Comments on: Is ghost writing ethical

By: Deborah Owen

Deborah Owen — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 23:55:03 +0000

My hubby and I are on vacation near Mason, W. Va. I was wondering how far we are from you. If you wish, you can email me at deborahowen@cwinst.com. It would be nice to get to know you. Deb

By: Robert Medak

Robert Medak — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 23:44:42 +0000

Deborah,

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and comment on my my post. Thank you for the compliment.

I enjoy the act of writing, editing, and reviewing. This blog is about writing for people to think about what it takes to be a writer, and for people to make their own decision about whether or not they want to do it. I also believe in ethics in writing, as well as all content should be 100 percent original.

Bob

By: Deborah Owen

Deborah Owen — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 23:27:20 +0000

I’m like you, Robert – I’m on the fence on this one. I find ghost-writing unfulfilling, and if there’s one thing I want out of my writing, it is fulfillment. I’m interested in so many phases of writing that I had to make a choice. The end result is that I enjoy teaching one tiny notch more than writing. The result is a nonprofit writing school that sponsors cancer patients at http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com. >Very good article. Thought provoking. Thanks for following my blog. Deb Owen

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:18:02 +0000

A good ghostwriting assignment can be a great service. It’s really a combination of editing and writing, and perhaps like acting, because the challenge is to write in a voice that’s coherent with the client. At the end, they should say, “Wow! That’s exactly what I meant!” They should be enriched by the process as well. Because of the nuances, it’s more work and I charge accordingly. I don’t take assignments (or extricate if I haven’t seen it early enough, as I describe in my most recent post) that conflict with my own values, and that I wouldn’t be proud to own under other circumstances.

The problem with harlotdom, is not prolificacy, but lack of discrimination. I write for money, and I make no bones about it. But I discern the fitness of each assignment. I discriminate on the basis of integrity and resonance.

I also write for soul, pleasure, working-it-out and a million other reasons. But I think that if we can manage it, we should all get paid to do the things that come most easily to us, serve the greatest good and create the most beauty – because they don’t come easily to everyone and to be of service is among the greatest gifts.

By: Lessons Learned « Blog Medic

Lessons Learned « Blog Medic — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:25:08 +0000

[...] Is ghost writing ethical (rjmedak.wordpress.com) [...]

By: Robert Medak

Robert Medak — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:51:32 +0000

Good point ,DK. I appreciate the visit and comment.

By: dk Levick

dk Levick — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:05:11 +0000

A writer writes. We do it for our own enjoyment (relief?) and to sustain ourselves, both spiritually and physically. Getting paid for our work sustains us physically. Think about reading: Many of us work 8 hours a day reading as part of our means to sustain ourselves physically. Then when we’re home, we pick up a book and read. We read to sustain ourselves spiritually. Ghostwriting can be viewed in a like manner. I’ve never been accused of being a “reading whore”.