6 of the Most Commonly Asked FAQs About Ghostwriting: Is it Actually Ethical to Ghostwrite?

When people talk to you, they can be insensitive and brutal at times.

People ask me, "What do you do?"

"I am a ghostwriter. I write books for my clients."

"And what does that exactly mean?" they ask naively. "Do you write about ghosts and haunted places?"

"Actually, I write for others. I  never get the credit for what I write."

"Oh, that's weird. Is that actually a job? I'd never do that. What's the point of working so hard when you never get the credit for it?" they say bluntly.

Heartbroken, I still try to keep that smile on my face. I lift my spirits up to explain how helping others brings the element of satisfaction to me. Of course, ghostwriting pays well too, but this is what I do because I enjoy ghostwriting more than writing in my own style does.

I actually wrote an entire post on what's in it for me as a ghostwriter when I am working behind the scenes.

The post explains my point of view as a ghostwriter as to why I became one and what's in it that I enjoy the most. I think I make my point well, but then I have to be stabbed with yet another brutal question-

"Is it ethical?"

So, I've decided to answer this one here today:

Question #6

Is it Actually Ethical to Ghostwrite?

Answer

As big as a lie as it may sound- YES! Ghostwriting is 100% ethical and legal.

I wouldn't have done it if it wasn't.

Yes, I lose the credit for my work. Yes, I don't get recognized for what I do. Yes, I get generously paid for having another person's name on it. 

But at the end of the day, I work with another person's ideas. It's that other person's thoughts and that I pen down. It's nothing original that I create.

I just help people who have brilliant ideas to jot down but lack the skills or time to do so. I do not help those who are lazy or inapt. I only help those who are overly busy people who cannot spare time to write their own books or pieces. And I never do any homeworks for lazy students as an academic writer does- that's totally unethical in my opinion. Instead, I help those who have a wonderful imagination but do not have appropriate words to paint their pictures.

I bring convenience and a level of expertise to those who cannot bring their ideas to the world for any reason. And I do it all ethically.

Say, for example, you're feeling a bit under the weather. You do not know what's wrong? You want to feel better. What do you do? You visit your GP, right? He or she explains what's wrong and prescribes you medicines. You get well. 

 

I, too, try to help people feel better by getting their ideas off their heads on to paper. And I do it as ethically as a doctor does.

Now consider this- you are stuck in a legal situation. You do not know what to do.

What do you do?

You consult your lawyer, of course. He or she explains you the situation and advises any possible legal solutions to your problem. You get their expertise to help you out.

I do just that. I bring my expertise to write to the table. This is for people who get stuck while writing. And I do it just as ethically as a lawyer does.

Some of my clients are not only able to think well and write well too, but they still hire me so I can use a fresh approach to refine and polish their writing- to make it worthy of reading for their readers.

Think of a ghostwriter as that washing machine that would help you wash your clothes quicker and better than when you wash them with hands. It is made for the purpose. It is designed to bring convenience to your life.  While a washing machine saves you hours of tedious cleaning time and can clean better than you can, ghostwriters like myself can potentially save hours of tedious writing time for their clients and can write better than they can. That's what they do and that's what they are trained for.