Ghostwriting

Michel_Cayer · Oct 29, 2012

Not sure if this is the right place to post this. If not, please feel free to move it.

An editor has been asked by the estate of an author to have his or her work re-written to modernize it and publish it again. After asking people to take part in a writing exercise,I've been offered to help with this re-writing. I am not sure if I should accept. I've made a list of pros and cons and would appreciate any thoughts or advice.

Pros:
- Great learning opportunity about the craft and business of writing.
- Working with others and deadlines would force me to get into the habit of writing regularly (which is a big issue I have at the moment).
- Possibly make money.

Cons:
- Possibly make money (profits would be divided between those who did the re-writing).
- Not my name on the book.
and my main one:
- Need to sign a contract to become a partner in a publishing company that is created for this purpose. They do not want any freelancers at the moment.

Only those who sign the contract can learn who the author is. The editor has said that there are some talks about movies and tv shows. Finally, I learned about this through a Meetup. I haven't attended any of the meetings yet so I don't know who the editor who manages the group is, what company he works for etc.

Thank you for your time

Gillhoughly · Oct 29, 2012

Pros:
- Great learning opportunity about the craft and business of writing.

Which is something you can do yourself by reading all the books in the library that have to do with writing and reading the forums here on AW.

- Working with others and deadlines would force me to get into the habit of writing regularly (which is a big issue I have at the moment).

Then get over it. You either have the fire in the belly to write or you do not.

A deadline means nothing to you now, so it won't mean very dang much to you when you have one later. If you're a born procrastinator then you get over it on your own or do the kind of writing that doesn't demand a deadline. Don't take on an assignment until you fix that flaw.

The late Stephen J. Cannell said in one of his last interviews--he was dying and had died by the time the interview was published--that everyone WASTES two hours every day. Doesn't matter on what, vid games, farting around on Facebook or watching TV, but when you look back on your time use the day before it's a guaranteed fact that at least two hours of your life were totally squandered.

That in mind, it's no great feat to say, "I'm going to take one of those two hours and do nothing but write."

What you write doesn't matter, you just cut an hour slot into your busy schedule and write. If you want it badly enough, you'll do it. You don't need some deadline to get the lead out. You take control and do it.

- Possibly make money.

If there's no advance money up front, no specific amount mentioned, forget it. Ghost writers are professionals. If those clowns wanted a professional, they wouldn't cheap out by using the word "possibly." They're looking for slave labor.

Cons:
- Possibly make money (profits would be divided between those who did the re-writing).

A book has to sell well to make a profit and this one sounds like it will be a self-published endeavor. Those don't make money unless the writer is REALLY famous and in demand. The problem is, if that's the case, then the publishing company would assign the job to an experienced ghostwriter, not hand it to a neo with no track record.

Here's another thought--do you think you're the only writer who got the same offer as a result of this "writing exercise?"

- Not my name on the book. Screw that. You do the work, you should get credit unless you've been well paid to pretend to be William Shatner.)

and my main one:
- Need to sign a contract to become a partner in a publishing company that is created for this purpose [WTF???]. They do not want any freelancers at the moment.

Might they want you, as a *partner,* to invest in this project? Then run like hell.

This deal smells like week-old mackerel that's been left in a car trunk in August.

Run like hell anyway.

Somewhere in the back of your head a little alarm bell is ringing to let you know "there's something not quite right about this."

Listen to it.

RookieWriter · Oct 29, 2012

Gillhoughly said:
Pros:
- Great learning opportunity about the craft and business of writing.

Which is something you can do yourself by reading all the books in the library that have to do with writing and reading the forums here on AW.

- Working with others and deadlines would force me to get into the habit of writing regularly (which is a big issue I have at the moment).

Then get over it. You either have the fire in the belly to write or you do not.

A deadline means nothing to you now, so it won't mean very dang much to you when you have one later. If you're a born procrastinator then you get over it on your own or do the kind of writing that doesn't demand a deadline. Don't take on an assignment until you fix that flaw.

The late Stephen J. Cannell said in one of his last interviews--he was dying and had died by the time the interview was published--that everyone WASTES two hours every day. Doesn't matter on what, vid games, farting around on Facebook or watching TV, but when you look back on your time use the day before it's a guaranteed fact that at least two hours of your life were totally squandered.

That in mind, it's no great feat to say, "I'm going to take one of those two hours and do nothing but write."

What you write doesn't matter, you just cut an hour slot into your busy schedule and write. If you want it badly enough, you'll do it. You don't need some deadline to get the lead out. You take control and do it.

- Possibly make money.

If there's no advance money up front, no specific amount mentioned, forget it. Ghost writers are professionals. If those clowns wanted a professional, they wouldn't cheap out by using the word "possibly." They're looking for slave labor.

Cons:
- Possibly make money (profits would be divided between those who did the re-writing).

A book has to sell well to make a profit and this one sounds like it will be a self-published endeavor. Those don't make money unless the writer is REALLY famous and in demand. The problem is, if that's the case, then the publishing company would assign the job to an experienced ghostwriter, not hand it to a neo with no track record.

Here's another thought--do you think you're the only writer who got the same offer as a result of this "writing exercise?"

- Not my name on the book. Screw that. You do the work, you should get credit unless you've been well paid to pretend to be William Shatner.)

and my main one:
- Need to sign a contract to become a partner in a publishing company that is created for this purpose [WTF???]. They do not want any freelancers at the moment.

Might they want you, as a *partner,* to invest in this project? Then run like hell.

This deal smells like week-old mackerel that's been left in a car trunk in August.

Run like hell anyway.

Somewhere in the back of your head a little alarm bell is ringing to let you know "there's something not quite right about this."

Listen to it.

Great post!!

Ghostwriting

Michel_Cayer

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

RookieWriter