I'm a ghostwriter (but not Harry's!) - AMA

[Edithisoverthere]

I've been a ghostwriter for more than ten years now - we're usually very much in the shadows, but Harry's book has perhaps made more people aware of what we do.

Amongst others, I've worked with bloggers, people who have done extraordinary things, instagrammers, business people, psychics, those who want to just record their own history for family reasons . . .

I find it really interesting and I'm fascinated by the lives of others. I have non disclosure agreements on a lot of books but if there's anything you'd like to ask, please do!

Sounds like a really interesting job OP, have you ever turned an opportunity down and why?

What got you into it in the first place and is there anyone you would like to ghostwrite but haven't so far?

What happens if somebody reveals something to you and you know oh this is the most interesting thing they've said so far, finally something you'd want to read,and then they regret sharing it and ask for it to be left out.

So interesting! Have you ever found a subject a particularly hard nut to crack? Say, if they find it difficult to articulate their experiences or are a very spiky character. If so, how did you manage this?

Why an interesting job !

what do you do if they word something offensive or that you know won’t come across well? Do you change the wording or just crack on ?

Would you agree to write a book for a women who doesn’t like books, about living on a farm but doesn’t live on a farm

👀👀😂

Have you worked with any famous criminals? I know they talk quite openly about crimes they have served time for but obviously far more cagey about things they haven't already been prosecuted for. I'm wondering if things get revealed to you and you have to say "We can't put that in or you're going back to jail" or in that case would you be duty bound to speak to the police?

I too ma a ghostwriter in a sense, ie I'm writing about myself without realising it

Are you Mrs hinchs ghost writer?

Does it annoy you that they get all the credit when you're the one who did all the hard work?

Lots! I tend to work with women as it's quite an intense process and I feel more comfortable.

Covid meant that people were happier to do projects remotely so I turn down those that mean too much travel.

I get approached with a lot of military books - never do those as I just don't have any interest.

No, I'm not! I wonder if they're on a royalty split? She'll have a few as she's moved into children's books now too.

It doesn't bother me at all, I'd hate attention.

I started because it fitted in really well with family life - you can choose your hours, the number of projects you do and, to some extent, your deadline.

I much prefer 'ordinary' people - I love to work with older women who have done amazing things and wish I got more of those. So many lives just disappear and we're losing a lot of history by not telling those women's stories.

I haven't but, yes, it's in the agreement they sign with me that I'd have to report anything like that. I do get a lot of men who claim they've done things - a lot 🙄

😂

This has happened a few times - it's annoying but I have to go with what the client wants.

What did you do before?

Do you write for yourself too (published or unpublished)?

How are you paid? Flat fee? Percentage? What sort of income does it bring in?

That's exactly what I was wondering about the Harry excerpts! As a ghost, I often say to people that they might want to reflect on whether to include things. The first draft is just for them and they can change anything. But when you're having to shift so many books, it must change - his ghost would need to keep all those things in and then I'd imagine Harry would have signed such a binding contract, he couldn't delete them.

Sorry - follow up! I'm not sure if you'll know as you said you haven't done it - but in that situation would you still talk to them directly or would everything go through their Lawyer it avoid them saying something they shouldn’t?

Not really - by the time they come to me, they're ready to spill!

Just off for a dog walk, will come back and answer all of these soon!

Have you read the Echo Chamber by John Boyne? The ghost writer in that is only ever referred to as “Ghost”! She also writes the entire book, the celeb just giving valuable insights such as “man’s and woman meet and fall in love”!

Do you/would you ghost a fiction novel and if so to what extent would you get involved in the plot?

I have always wondered this about ghost writers so will ask you, does it ever bother you that you essentially do all the hard work etc and for someone else to take the credit (in the public eye) and glory?

Could you explain how the process works? I'm probably a bit late asking this question but I don't really understand.

Do you spend time chatting to the person (face to face and / or remotely) whilst they tell you their 'story' and you write notes which you then put together as a book?

Do they read it all to check it's correct? Has anything slipped through that you've misinterpreted and hasn't been corrected before publishing?

Are you credited anywhere in the books?
I mean not as "written by" but in some coded way?