Podcast Summary
History of Ghostwriting: Ghostwriting, a practice dating back thousands of years, gained significant recognition in the 1920s and 1980s, with Christy Walsh and William Novak leading the way. Ghostwriters collaborate with high-profile clients to craft compelling narratives and earn them recognition and financial rewards.
The ghostwriting industry, which involves writing material for publication under someone else's name, has been in existence for thousands of years but gained significant recognition in the 1920s and 1980s. Dan Paysner, a prolific ghostwriter with 70 books and 17 New York Times bestsellers to his name, shared insights into the intimate and personal relationship between ghostwriters and their high-profile clients. This practice dates back to the 1920s when sports agent Christy Walsh began syndicating sports articles under the names of professional athletes. However, it was the success of William Novak's collaboration with Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca on his autobiography in 1984 that truly catapulted ghostwriting into the limelight. With big names seeking 15 minutes of fame, ghostwriters like Novak became the go-to collaborators for crafting compelling narratives that earned their clients widespread recognition. Despite the lack of credit on the book spine, ghostwriters play a pivotal role in shaping public perception and earning their clients substantial financial rewards.
Ghostwriting career: Ghostwriting can be a lucrative and fulfilling career for those with strong writing skills, allowing them to deeply understand subjects and help them communicate their ideas effectively.
Ghostwriting can be a lucrative and fulfilling career for those with strong writing skills. Paster, a former entertainment reporter, initially viewed ghostwriting as a fallback position due to the stigma surrounding the profession. However, after working with numerous A-list celebrities, politicians, and business leaders over the past 30 years, he realized that it was a viable and in-demand career. The process of ghostwriting involves deeply understanding the subject, often spending time with them and their families, and helping them communicate their ideas effectively. Despite the DIY culture, many people require assistance in writing their books, and ghostwriters like Paster play a crucial role in helping them share their stories with the world.
Ghostwriting adaptability: Ghostwriters must adapt to their subjects' unique lifestyles and schedules to effectively gather information and write on their behalf, building trust and immersing themselves in their subjects' worlds to capture their essence.
Ghostwriters adapt to their subjects' unique lifestyles and schedules to effectively gather information and write on their behalf. Pessner shares his experiences of writing memoirs for Steve Aoki and John Kasich, where he joined Aoki on tour and attended Bible study meetings with Kasich, respectively. He emphasizes the intensity and brevity of the ghostwriting process, where writers must quickly build trust and immerse themselves in their subjects' worlds. Whether it's riding on a tour bus or attending religious gatherings, ghostwriters must be flexible and authentic to capture the essence of their subjects' lives. After the project ends, they move on to the next world they are inhabiting.
Ghostwriting ethical dilemmas: Ghostwriters face ethical dilemmas when deciding what information to include in their clients' books, and have a responsibility to advise them on what is appropriate to protect their reputation and maintain privacy.
Being a ghostwriter involves working closely with high-profile individuals, sometimes in intimate settings, and having the discernment to decide what information to include in their books. Valerie Frankel, with 17 years of experience, has collaborated with comedian Joan Rivers, Omarosa Manigault Newman, and Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi. Each project presented unique challenges, from tight deadlines to sensitive material. For instance, Frankel wrote Snooki's first novel in just seven weeks to meet the publisher's demand. However, ghostwriters also face ethical dilemmas, such as when South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's ghostwriter included a controversial story about killing her dog in her memoir, causing an uproar. In such situations, ghostwriters have an obligation to advise their authors on what should or should not be included to protect their reputation and maintain privacy.
Ghostwriting collaboration: Ghostwriting goes beyond writing, with ghostwriters acting as collaborators and readers for high-profile clients. They are carefully selected based on expertise and compatibility with the project, and 60-70% of New York Times nonfiction bestsellers are ghostwritten.
