The term “ghost recorder” is rarely seen, if ever. If you search for that term online, you’ll see tons of site listings for ghost writers and then maybe a few add-ons for rewriters. Ghostwriting is the most familiar service, which is a complicated method of writing a book that is based on a concept, notes, or interviews with and for the person who wants to put their name on the book cover, even if they don’t. write the book (there are many more books ghostwritten, including best sellers, than you may know). So what is a ghost rewriter? Perhaps it is self explanatory. If not, you’ll find out more in a minute, as well as why an author might want a rewriter on their team.
There are new, budding, and prolific authors who are DIYers. They appreciate the input of an editor because they sincerely want to publish the best book they can write, but they want to do all the writing and proofreading. There are other new, budding, or prolific authors who want to write a draft of their fiction or nonfiction manuscript and then give it to someone else to rewrite and review, including writing additional content, if needed, until it’s ready. ready for publication. Readers If you’re in the first group, you may wonder why any author would do what those in the second group do.
One reason may be that the author never focused on the technical or creative mechanics of writing, and has no intention of doing so. Ever. These writers rely on their ghost editor/rewriter to bring what they write into its final form. There are other authors, new or not, who don’t have the time or inclination to do more than a draft, so rely on a ghost editor/rewriter to bring your manuscript to the level of the finished product. Yes, your book, your baby, is, after all is said and done, a product that you promote and sell.
Ghost rewriting can be a complicated process (although not as complicated as ghost writing usually is) because now the editor/rewriter is creating what is essentially a new first draft that will have to go through the review process just like a author who writes everything. be obliged to do. The author is the one who is credited for the work; however, the publisher’s statement usually appears on the copyright page, in the acknowledgments, or both. Credit for services rendered rests with the author. But the fact that someone ghost rewrote (or ghost wrote) the book is not mentioned, at least not usually.
If you think this is cheating, be aware that a number of best-selling authors do a version of this: they hire a co-author to write their book(s). A good example is James Patterson. At some point in his career, he stopped being a solo writer and his fans (I’m one of them) don’t care at all. They want to be entertained Patterson-style, and he delivers on that for them. He develops a draft for a novel, works on it until he’s satisfied, and then sends it off to one of his co-authors to write the novel (that’s what the other names on his book covers are all about, in case you didn’t you were). Of course). This happens with Patterson’s input and approval of what is written, of course. What an excellent opportunity and mutual benefit for him, the co-author, the editor and the readers.
What you as the author need to decide is what works best for you; which helps you achieve the desired result. Sometimes the best help for you is to have your manuscript evaluated or to use substantial editing services so you know how to improve your book. Just make sure that the person doing this gives you enough guidance that you will use to revise your manuscript so that it becomes the engaging book for readers that you want. And if you need or want more help than that for the reasons listed above, or for some other reason, consider a ghost rewriter who will get your manuscript where it needs to go but won’t require your name on your book cover.
Working with a ghost editor/rewriter has an advantage: you can choose to start with a full draft or submit one or more chapters at a time, until the draft is complete (several of my clients prefer to work this way); just be consistent in your writing so you never let the momentum flag. Yet another advantage of working with a ghost editor/rewriter, if you are committed to improving your skills, is that you see what the person did with your manuscript and learn from it.
Ghost rewriters are skilled writers, but they may not want to go down the publishing road themselves. They love to write and are avid readers. They love helping authors, especially freelance authors, do their best work for their particular audience. This is another win-win-win experience. As a new, budding author or, if you’ll excuse me, somewhat lazy when it comes to the technical and creative mechanics of writing, finding the right rewriter for you can be the difference between not going very far (or anywhere) with your book and go the distance (and get great reviews).
No matter which group above you fit into, the fact is this: no writer completes a book completely alone. At least writers shouldn’t, if they want to publish the best book they can. There should be one or more qualified beta readers involved in providing quality feedback. At some point, a publisher must participate, without exception. Line editing may be required. Eventually, the services of a proofreader are required. Best-selling authors have teams to help them, whether they go down the freelance or traditional publishing route. And if you’re Patterson and you want to publish ten books a year to keep your readers and publishers deliriously happy, enlist the services of co-authors. If you’re not 100 percent sure of your abilities or don’t have or want to take the time to go all the way, put a ghost rewriter on your team. A team makes a dream come to life.
I wish you the best with your writing and progress, always and in every way.
