“Well, that’s cheating!” is often a response I get when I explain to someone who is unfamiliar with ghostwriting what a ghostwriter does. I then need to get into a much deeper explanation of what ghostwriting is to bust this misconception.
Every time I get this type of response, I get an icky feeling because an author using a ghostwriter is the farthest thing from cheating. When a business expands its team to be able to expand its bandwidth, that’s not considered cheating. So why would an author partnering with someone who has an expertise in this area and can relieve some of the burden be considered cheating?
Cheating would be taking someone else’s original thoughts, writing, and publications and slapping your name on them to take credit. Cheating is not partnering with someone who is eager to help you bring your stories and expertise to life.
Let’s break down the difference.
Original Thought Leadership
One misconception is that ghostwriters meet a client and then just go away for a few months, brainstorm, research, write an entire book themselves, and hand it off to the author for them to slap their name on. That is definitely not the case, and there would be ethical issues with that.
When an author collaborates with a ghostwriter, they are partners with the ghostwriter. The content of the book is filled with their specific stories, thought leadership, and insights. This is what makes the book still the author’s book. It is all their original ideas. They are just working with someone who specializes in the craft of writing books. This is why the author gets their name on the cover and the ghostwriter is not named (unless the author chooses to do so).
In the end, it’s truly the author’s book. They get the final say on the content that is included, how it’s presented, and countless other decisions along the way. The ghostwriter is simply helping to excavate this genius and put it on paper in an impactful way.
Personalized to the Author
A quality ghostwriter will not try to fit every author in the same box. While they will have a typical framework and process that they will use, they will take the time to understand the author and what their goals are for the book.
The author is still the driving force behind all facets of the book. They provide their thoughts on the structure, how it’s published, what the tone is, how it will be used, etc. The ghostwriter will, of course, provide guidance, support, and even recommendations on these areas since it’s their area of expertise, but ultimately, the author gets to make the final call.
Furthermore, the book is written in the voice of the author, not in the voice of the ghostwriter. Ghostwriters may have a completely different writing style from the author, but their job is to maintain the essence of the author throughout the book.
While the book will sound polished, the ghostwriter isn’t making the author into someone they’re not.
Ghostwriters Have Free Will
This may seem obvious, but ghostwriters have free will. We don’t feel cheated during the process. We know what we’re signing up for when we decide to become ghostwriters. If we want credit for our work, we’ll write our own books with our own thought leadership.
Plus, we are paid fairly and regularly for what we do. We are not prisoners to this job. In fact, being a ghostwriter has created immense amounts of freedom in my life.
Speaking for myself, I am fulfilled by seeing others make such an incredible impact on the world with their stories and insights. It’s an honor to be able to support such important work. I care more about the author loving the process, the outcome, and the impact they get to make than receiving credit for the work.
If you’ve been worried that using a ghostwriter will be considered cheating, show this article to anyone who still believes that myth and schedule a call with me so we can leave your mark on the world.
Disclaimer: This blog should not be construed as providing, or intending to provide professional financial, legal, psychological, or other professional advice. It is simply meant to share my experiences with those who may find them relatable and helpful.