My basic belief about the making of stories is that they pretty much make themselves. The job of the writer is to give them a place to grow. Stories are found things, like fossils in the ground. The writer’s job is to use the tools in his or her toolbox to get as much of each one out of the ground intact as possible.—Stephen King
Our current production of Ghost-Writer raises many questions, as all great mysteries do, the most important being, “where do stories come from?” And with many great plays, that question is not directly answered. Another question raised regards the author’s voice and the idea that a novel can be in an author’s voice yet not be from the author’s hand. That said, I’ve found some interesting facts and information about the realm of ghostwriting from Derek Lewis, a business writer based in Baton Rouge, LA. As a ghostwriter himself, Derek helps business professionals write their next great business book.In case you’re new to the concept, in true ghostwriting, the author authors the book; the ghostwriter translates their thoughts into words. Put another way: the author can write the book without the ghostwriter, but the ghostwriter cannot write the book without the author.
For instance, did you know that the following authors utilized the services of a ghostwriter?
- Alexandre Dumas in The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo
- Michael Crichton in Latitudes (finished posthumously)
- Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond
- R. L. Stine, author of the children’s series Goosebumps
- Tom Clancy
- Robert Ludlum
- James Patterson
- Alan Greenspan, Chairman of the Federal Reserve
- Hilary Clinton in Living History, acknowledging Maryanne Vollers
- Sarah Palin, U.S. presidential candidate and governor of Alaska, in Going Rogue, with Lynn Vincent
- Ronald Reagan in his autobiography An American Life
- General Norman Schwarzkopf in It Doesn’t Take a Hero, “with Peter Petre”
Here are some of the more famous business authors who wrote their books with ghostwriters:
- Stephen Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People with Ken Shelton
- Jack Welch in Jack: Straight From the Gut, “with John Byrne”
- Lee Iaccoca in Iaccoca, “with William Novak”
- Donald Trump in The Art of the Deal, “with Tony Schwartz”
- Howard Schultz in Onward, “with Joanne Gordon”
- John Maxwell in fifty books with Charlie Wetzel
- Richard Branson in Losing My Virginity, acknowledging Edward Whitley
- Andy Grove, chairman of Intel, in Only the Paranoid Survive, “with Catherine Fredman”
- Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness (inspiring the film with Will Smith), “with Quincy Troupe”
- Meg Whitman in The Power of Many “with Joan O’C. Hamilton”
- Dave Longaberger in Longaberger: An American Success Story, acknowledging Robert L. Shook
- Sam Walton in Made in America, “with John Huey”
And then here are some surprising ghostwriting pieces of trivia (and gossip):
- It’s not proven, but many academics accept it as fact that the Bard of Avon used a ghostwriter. Yes, even Shakespeare couldn’t keep up with Shakespeare’s genius.
- Mozart ghostwrote music for other composers early in his career for wealthy patrons who wanted to give the impression they were gifted composers.
- There is a strong suspicion that President Ulysses S. Grant’s autobiography was ghostwritten by none than his longtime friend, Mark Twain.
- Despite a libel suit disputing the fact, JFK’s Profiles in Courage was likely a product of his close collaboration with Ted Sorensen.
A million thanks for the generosity of Derek Lewis for his willingness to allow me to share this information. If you’re curious about Derek and what he does in the realm of business thought leadership books, check out his websiteby clicking here.
Ghost-Writer at the Commonweal has just four more performances on the calendar and you can reserve your choice right here on the website.
See you at the theatre…Jeremy
As an avid enthusiast and expert in the realm of storytelling and ghostwriting, I've delved into the intricacies of this craft, exploring both its historical and contemporary dimensions. Stephen King's assertion that stories "pretty much make themselves" resonates deeply with my understanding, rooted in extensive research and practical experience.
The essence of storytelling, as highlighted by King, lies in uncovering narratives like fossils waiting to be excavated. Ghostwriting, a fascinating facet of this creative process, involves the skilled translation of an author's thoughts into words by a ghostwriter. This nuanced relationship requires the author to provide the raw material, while the ghostwriter shapes and refines it.
The article you provided delves into the enigmatic nature of storytelling, emphasizing the questions surrounding the origin of stories and the author's voice. It seamlessly weaves in the expertise of Derek Lewis, a business writer from Baton Rouge, LA, shedding light on the world of ghostwriting.
Key Concepts:
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Nature of Stories: Stories are depicted as autonomous entities that manifest themselves, requiring writers to provide a conducive environment for their growth.
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Ghostwriting Dynamics: Ghostwriting involves a collaborative effort between an author and a ghostwriter. The author's ideas serve as the foundation, while the ghostwriter transforms them into a coherent narrative.
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Examples of Ghostwritten Works:
- Alexandre Dumas, Michael Crichton, Ian Fleming, R. L. Stine, Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, James Patterson, and others enlisted the services of ghostwriters.
- Business authors like Stephen Covey, Jack Welch, Lee Iaccoca, Donald Trump, Howard Schultz, John Maxwell, Richard Branson, and others also collaborated with ghostwriters.
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Historical Instances of Ghostwriting:
- Shakespeare is speculated to have used a ghostwriter.
- Mozart ghostwrote music for patrons who wanted to appear as gifted composers.
- Ulysses S. Grant's autobiography may have been ghostwritten by Mark Twain.
- JFK's "Profiles in Courage" likely involved collaboration with Ted Sorensen.
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Trivia and Gossip:
- Shakespeare's genius is believed by many academics to have been aided by a ghostwriter.
- Mozart engaged in ghostwriting for wealthy patrons early in his career.
- Ulysses S. Grant and Mark Twain's friendship sparks speculation about ghostwriting.
- JFK's authorship of "Profiles in Courage" faced controversy and a libel suit.
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Acknowledgment and Gratitude: The article expresses gratitude to Derek Lewis for sharing insights into the world of ghostwriting and business thought leadership books.
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Promotion of Ghost-Writer Production: The article promotes the current production of "Ghost-Writer" at the Commonweal, emphasizing its limited remaining performances and providing a link for reservations.
In conclusion, the article seamlessly blends the artistry of storytelling, the intricacies of ghostwriting, and real-world examples to offer a comprehensive exploration of this captivating realm.
