Ghostwriting: The Decline of Professionalism

Anyone can declare himself to be a ghostwriter in the age of the Internet.  Adds abound on About.com and eHow.com, declaring, "You can work at home!  Become a ghostwriter or editor!  Here are the seven easy steps!"

Unfortunately, a majority of the thousands of ghostwriters and editors advertising on the web do not have the credentials to be professional ghostwriters or editors.  I studied writing, editing, research, and textual criticism in graduate school.  Later I paid my dues as an editor, wrote promotional material for Tulane University, published newspaper articles, and published poetry and short fiction in respected literary journals.  I wrote novels under my own name, worked with literary agents, and only then did I hang out my shingle and begin writing for clients.

Most people looking for a ghostwriter are ignorant of the publishing industry and the literary marketplace.  They therefore are in a position of weakness when looking for someone to write their book or memoir.  Ghostwriting companies, with very few exceptions, use many unethical practices in securing clients.  Independent ghostwriters produce poor quality work and have little experience.  Most people contact writers with little experience and little or no knowledge of publishing. 

I invite you to read my blog Ghostwriting and Editing: An Exposé by William Hammett to learn more about the online ghostwriting industry.  You may also learn about the profession and ethics of ghostwriting by clicking on my official ghostwriting website in the sidebar, as well as reading other blogs on writing and ghostwriting.

Don't get ripped off.  Do your homework before hiring a ghostwriter or editor.

~ William Hammett

Index of Articles

Believe in Your Work
Children's Nonfiction: It's Now More Popular
The Craft of Writing
Daily Transit Public Ridership
The eBook Revolution
Fifty Shades of Boring
George Clayton Johnson: Fictioneer by Vivien Kooper
Ghostwriting: The Decline of Professionalism
How Long Does It Take to Write a Novel?
Is Journal Writing Worth the Effort?
Literary Agents
Kindle Direct Publishing (Select)
The Novella is Back and Thriving
Print-on-Demand
Promoting Your Book
The Quest for Literary Representation
The Rewards of Being a Writer
Short Fiction
Smashwords
What Is Developmental Editing
Why Do People Write?
Writing Celebrity Memoirs
Writing a Novel
Writing as a Full-time Job
Writing as a Mystical Process
You Own the Copyright to Your Literary Property
Zen in the Art of Writing