To be a “ghost” or not to be?
What’s your decision as a paid writer? (Link to external website is posted at the bottom of this story.)
“Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.”
That’s a quote from a fictional character. It comes from one of Mark Twain’s books. Twain can hardly be called a “ghost” in 2024. The public knows he is Samuel Langhorne Clemens.
Before everyone found out that Twain was Clemens, however, can you imagine how he may have felt? I know we as writers could never know for sure. All we can do is know how it feels to us when we keep our identity to ourselves.
You can choose to be a “ghost” as a writer. However, you can also find ways to not stay hidden like Mark Twain did and still have your real name on your stories.
What is being a “ghost” as a writer?
Being a “ghost” is like going “incognito” as a detective. Your identity won’t be found out unless you expose who you are.
It’s called being a “ghostwriter.” You don’t get credit for what you write. Someone else does, and sometimes, you sell yourself for pennies per word. You may not see another dollar for your writing after you agreed to sign…
