Ghostwriting: good or evil? :D

[Agota]

Hello, guys!

I'm wondering what you think about ghostwriting?

1. Do you think it's ethical to hire a ghostwriter to write a book for you or write your blog for you, etc? Would you consider it a great business strategy for people who are not good at writing or would you consider it lying to your customers?

2. Do you think it's ethical to work as a ghostwriter? Would you consider in helping someone out with your writing skills or would you consider it helping someone to kind of cheat their customers?

I just did some ghostwriting: I've ghostwritten a personal development e-book on basic succes principles. I thought it was a great spiritual practice for me in the sense that I create a content but don't get my name put on it, therefore I can lessen an egoic attachement, but on the other hand, although I enjoyed it, I'm not sure how I feel about the ethics of ghoswriting from the perspective that it doesn't seem right to present content as yours when you didn't create it. What do you guys think?

[Merrick1]

Originally Posted by Agota

I'm not sure how I feel about the ethics of ghoswriting from the perspective that it doesn't seem right to present content as yours when you didn't create it. What do you guys think?

To me it is not ethical. But unfortunately, it is normal in other industries as well. Companies buy products from, say, China. They put their own logo on the product and sell it as their own. It is widespread these days.

I'm sure you will find many advocates of this behaviour. Just listen to what your heart says.

Merrick

[DBV]

Originally Posted by Merrick1

To me it is not ethical. But unfortunately, it is normal in other industries as well. Companies buy products from, say, China. They put their own logo on the product and sell it as their own. It is widespread these days.

I'm sure you will find many advocates of this behaviour. Just listen to what your heart says.

Merrick

So it is unethical to hire someone to code you a website or design your logo or page then too?? If you can't do something, hire someone who does. If both agree then it's mutual thing and it's good...

[Agota]

Yes, but you usually don't claim that you have written a code for your website when you actually didn't, whereby when you hire a ghostwriter, you officially claim to have written a book that you didn't write

[Agota]

On the other hand, assuming that you're not skilled in writing yourself, but want to express your ideas in a book, is it really unethical to hire a person who simply puts your ideas in writing in a nice way, meaning it's your ideas just packaged nicer than you'd be able to package them?

I'm really interested in your input, guys.

[DBV]

Originally Posted by Agota

Yes, but you usually don't claim that you have written a code for your website when you actually didn't, whereby when you hire a ghostwriter, you officially claim to have written a book that you didn't write

Slippery slope...

[Fred Tracy]

Hmm, good question.

I don't have a problem with ghostwriting for anyone. Seems fine to me.

On the other hand, given the content and very personal nature of my site (and writing) I would not allow someone to ghostwrite for me.

That being said, I don't have anything against authors celebrities who employ the services of ghostwriters. As long as they actually had a lot to do with the book and did just turn over a timetable and table of contents and say "go" or something.

[Aminka Ozmun]

Ghostwriting is assumed for many autobiographies. Many legal opinions are routinely ghostwritten, too, for that matter. Speeches are ghostwritten, et cetera. I myself have worked as a ghostwriter for actual journalists and copywriters. In the end, if the reader is served and the ghostwriter was compensated adequately and/or as agreed-upon, I think attribution is only a secondary concern, and then only as it directly affects one's career.

The publishing industry does not consider ghostwriting unethical unless an explicit claim has been made otherwise.

[SnerpGoodWord]

It doesn't bother me, but I probably wouldn't want to hire or work as a ghost writer. If I was a public official that needed to give speeches I probably would just use an outline on the podium/teleprompter.

[Brutha]

On the other hand, assuming that you're not skilled in writing yourself, but want to express your ideas in a book, is it really unethical to hire a person who simply puts your ideas in writing in a nice way, meaning it's your ideas just packaged nicer than you'd be able to package them?

You can do that without ghostwriting.
Make the person your coauthor and put both names on the book.

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by Agota

Hello, guys!

I'm wondering what you think about ghostwriting?

1. Do you think it's ethical to hire a ghostwriter to write a book for you or write your blog for you, etc? Would you consider it a great business strategy for people who are not good at writing or would you consider it lying to your customers?

2. Do you think it's ethical to work as a ghostwriter? Would you consider in helping someone out with your writing skills or would you consider it helping someone to kind of cheat their customers?

I just did some ghostwriting: I've ghostwritten a personal development e-book on basic succes principles. I thought it was a great spiritual practice for me in the sense that I create a content but don't get my name put on it, therefore I can lessen an egoic attachement, but on the other hand, although I enjoyed it, I'm not sure how I feel about the ethics of ghoswriting from the perspective that it doesn't seem right to present content as yours when you didn't create it. What do you guys think?

Ehh, I guess it depends on what you're selling and why.

[forexpreneur]

There hasn't been a US President in the last few decades who hasn't had a ghost writter.

[Agota]

Thank you for the perspectives, guys!

[nzmegs]

I agree with most of the people above - if it wasn't for ghostwriting, half of all writers would be out of a job.

Sometimes people have the connections, a deal with a publisher, a ready-made audience or a great story to tell but they just don't have the writing skill or the time. A ghost writer can come in and get the message across on their behalf.

As long as the writer is aware that they will not be credited and has put in place a renumeration package which suits them - then both parties win.

Many celebrities might write a ghostwritten book which the express intention of not making much money from it, but as a way of building their profile. the ghost writer is actually making more money than the celebrity becuase they have struck a deal where they get money for each sale.