Ghost Writers by S.C. Wynne
**DISCLAIMER: THIS IS MY OPINION AND YOU DO YOU, BOO**
Good morning!!
I bought a course on using Scrivener once (because it's the most confusing mass of bells and whistles any author has ever had to try and figure out) and now Udemy sends me emails every day trying to get me to buy more courses.
One of these courses being offered was about using ghost writers. It made me start thinking about the use of ghost writers. Using ghost writers is nothing new. Everybody knows that while the name Carolyn Keene was on the covers of all the Nancy Drew books, they were written by various ghost writers. I will admit, when I discovered that, it shocked me, but it also made sense as to why some of the books "voices" were so different.
I'm not here to pass judgment on anyone who uses ghost writers. I guess that's a decision each person would have to make for themselves. But I do have an opinion on the matter. I often wonder how an author who exclusively uses ghost writers would interact with readers? Since they didn't actually write the story. Maybe they get the story back from the ghost writer and they kind of rewrite it? Therefore they feel close to the story, but they didn't have to put in the same energy as coming up with all the words? Because, let's face it, the writing process is draining. Amazing, but tiring.
I think of authors who use ghost writers more as publishers than authors. They buy a product and then they resell it. Much like you'd sell shoes. I'm not sure that would be fulfilling for someone like me. I prefer to write all my own words and come up with all my own stories. I, personally, would feel strange interacting with readers if I hadn't written the books. I wouldn't know what to say to readers to be honest. Do I even know what to say now? lol When I'm the one who wrote the stories? :D
I will say though, that the new state of publishing has become a real stressful grind. I can see why some people feel the need to buy books if they're required to pump out two or three books a month just to survive. That would burn you out very quickly and the product coming out will not be quality. I'm sorry, but there is no way a person can pump out 300, 000 words a month, especially on an ongoing basis, and have those be truly awesome words. You can hate me for saying that if you want, but that is my opinion. I'm entitled to it. I write fast and I would kill myself trying to pump out an 80,000 word book a month.
Having said that; I feel the pressure to produce books fast, like any other author in our genre. About a year ago, I even went so far as to purchase a book about writing something like 3000 words an hour or something. It has these exercises in it where you just write ALL THE WORDS that spill from your brain in spurts. I tried one of the five minute exercises and my hands hurt so bad after that time, not to mention my brain and pride. The words on the page were just piled out with little thought and you weren't even supposed to care about that. You were just supposed to keep doing that and soon you'd have a big book finished. To be honest, the entire process made me feel dirty.
While I don't think you should angst over every single WORD that you write, I do still feel the craft of writing a quality story is everything to me as S.C. Wynne. Yes, I have written under other pen names, and I don't consider those endeavors quality. I wouldn't pretend they are either. But when I write a story as S.C. Wynne, every word comes straight from my heart and soul. Because I am S.C. Wynne in every fiber of my being.
Ultimately, we all do what we need to do to put food on the table. I get that. I'm not the keeper of your life. But I personally couldn't ever use a ghost writer and feel good about myself. That's my own thing. I actually love being an author and in order to wear that title, I believe I need to actually write my own books. Every single one. Good. Bad. In between. All the books are mine.
S.C.
www.sc-wynne.com
Good morning!!
I bought a course on using Scrivener once (because it's the most confusing mass of bells and whistles any author has ever had to try and figure out) and now Udemy sends me emails every day trying to get me to buy more courses.
One of these courses being offered was about using ghost writers. It made me start thinking about the use of ghost writers. Using ghost writers is nothing new. Everybody knows that while the name Carolyn Keene was on the covers of all the Nancy Drew books, they were written by various ghost writers. I will admit, when I discovered that, it shocked me, but it also made sense as to why some of the books "voices" were so different.
I'm not here to pass judgment on anyone who uses ghost writers. I guess that's a decision each person would have to make for themselves. But I do have an opinion on the matter. I often wonder how an author who exclusively uses ghost writers would interact with readers? Since they didn't actually write the story. Maybe they get the story back from the ghost writer and they kind of rewrite it? Therefore they feel close to the story, but they didn't have to put in the same energy as coming up with all the words? Because, let's face it, the writing process is draining. Amazing, but tiring.
I think of authors who use ghost writers more as publishers than authors. They buy a product and then they resell it. Much like you'd sell shoes. I'm not sure that would be fulfilling for someone like me. I prefer to write all my own words and come up with all my own stories. I, personally, would feel strange interacting with readers if I hadn't written the books. I wouldn't know what to say to readers to be honest. Do I even know what to say now? lol When I'm the one who wrote the stories? :D
I will say though, that the new state of publishing has become a real stressful grind. I can see why some people feel the need to buy books if they're required to pump out two or three books a month just to survive. That would burn you out very quickly and the product coming out will not be quality. I'm sorry, but there is no way a person can pump out 300, 000 words a month, especially on an ongoing basis, and have those be truly awesome words. You can hate me for saying that if you want, but that is my opinion. I'm entitled to it. I write fast and I would kill myself trying to pump out an 80,000 word book a month.
Having said that; I feel the pressure to produce books fast, like any other author in our genre. About a year ago, I even went so far as to purchase a book about writing something like 3000 words an hour or something. It has these exercises in it where you just write ALL THE WORDS that spill from your brain in spurts. I tried one of the five minute exercises and my hands hurt so bad after that time, not to mention my brain and pride. The words on the page were just piled out with little thought and you weren't even supposed to care about that. You were just supposed to keep doing that and soon you'd have a big book finished. To be honest, the entire process made me feel dirty.
While I don't think you should angst over every single WORD that you write, I do still feel the craft of writing a quality story is everything to me as S.C. Wynne. Yes, I have written under other pen names, and I don't consider those endeavors quality. I wouldn't pretend they are either. But when I write a story as S.C. Wynne, every word comes straight from my heart and soul. Because I am S.C. Wynne in every fiber of my being.
Ultimately, we all do what we need to do to put food on the table. I get that. I'm not the keeper of your life. But I personally couldn't ever use a ghost writer and feel good about myself. That's my own thing. I actually love being an author and in order to wear that title, I believe I need to actually write my own books. Every single one. Good. Bad. In between. All the books are mine.
S.C.
www.sc-wynne.com
No comments have been added yet.
