Have you ever read a celebrity memoir or motivational business book and wondered if the famous name on the cover actually wrote it? The world of publishing has a long tradition of ghostwriting – writers who author books officially credited to someone else. On a recent episode of Missing Pages, host Bethanne Patrick pulls back the curtain on the controversial practice of ghostwriting.
Bethanne maintains a storied place in the publishing industry as a critic and as @TheBookMaven on Twitter, where she created the popular #FridayReads and regularly comments on books and literary ideas to over 200,000 followers. Her work appears frequently in the Los Angeles Times as well as in The Washington Post, NPR Books, and Literary Hub. She sits on the board of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation and has served on the board of the National Book Critics Circle.
The Business of Ghostwriting
Ghostwriting is big business in book publishing. Celebrities, business leaders, politicians, and other public figures often lack the writing skills or time to pen an entire book themselves. By hiring an experienced writer as a ghostwriter, they can get their ideas and stories into print and onto store shelves.
“In today’s celebrity saturated culture, publishers know that famous names sell books regardless of who actually wrote them,” Bethanne explains. “Audiences love getting an inside look into the lives of their favorite stars and influencers. That curiosity fuels major book deals even when writing isn’t the celebrity’s strength.”
Social media has intensified this trend. The platforms of Instagram stars, YouTube personalities, reality show veterans, and podcast hosts are now large enough that publishers see selling potential in giving them a book deal. This is where ghostwriters come in – translating the celebrity’s personal brand and viewpoint into a manuscript.
Ghostwritten celebrity books and memoirs have topped the bestseller charts in recent years. Publishing executives sign these deals knowing the famous face on the cover boosts sales and interest far more than the skills of the writer behind the scenes. From a business perspective, it makes perfect sense.
The Ethical Dilemmas Around Ghostwriting
But host Bethanne Patrick presses beyond the dollars and cents to explore the ethical issues raised by unnamed writers doing the real work. Doesn’t ghostwriting essentially allow celebrities to purchase and claim authorship of books they didn’t craft? Does it undermine what authorship and creative accomplishment mean?
There’s a lot to unpack around the authenticity of voice, the merit of authorship, and questions of who deserves credit for creating a work of literature. When a book is billed as written by a celebrity but ghostwritten behind the scenes, are readers being misled?
In fact, some recent scandals involving high-profile figures have increased media scrutiny around ghostwriters. Several politicians, celebrities, authors, and their publishers have faced backlash when it was revealed that advertised memoirs were almost entirely written by an uncredited ghostwriter.
Even when there isn’t outright deceit, many argue that ghostwriting still allows public figures to buy their way onto the bestseller list through their platforms and access rather than literary ability. Does ghostwriting give celebrities and public figures an unfair advantage and instant credibility as “authors” over writers who have devoted themselves to the craft?
Perspectives From Within the Industry
On Missing Pages, Claire Knowles said, “There’s room in the writing world for both transparency around the collaborative writing process while also understanding a big name on the cover helps sell books.”
“As a ghostwriter myself, I never wanted the spotlight and pressure around promoting my fantasy novels. I prefer staying anonymous. But I love writing books and need to pay the bills,” said ghostwriter Jen Atchinson. “Ghostwriting allows me to write manuscripts for celebrity and business clients that sell very well while keeping my own successful novels separate under a pseudonym. It keeps the business aspect separate from the fun of writing fiction.”
However, it is important to acknowledge the misgivings some authors have around ghostwriting. Questions of credibility and authentic authorship have always lingered around the practice.
Why Ghostwrite?
Many talented writers ghostwrite not for credit or fame but simply for the love of writing. They enjoy authoring manuscripts that become published books while avoiding the publicity obligations that traditionally published authors endure.
“I have several fiction books I’ve written under a pseudonym that have done very well,” says Marcy Holmes, a full-time ghostwriter. “As an introvert, I had no interest in promoting them via conferences, tours, and social media campaigns. Ghostwriting pays the bills while letting me focus purely on the writing rather than marketing.”
In addition, ghostwriting allows writers to polish their skills across genres. By collaborating with celebrity clients, business executives, politicians, and public figures, they can stretch their talents in new directions.
“It enables me to write memoirs way more interesting than my own life, as well as business books beyond my expertise,” Holmes explains. “I get to immerse myself in fascinating worlds.”
As a ghostwriter myself, I completely agree. I love writing. I love writing books. I do not want to do publicity or marketing. I’m perfectly happy in the background.
The Celebrity Backlash
However, increased media attention has brought ethics around ghostwriting under the spotlight. Several politicians and public figures have faced sharp criticism upon revelations that their memoir or book was almost entirely written by an uncredited ghostwriter.
Others argue that celebrities and influencers utilize ghostwriters to buy their way onto the bestseller list rather than earning it through literary prowess. Does ghostwriting undermine what authorship means?
“There’s a feeling that readers are being misled when a book cover says written by a celebrity, but the actual writing was outsourced to an unknown ghostwriter,” Patrick said in an interview. “But it’s unrealistic to think that celebrities or CEOs have the writing skills needed to turn their ideas into a book. A ghostwriter simply provides writing skills, not the actual story. It is up to the client to provide the story.”
Setting the Record Straight
Patrick argues that more transparency around ghostwriting can help. Famous figures should acknowledge when they collaborated with a writer rather than pretending they penned the book alone.
“Ghostwriting itself isn’t the problem. The key is being upfront when a book had a ghostwriter instead of passing it off as written solely by the celebrity figurehead.”
I agree. Ghostwriters shouldn’t have to apologize. I’m proud of the quality books I’ve crafted, even if my name isn’t on the cover. There’s skill in translating someone’s ideas onto the page.
There are also creative aspects ghostwriters enjoy. I get a lot of leeway around structuring the pacing and narrative. My clients provide the raw experiences, stories, and objectives for their book – I package that into an engaging manuscript.
Making It Work
For those interested in hiring a ghostwriter, Patrick suggests looking for writing samples that demonstrate skill at long-form content and matching the tone you envision. Provide clear direction around the goal and purpose of the book.
“Understand that a ghostwriter can’t whip up an entire book from just a short phone call. Expect to be very involved explaining experiences, anecdotes, perspectives and other details they can shape into chapters. It’s a close collaboration.”
The world of ghostwriting will likely only expand as more influencers and public personalities score lucrative publishing deals. Yet properly implementing ghostwritten books – with transparency about their creation and input – remains vital to upholding ethics and trust with readers.
Looking Ahead
The revealing interviews shine light onto the often hidden world of ghostwriting and the Publishing machine fueling it. As social media expands public platforms and accessibility to book deals, demand for ghostwriters seems poised to grow. Yet debates around the integrity of authorship and voice will also intensify.
There are no easy answers, Patrick concludes. But one thing is clear – for better or worse, ghostwriting will continue playing a major, if obscured, role in the publishing ecosystem connecting writers, celebrities, and readers. Missing Pages will continue examining the larger context and implications around this complex collision of business interests, ethical concerns, authentic expression, and love of literature.
