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Ghostwriter services
 There's
long been something of a stigma associated with ghostwriters, as
if it's something to be ashamed of. Which is irrational. Plenty
of people have good stories or ideas for books, but lack the necessary
"mechanical" or literary skills needed to assemble a readable manuscript.
They may not have sufficient time. Or patience. They may be illiterate,
or semi-literate - which is more common than most people realise.
Conversely,
there are plenty of editors with excellent literary skills who simply
can't spin a good yarn or devise a new formula for a history or
art book.
It cuts
both ways.
The job
of a ghostwriter is essentially reportage. It's less an art and
more a craft. You tell, I show. You invent, I present.
It can
work well, or it can be disastrous. So think long and hard about
your project, and make sure that the ghostwriter you choose is sensitive
to your needs and easy to get along with.
It can
take a long time to bring a project to fruition - from months to
years even - and you'll need to maintain a good working relationship
throughout.
I can
help if you've got a good idea for a book, or a good story to tell.
There are some things that I prefer not to handle, such as celebrity
biographies, medical books, and anything distasteful or gory. But
I'm generally pretty flexible.
If you
look around the site, it will give you a feel for my interests and
experience.
My name,
incidentally, doesn't have to appear on a project. In fact, I'd
rather it didn't. Ghostwriting is essentially a backstage job. I'm
happy being way back there in the distance.
Email
me with details of your project and we'll talk through it. It may
be that I can persuade you to handle the first draft yourself, possibly
saving time and money and adding authenticity. You may have a hidden
talent for writing that can be teased out. And good books aren't,
in the main, a matter of sophisticated writing. Far from it. The
best books are usually simple tales, simply told with honesty and
candour.
When you're
ready, send me an email and I'll respond as quickly as possible.
Books by Ghostwriters
There are plenty of ghostwritten
books around from plenty of household names. Thriller writer James
Patterson, for example, has frequently written with co-authors.
Patterson dreams up the stories; the co-author fleshes the words
on the bones of the plot.
Ellery
Queen has been ghosted by a number of authors. Ditto for Robert
Ludlum, Ian Fleming, Tom Clancy, Louis L'amour, and Richard Bachman
(Stephen King ghosting his own books, if you will).
Arthur
C Clark's 2001: A Space Odyssey was based on a Clark short story
(The Sentinel), but the movie script was as much a work by Stanley
Kubrick as by Clark. Ghostwriting? Well, not exactly perhaps, but
almost.
Many Dick
Francis books have also been collaborations with his wife and with
his son, which again is a form of ghostwriting.
And then
there's a growing stack of celebrity ghostwritten books being churned
out on an almost daily basis by the lumbering publishing mills of
the world anxious to capitalise on the current flavour of the month.
The point
is, ghostwriting is "out there" and it's probably here to stay.
So if you've got a great plot or a wonderful story to tell, and
if you haven't got the time or wherewithal or patience or skill
to commit it to paper, hire a ghostwriter if you can afford it
You'll
be in top company.
Mr
Edit YouTube videos
Meanwhile, here are
some of my You Tube videos that might be of interest to you.
Hope you enjoy them.
Mr Edit. Let's talk about dialogue
https://youtu.be/KG0CLm1S9Rs
Mr Edit. Pitching fiction to a literary
agent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy698w2Ooc8
Mr Edit. 5 Minute Fiction Fix.
https://youtu.be/y6OPUfcDH90
Mr Edit. Let's talk about tautology.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zhoBLImV6U
Links for
writers
Preditors & Editors.
Here's where you can check out the credentials of literary agents and
publishers. A must for any writer.
http://pred-ed.com
Creative Helps. Helpful
resource for the creative community. Articles, links and tips.
http://www.creativehelps.com/products.htm
Nick Daws' Writing Blog.
Lots of useful posts on all aspects of writing, both for print and online,
plus a guest post for anyone who wants to make a contribution. Check it
out.
http://www.mywritingblog.com
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