When ghostwriters snap

Peeking at ghostwriter v author battles from between my fingers.

I observe a strange phenomenon that sometimes makes its way to “celebrity news” but is often found by ghostwriters and people fascinated by the ghostwriting experience; I watch with sheer mortification when a ghostwriter lashes out about the author they once supported. How did it come to this? The ghostwriting process is one of the most intimate experiences two humans can share because you get to know each other so intensely. Both of your flaws and vulnerabilities lay bare no matter how hard you try to disguise it. The ghostwriter asks the most probing questions to the author, and they need to answer honestly to produce the most revealing memoir or even a work of fiction. It’s what’s in the darkest corners of the author’s mind that the ghostwriter is capturing, whether that is real or generated from their imagination. In turn, the author will gain insight into the ghostwriter’s mind from the questions they ask, the comments and suggestions they make, and the way they tell the story. The author has to break through their barriers of formality and politeness to offer their unvarnished opinion to the ghostwriter, whether that feedback is positive or asking them to alter the tone or mood. And the ghostwriter needs to absorb these truths from the very first meeting to ensure clear messages flow throughout the process. When we are forced to cut to the chase so quickly, we offer each other a temporary place in our minds and souls, especially for large projects such as a book, play, or film script. Invested authors and ghostwriters become absorbed in the blood, sweat, and tears of this project and, from my experience, a lifelong bond is formed, even if you never see one another after the job is done. You know this person’s thoughts, beliefs, fears, traumas, kinks, dreams…and everything in between.

So, what leads a ghostwriter to snap and break this sacred bond? The number one reason seems to be ego. They see the author’s success and want a share of the limelight. They rear their head to show the world they are the hidden talent behind this work and reveal some of the author’s secrets that should never see the light of day…secrets that never made it to the pages of their book. This may earn the ghostwriter fleeting fame, but any smart author will steer away from them in the future. Ghostwriters need to be a locked vault. I am a keeper of countless secrets, and they will remain under lock and key no matter how inflamed my ego may become. A lack of moral alignment is another one and it always baffles me. I have no idea how a ghostwriter could go as far as writing a memoir for a person whose morals they despise. I can barely be in the same room as someone whose values sicken me to my core, let alone write a book for them. That’s why it’s important for ghostwriters to go through a values analysis with authors they do not know well. They need to ensure their values align before starting the project. I wonder what type of man writer Tony Schwartz thought Donald Trump was when working on Trump’s memoir/advice book The Art of the Deal in 1987. Schwartz was later plagued by regret due to his involvement with the book.

Another reason ghostwriters turn rogue is when they are financially burnt in the agreement. Strong and detailed legal agreements need to be in place before any project starts. Such an agreement should contain clauses on the financial agreement from project payment to royalties, copyright ownership of the content, and who is responsible for legal advice and any following disputes regarding the content.

If you are considering hiring a ghostwriter, you may be on a high at the thought of getting your book written and published, but step back and make sure you future proof your reputation and safeguard your secrets by choosing an honourable writer. Ensure your values match – or are not widely apart – and lock in a solid contract outlining the financial elements of the project. Once you establish a solid start with ground rules in place, the author and ghostwriting experience is fun and rewarding…and you may even make a lifelong friend and cheerleader if you choose wisely. @writeforyouec writeforyou.info

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