Is Ghostwriting A Good Option For Your Idea Or Manuscript?

For some folks, the very idea of ghostwriting is offensive. Here are a number of reasons that ghostwriting may, in fact, be both a good and reasonable alternative.

Many wonderful inventions have come about because a creative mind had an idea, which he handed over to engineers or chemists to perfect. Should that product not have been created because the one with the great idea didn't have the scientific skill to complete the product by himself? Think about writing in the same way. Lots of people have very creative minds when it comes to developing stories but don't happen to have the necessary level of writing skill to turn their ideas into well written products.

Enter ghostwriting. Think of ghostwriting like the chemist and engineer applying their special skills to developing the new product. At one end of he ghostwriting continuum comes the more or less complete story in manuscript form but lacking the organization, structure, and grammar necessary to bring it up to accepted standards for publication. At the other end come what might be merely a collection of notes that capture the essence of the story, characters, and message.

Ghostwriting retells the original story as faithfully as possible. If additions (such as necessary characters or sub plots) or deletions (something the idea is just too complex or there are aspects, which are unnecessary to the story-line,) the ghostwriter discusses the change with the author before proceeding. Ghostwriting recasts the story in mainstream English and sets it into an appropriate foundation so readers can easily and enjoyably navigate it.

Manuscripts from untrained authors typically vacillate between supplying too much information and not enough. They also tend to use important words in an bothersome, repetitive, fashion. (A really great word should, perhaps, only appear once in the entire piece.) In general, when a manuscript is rewritten it shrinks – sometimes considerably.

When hiring an author to do ghostwriting for you consider several things. Make sure he is a published author in his own right. That is perhaps your best guarantee that he knows what he is doing. Always read something he has written to get the flavor and style of how 'your' story will be treated. Agree on an approximate finished length so the writer will know what to shoot for and you will have control over the final cost (most charge by the finished page). Finally, obtain a sample – even a few pages – of the story as it will be written so you can evaluate it in terms of your desires.

Don't sign a contract until you have satisfied yourself about those several things. There is, of course, the matter of the fee. You have to determine what you can afford and what seems reasonable. Visit a number of sites that advertise ghostwriting services to get a feel for going rates. (The wide range may astound you. The most expensive does not necessarily equate to best – it may just mean it is the most expensive!)

The original author gets all credits and the ghostwriter's name is never referenced. The author can, of course, make any changes in the 'finished' manuscript he wants to make. It is, after all, his property.

By: Tom Gnagey

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Tom Gnagey is a successful, long time, writer with more than 100 original books and 350 stories in his personally published bibliography (seven pen names). He has rewritten dozens manuscripts for others. His education includes degrees in psychology, education, and philosophy. Tom is a nationally known speaker and creative writing teacher. For FREE SAMPLES of his stories and information about his Writing Rx services go to www.TomsBookNook.com now.