


Composers have long hired ghostwriters to help them to write musical pieces and songs Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is an example of a well-known composer who was paid to ghostwrite music for wealthy patrons. Ghostwriting (or simply "ghosting") also occurs in other creative fields. Sometimes the ghostwriter is acknowledged by the author or publisher for their writing services, euphemistically called a "researcher" or "research assistant", but often the ghostwriter is not credited. Usually, there is a confidentiality clause in the contract between the ghostwriter and the credited author that obligates the former to remain anonymous. Screenplay authors can also use ghostwriters to either edit or rewrite their scripts to improve them. In music, ghostwriters are often used to write songs, lyrics, and instrumental pieces. Memoir ghostwriters often pride themselves in "disappearing" when impersonating others since such disappearance signals the quality of their craftsmanship. Celebrities, executives, participants in timely news stories, and political leaders often hire ghostwriters to draft or edit autobiographies, memoirs, magazine articles, or other written material. As a result, his publisher hired ghostwriters to write novels in the Clancy style.Ī ghostwriter is a person hired to write literary or journalistic works, speeches, or other texts that are putatively credited to another person as the author.
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Clients should know and understand ahead of time what they are allowed to use that content for and how to “upgrade” (for lack of a better word) to full copyright usage of the content should they want to later.The popular demand for Tom Clancy's action novels exceeded his ability to write new books. And you can always include clauses that would cover both you and your client should their intentions change later down the road.Īnd make sure you are clear in setting your clients' expectations when it comes to hiring you for their content needs. On the other hand, if all they want is to provide a steady stream of high-quality content on their website, you can use a contract more suited for content writing. If they plan on repurposing or using the content in any way other than as the original content for their site, then you need to use a contract that covers copyright ownership and ghostwriting. When you're pitching your services to new clients, or interviewing clients for a discovery call, make sure you understand what their intention is with the content. Because as a ghostwriter, you are selling full copyright ownership to the client, they get to do whatever they want to the content you write for them.īut, if they hire you as a content writer, they don't receive those same rights, even though their name appears on the finished piece instead of yours.
Blog ghost writer series#

The biggest difference, I'm sure you noticed, is in what a content writer is paid for versus what a ghostwriter is paid for.Įven though you receive no public credit or recognition for the writing, as a content writer, you are paid to write website content specifically and as a ghostwriter you are paid for the content and for the rights to use that content. What's the Difference Between a Ghostwriter and a Content Writer? Like a content writer, these can be strategic pieces that will be going onto a website, or they can be books, guides, and video scripts – anything the client needs but doesn't have time to write themselves.Īs a ghostwriter, you are paid for the content and for the rights to use that content. What is a Ghostwriter?Ī ghostwriter is a writer who is hired to write on behalf of a company or brand. And, as a content writer, you are paid to write website content specifically. And, because they specialize in content marketing strategy, they are trained to deliver engaging, SEO-optimized content that will drive more traffic to your site.īeing a content writer is great if you enjoy semi-complex, longer contracts that involve strategy and purpose. A content writer is someone who, as the name implies, is hired to write regular, engaging content that serves a specific goal or purpose within the clients' business or marketing agenda.Ĭontent writers are typically hired to handle long-term needs, such as a series of related content or ongoing updates to a website.
