Did you know that Prince Harry's memoir “Spare” sold 1.43 million copies in just 24 hours in the UK, US, and Canada? As a result, it set a Guinness World Record for the fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time. But what’s more interesting is the book actually not written by Prince Harry, but ghostwritten by American novelist, journalist, and ghostwriter J. R. Moehringer.
Avid Learning presents a full-day hands-on workshop on
ghostwriting with Founder and Director, The Big Sneeze Content Company Gayatri
Pahlajani. Whether it’s a blog, long-form article, newspaper column, or an
entire book, ghostwriting will give you a chance to hone your craft, devise
communication strategies, gain valuable experience while writing for others,
and get paid. This workshop is an exciting opportunity for aspiring writers to
learn the ins and outs of ghostwriting, from developing a unique voice and
style to working with clients and managing feedback.
Workshop Highlights:
Learning to organize and structure the writing process
Capturing the voice and style of the subject
Strategies for working with clients
Practical exercises and writing assignments
Sharing of case studies and real-life examples
What is ghostwriting?
Ghostwriters work behind the scenes to help authors bring their ideas and stories to life on the page, but their work is often invisible to readers. In many cases, readers may not even be aware that a book or article was ghostwritten. They play an important role in the publishing industry, working with authors to help them create polished, engaging written works that resonate with readers. The level of creative involvement of the ghostwriter can vary, depending on the needs and preferences of the author. Some authors may provide a detailed outline or rough draft of the work for the ghostwriter to build upon, while others may give the ghostwriter more freedom to create the work from scratch.
Is ghostwriting done only for books?
Ghostwriting is
done for a wide range of formats, including books, articles, essays, newspaper
columns, and film screenplays among others. The work of ghostwriters can be
especially important in cases where the author lacks the writing skills or time
to create work themselves, but still has important ideas or insights to share.
Are ghostwriters visible?
The authors rarely
reveal their ghostwriters outrightly. In some cases, the ghostwriter's name may
be included in this section, along with the author's name. The acknowledgments
section can include a mention of the ghostwriter's name and contributions to
the work. A small paragraph may be included at the back of the book or in the
author’s bio section that mentions the ghostwriter's name and their role in
creating the work. The ghostwriter may also receive a percentage of the
royalties or other compensation for their work. The specific location and format
of the ghostwriter's credit will vary depending on the preferences of the
author and the terms of their agreement with the ghostwriter.
Famous ghostwritten works
Have you read Nike
co-founder Phil Knight’s inspiring memoir Shoe
Dog or Andre Agassi’s gripping autobiography Open or the recently released record-breaking Spare by Prince Harry? Apart from being chart-topping, what else
connects these personal narratives? Believe it or not, they are all
ghostwritten by the prolific novelist and Pulitzer winner J. R. Moehringer.
“Spare” sold 1.43 million copies in just 24 hours in the UK, US, and Canada,
setting a Guinness World Record for the fastest-selling non-fiction book of all
time. Some of the biggest names in literature, politics, and business have used
ghostwriters to help them create their books or other written works.
Skills needed to become a ghostwriter
The primary ability
is to use language to convey the author's ideas and voice, while also
maintaining a high level of readability and engagement. Ghostwriters need to
conduct research to gain a deep understanding of the subject matter they are
writing about. This requires the ability to find and evaluate sources,
synthesize information, and present it in a clear and compelling way. They
require strong communication and collaboration skills, as well as the ability
to take feedback and make changes as needed. Another key skill is balancing
multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining a high level of quality and
attention to detail. Avid Learnig’s ghostwriting workshop will get you started
on this journey equipping you with the necessary skill set.