What is a ghostwriter?

Although we are the Association of Ghostwriters (AOG), it's surprising to me how many people who contact us do not actually know what a ghostwriter is. Granted, the writers who craft articles, speeches, blog posts, and book for clients anonymously generally know what their role is, but recent phone calls from potential clients suggest that everyone else may not.

One prospect wanted to know what it would cost to have a ghostwriter edit a draft of his book, which he hadn't yet written. I explained that each member of the association decides for themselves what to charge, so I couldn't give him a standard fee. However, I pointed out that ghostwriters are, first and foremost, writers, and would be very qualified to assist in getting that draft done. "Really?" he asked, perking up.

That this wouldn't be obvious to him suggests to me that we ghostwriters need to do a better job of educating people regarding what we do - myself included. We need to explain that ghostwriters assume the client's voice in creating written documents - everything from sales letters to proposals to case studies, and on and on. If it needs to be written, we ghostwriters can either write it or point you to another writer who is in a better position to help, perhaps because of their industry experience.

The major difference between a freelance writer and a ghostwriter, in most cases, is that ghostwriters do not ask or expect to be acknowledged for their involvement. Typically, you won't see a ghostwriter's name on an article byline, though you may see the client's. Nor will you see the ghostwriter's name front and center on a book jacket, unless it has been requested and approved by the client.

That is not to say that the article or book were the ghostwriter's idea - they weren't. This is another misconception, I think, about our role. The concept, message, material, opinions, research, and sources generally come from the client, who then hires a ghostwriter to put all the words together. Most clients hand off writing projects to ghostwriters because they lack the time, not because they are incapable.

What else do you think the outside world needs to know about ghostwriters?