A ghost writer is someone who writes a book or articles for someone else. He or she is paid a sum of money to write the material needed and hand it over to the payee. The person who has paid for the work will then assign his name or someone else’s name to claim the work as his own.
There are numerous reasons why someone may employ a ghost writer. Many celebrities from the media or sports world hire one to write their biographies. The celebrity may not have the time or the word skills required to complete a book on her own. Someone may also have the idea for a novel or an interesting life story, but may not have the experience to put it down into words.
One of the biggest skills a ghost writer needs is the ability to grasp the personality of the person he is writing for. If the writer is writing for a celebrity, she must have the ability to take on the celebrity's manner. The finished book must read as if the celebrity had written it. He or she must be able to highlight the important parts of the life of the person he is writing about. This may take the form of interviewing the person many times during the time it takes to write the book.
It is not just celebrity biographies that get ghost written. Basically, anything that can be written and sold can be ghost written. Companies can farm out the content writing of their brochures or websites to ghost writers. The finished product should look as if it has been written by someone who either owns the company or knows the running of the company inside and out.
Many reporters sell stories to a number of newspapers to be used as if the newspaper reported on the story. Politicians often use a ghost writer to write their speeches for them. It is usually a case of the writer having the skills and word dexterity to assist the person she is writing for.
Ghost writing is a big part of the film business. Scriptwriters sometimes bring in uncredited writers to help polish a script. In some cases, entire scripts are sold to other people to be used under the buyer's name.
The work of a ghost writer is a two-way deal. The writer is able to use his writing skills and earn money for them. In a lot of cases, such writers are able to earn a reasonable sum of money and do something they love, writing.
Fees for a good ghost writer can vary. These writers not only have to be excellent writers, but at many times, good sales people. Large sums of money can be made from writing for celebrities, but writing for companies and websites can also bring in a decent wage. Remember, though, once the book is on the shelf, you can not take any of the credit for it.