The role of a ghostwriter extends beyond just writing, as they also act as a collaborator and reader for their high-profile clients. Madeline Morrell, a ghostwriting matchmaker, has been connecting authors with skilled writers for over two decades, recognizing the growing demand for ghostwriters in the publishing industry, especially for platformed authors. Morrell's company specializes in matching writers with their specific fields and ensuring they have multiple published works with the five major publishing houses. When an author seeks a writer, Morrell carefully selects from her roster of over 100 freelance ghostwriters, considering the writer's expertise and compatibility with the project. With the increasing popularity of memoirs and autobiographies, it's estimated that 60 to 70% of books on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list have been ghostwritten.
Ghostwriting industry: The ghostwriting industry presents opportunities for skilled writers with the rise of social media and high-profile clients, but competition is fierce and pay varies greatly, with some deals paying millions and others just $50,000. Payment structures also vary, and getting paid on time can be a challenge. To mitigate this, some ghostwriters ask for 50% upfront.
The ghostwriting industry has seen significant growth due to the rise of social media and the demand for content from celebrities and high-profile individuals. This presents both opportunities and challenges for freelance writers. While there is an abundance of work available, the competition is fierce, and the pay can vary greatly depending on the project. Some ghostwriting deals pay as little as $50,000 for a book, while others can reach millions for high-profile clients. The payment structure also varies, with some ghostwriters receiving a fixed fee, a percentage of the author's earnings, or incentive bonuses based on the book's success. However, getting paid in a timely manner can be a challenge, as ghostwriters are typically paid out of the author's royalties. To mitigate this, some ghostwriters now ask for 50% of their fee upfront. Overall, the ghostwriting industry offers lucrative opportunities for skilled writers, but it also requires flexibility, persistence, and a solid understanding of the business side of publishing.
Ghostwriting payment structure: The publishing industry's payment structure for ghostwriters can result in long payment delays, financial stress, and difficulty building a reputation outside the industry, but the importance of their contributions is increasingly recognized
The publishing industry's payment structure for ghostwriters can create unfair and challenging situations. Ghostwriters often have to wait for payments until long after their work is completed, which can be a year or more after the book's publication. This delay can force ghostwriters to choose between writing without being paid, delivering a lower quality book due to financial stress, or finding another source of income. To make matters worse, ghostwriters often struggle to build a reputation outside of the publishing world due to the industry's historical secrecy surrounding ghostwriting. However, the industry's attitudes towards ghostwriting are changing, and the importance of ghostwriters' contributions is becoming more recognized. Despite these challenges, ghostwriters continue to play a crucial role in helping authors bring their visions to life.
Ghostwriting credit: Ghostwriting credit is important for ghostwriters to showcase their collaborations and build reputation, but not always required, particularly for creatives like comedians.
The stigma surrounding ghostwriting is decreasing, and it's becoming more openly discussed and acknowledged in the publishing industry. This is good news for ghostwriters who want to receive credit for their work. Credits, such as acknowledgments on the title page or inside cover, are important for ghostwriters to showcase their past collaborations to potential clients. Most authors are willing to share credit and acknowledge their ghostwriters' contributions. However, there are exceptions, particularly for creatives like stand-up comedians, whose audiences expect them to provide their own material. In such cases, publishers may ask the ghostwriter to step off the cover, and they may be willing to do so. Overall, while cover credit isn't essential for every ghostwriter, it's a valuable currency that helps build their reputation and credibility in the industry.
Ghostwriting, acknowledging help: A ghostwriter's role is to help their clients succeed by writing on their behalf while acknowledging the importance of accepting help and assistance.
The role of a ghostwriter can be complex and multifaceted, as demonstrated in the experience of working with Whoopi Goldberg on her book. While it was crucial for the publisher that Goldberg appear as the sole author on the cover, she felt differently. Together, they wrote a chapter on affirmative action, acknowledging the importance of accepting help and assistance. Ultimately, the goal for a ghostwriter is to help their clients succeed, treating each project as an assignment to win over a single reader. For Zachary Crockett, this means finding the economics behind everyday phenomena through his work as a ghostwriter for high-profile clients like Serena Williams and Denzel Washington. Despite the intriguing stories that come with ghostwriting, confidentiality agreements prevent him from sharing them publicly. This episode was produced by Julie Kanfer, Sarah Lilly, and mixed by Jeremy Johnston, with assistance from Daniel Moritz-Raphson.