I once ghostwrote a memoir for someone who kept insisting her dog should be in the book. I tried to explain to her that readers would find these passages a waste of their time, since her dog was not the subject of the book and didn't really add anything to her story. It was not easy to convince her of this, although in the end I did. Many years later, she wrote to me indicating her lingering regret that the dog wasn't in the book.
Since I don't collaborate or ghost write, I wasn't sure I'd be interested in this set of posts, but great storyteller that he is, the anecdotes about the different kinds of principals and co-authors that Richard provides are so juicy, I fell right into the intrigue of what it's like to divide up the spoils and responsibilities of working together on a publishing project. I've decided that I'd rather be the big money-making mogul than the $10,000 a pop journalist. Maybe I'm not the real writer I thought I was;)
Hi Richard. I recently ghostwrote the life story of a local person in my community. I waived my ghostwriting fee because 100% of the proceeds of the book are going to his charity - Increase the Peace. I had to sign a contract to waive any rights to the book sales - which I was happy to do. The book is being published by Icon books in January 2026 - Del - Becoming a Voice for Young People. Congratulations on your upcoming book. There's no stopping you!!
Yes, even a charity will require a contract. Obviously they've learned that no good deed goes unpunished :-)
Thank you for the message about my book. It will help writers - and readers too - understand how subtly they became digitized over the past couple of decades.
I once ghostwrote a memoir for someone who kept insisting her dog should be in the book. I tried to explain to her that readers would find these passages a waste of their time, since her dog was not the subject of the book and didn't really add anything to her story. It was not easy to convince her of this, although in the end I did. Many years later, she wrote to me indicating her lingering regret that the dog wasn't in the book.
You did well to resist, otherwise she'd have wanted her dog to be on the cover of the book.
Since I don't collaborate or ghost write, I wasn't sure I'd be interested in this set of posts, but great storyteller that he is, the anecdotes about the different kinds of principals and co-authors that Richard provides are so juicy, I fell right into the intrigue of what it's like to divide up the spoils and responsibilities of working together on a publishing project. I've decided that I'd rather be the big money-making mogul than the $10,000 a pop journalist. Maybe I'm not the real writer I thought I was;)
You wouldn't trade being a writer for being a mogul for a million dollars. Maybe two million, but definitely not one. :-)
You got that right;)
Hi Richard. I recently ghostwrote the life story of a local person in my community. I waived my ghostwriting fee because 100% of the proceeds of the book are going to his charity - Increase the Peace. I had to sign a contract to waive any rights to the book sales - which I was happy to do. The book is being published by Icon books in January 2026 - Del - Becoming a Voice for Young People. Congratulations on your upcoming book. There's no stopping you!!
Yes, even a charity will require a contract. Obviously they've learned that no good deed goes unpunished :-)
Thank you for the message about my book. It will help writers - and readers too - understand how subtly they became digitized over the past couple of decades.
This is spot on and invaluable for readers!
Thank you so much, Sally!