Don’t believe everything you read. The inspirational bestselling book by your favorite celebrity, sports figure or politician was likely penned by someone else.
Even former first lady Michelle Obama, who had a huge 2018 bestseller called “Becoming” and received a whopping $60 million joint advance with her husband for both Obama memoirs, used a “collaborator” — a ghostwriter — an expert wordsmith who can magically turn speech patterns and sentence structure into a cogent story and garner huge sales and big advances. Michelle wasn’t the first first lady to hire out. Hillary Clinton teamed with ghostwriter Barbara Feinman Todd for her 1996 bestseller, “It Takes A Village.”
J.R. Moehringer, 57, is the highest paid ghostwriter in the business. A Pulitzer prize winner, he began his journalism career at the New York Times and later wrote for the Los Angeles Times. He is said to have earned seven figures for writing Prince Harry’s memoir due to be published late this year. Still, his name never appeared in the advance news the publisher released on the royal’s upcoming book — nor will it appear on the cover next fall.
Moehringer’s name also didn’t appear anywhere in tennis champion Andre Agassi’s 2010 autobiography or in Nike founder Phil Knight’s 2016 bestselling memoir “Shoedog.”
“There are probably 25 really top flight writers but few get credit on the cover — usually just the line ‘written with’ — it’s a battle to get the name on the title page of acknowledgments,” says New York Literary agent Madeleine Morel, whose agency 2M Communications, Ltd. has represented only ghostwriters for more than twenty years.
Curiously, it was Barack Obama who tipped off reporters that Michelle had used a ghostwriter for her memoir, “Becoming.” However, in the book’s acknowledgements, she credits several writers for helping her, including Chris Haugh, a journalist/author/speechwriter who was a fellow at the Obama White House.
When Hillary Clinton’s memoir “It Takes A Village” was published, it was Washington Post Watergate reporter Bob Woodward who revealed Hillary’s secret — ghostwriter Barbara Feinman Todd penned the big seller.
But first lady Laura Bush openly acknowledged that Lyric Winik wrote her memoir, “Spoken from the Heart.”
Collaborator Ariel Levy wrote Demi Moore’s 2019 memoir, “Inside Out,” and Bizz Bissinger collaborated on Caitlin Jenner’s 2017 memoir “The Secrets of My Life.” Neither received credit in the book. Gwyneth Paltrow initially claimed to have written her 2011 cookbook, “My Father’s Daughter,” but later admitted it was with the help of ghostwriter, Julia Turshen.
“Using a ghostwriter used to be like admitting you had done internet dating, but no more,” says Morel.
And writers are thrilled with the work when other publishing avenues have evaporated.
Still, collaboration agreements are ironclad and generally top-secret.
“Every collaboration agreement has a confidentiality clause in it, which means that anything the author may have told the writer which doesn’t go into the book is confidential and can’t be rumored about, disseminated or shared,” says Morel.
“I always negotiate a clause in the contract that the writer gets credit for the book in their publishing resume and sometimes on their website. If they are not allowed to reveal that they’ve written the book, it’s much harder to get more work.”
The average ghostwriting project pays $75,000 to $100,000 for as little as six months work. Pete Wentz, Pam Anderson, Ashley Judd, Leah Remini all turned to a collaborator to write their memoirs. Writer David Fisher has collaborated on over 70 books, including writing for retired quarterback Terry Bradshaw as well as the late attorney Johnnie Cochran and actor Leslie Nielsen.
Ghostwriter Hillary Liftin has written 13 bestsellers. Writer Joni Rodgers has ghosted more than 30 books. Dan Paisner has ghosted some 50 books including working with Gilbert Gottfried, Denzel Washington, Serena Williams and other luminaries.
There are only a few celebs who have written their own book — among them Matthew McConaughey, Sharon Stone, Dave Grohl. “But the world of ghosting is not going to go away,” declares Morel. “It will only increase.”
“It’s all banner headline and names in publishing now.”
As an enthusiast and expert in the world of literary collaboration and ghostwriting, I bring a wealth of knowledge and insight into the fascinating realm of authors and their uncredited counterparts. My experience spans the intricate dynamics of collaborative writing, the art of seamlessly transforming speech patterns into captivating narratives, and the nuances of maintaining confidentiality in the industry.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article you provided:
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Ghostwriting in the Literary World: The article sheds light on the prevalent practice of using ghostwriters in the literary world, where notable figures such as Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Prince Harry, Andre Agassi, and others have employed skilled writers to pen their memoirs or bestselling books. This practice challenges the common assumption that celebrities and public figures are the sole authors of their works.
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Prolific Ghostwriters: J.R. Moehringer, a Pulitzer Prize winner and former journalist, emerges as a prominent figure in the ghostwriting business, having reportedly earned seven figures for writing Prince Harry's upcoming memoir. The article also mentions other prolific ghostwriters like Barbara Feinman Todd, Lyric Winik, Ariel Levy, and Bizz Bissinger, highlighting their significant contributions to various high-profile memoirs.
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Secrecy and Confidentiality: Collaboration agreements in ghostwriting are described as ironclad and top-secret, with confidentiality clauses preventing the disclosure of any information not included in the book. This aspect emphasizes the discreet nature of the ghostwriting process and the importance of maintaining authorship confidentiality.
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Crediting Ghostwriters: The article discusses the challenges faced by ghostwriters in obtaining credit for their work. While some authors openly acknowledge the collaboration, others choose to keep it discreet. The negotiation of clauses in contracts to secure credit for the ghostwriter on resumes and websites is highlighted as a crucial aspect of collaboration agreements.
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Financial Aspects: The financial aspect of ghostwriting is touched upon, with the average project paying between $75,000 to $100,000 for approximately six months of work. The article mentions celebrities like Pete Wentz, Pam Anderson, Ashley Judd, and Leah Remini turning to collaborators for their memoirs, showcasing the diverse range of individuals involved in the ghostwriting process.
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Changing Perceptions: The article notes the evolving perception of ghostwriting, stating that it is no longer seen as a taboo or something to be concealed. In contrast to the past, where using a ghostwriter was akin to admitting certain stigmas, the practice is now widely accepted in the publishing industry.
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Future of Ghostwriting: The article concludes by asserting that the world of ghostwriting is on the rise and predicts an increase in its prevalence. Despite a few celebrities writing their own books, the demand for ghostwriters is expected to grow, making it a prominent aspect of the publishing landscape.
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