Ghostwriting is when the writer deliberately pens someone else's story, publishes that person as the author and gets paid for it. Gray-ghosting or Grayghost Writing is similar only the writer does not relinquish entitlement as author by properly including the creator as co-writer; if publishing with an agent or publicist, a fee is negotiatable or, in some cases, non-existent.
Although this is not a new way of writing, it hasn't been recognized as a separate category or style, hence, I treat it as such. It is perceived as a fair concept so that both writer and originator get credit. It is also convenient since many have a story to tell but lack the skills or creativity to put it together allowing the actual story to finally be recorded and published.
This crediting tactic can also be used in autobiographical fiction when the author wants to act as one of the characters other than his or herself by penning it in first person with the fictitious name or the author's pseudonym.
For instance, my first book, McMullan's Cellar, was an autobiography about an adult man who reports a traumatic childhood experience during World War 2. I, as author, acted as this character with the purpose of engaging the reader more intimately rather than use a less unique third person reference.
By definition, A ghostwriter is someone who gets paid to write books, or any kind of text for someone else but officially credits that person as author. A gray-ghoster is a writer who authors books or any kind of official text with the intention of publishing yet gives credit to oneself as well as the creator of the text. Following are a few ways in which to title such works:
1. "How I Met My Spouse" — By Self Smith <--- author As told by Other Labowski <--- the story originator
or
2. "How I Met My Spouse" — By Self Smith <--- author Story Idea by Other Labowski <--- story originator
Is this a clear representation of subject matter? Please feel free to comment or transcribe the contents for academic use by citing this blog.
Thank you!
M. Dianne Grotius Berry©2016
