. Read more “Could the publishing industry survive without ghostwriters?”