5 Things a Ghostwriter is NOT by Bobbi Linkemar

5 Things a Ghostwriter is NOT

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Bobbi Linkemer 

Thanks Bobbi - Douglas

If you are ever going to work with a ghostwriter or are thinking of becoming one, yourself, there are many things you should know before you take the step. For example, it is important to understand what a ghostwriter does and does not do. A ghostwriter is many things to an aspiring author, but there are 5 things a ghostwriter is not.

1. A ghostwriter is not an agent and won’t get your book published, though she might help you through the necessary steps to find an agent. There are several ways in which these professionals interact. First, an agent usually knows acquisition editors at publishing houses. Then, an editor may hire a ghostwriter to work with an author who has a great concept but weak writing skills. On the other hand, as an author, you may hire a ghostwriter and then look for the right agent. An agent’s job is to sell your book idea to a publisher.

2. A ghostwriter is not a publicist and won’t promote your book, though he might work with you to develop a marketing plan if that is part of the contract. Publicists specialize in letting the world know about your book. Not only do they know a lot about book promotion, they have also spent years cultivating valuable connections with the media. A publicist’s job is to get you and your book exposure so that it will sell.

3. A ghostwriter is not a graphic designer and will not design your book for you or get it ready for the printer. Graphic designers see the world in patterns and images. Book design is a specialty within the larger field of graphic design. Book designers not only know how to create beautiful books but also how to produce them by setting up digital files for printers and online publishers. A book designer’s job is to package your book in the most appealing way.

4. A ghostwriter is not a copyeditor or proofreader and will not take responsibility for the final product. Every writer, including a ghostwriter, needs at least one editor, often more than one. The last editor to review a manuscript before it is ready for the designer is a copyeditor; the last person to review the page proofs before they ago to the printer is a proofreader. A copyeditor’s and proofreader’s job is to catch and eliminate every possible error from your book before it is published.

5. A ghostwriter is not a website designer or technical expert. Web design requires a good eye for arranging the elements of a site, marketing savvy to understand what will attract viewers and keep their attention, and the technical know-how to create a site that functions seamlessly and is easily found by search engines. A web designer’s job is to work with am author or ghostwriter to bring the right words to life in the World Wide Web.

A ghostwriter has one job: to write or help you write a book that says what you want it to say in the way you want it said. A ghostwriter is, in a sense, your alter ego.

PS by Douglas Not Ewan McGregor either!