Sounding Board/Ghost Writer

[Tamsyn]

I am in the process of writing a sci fi series and would like someone or a couple of people in my local area that are interested in being a sounding board (in person) and potentially doing some ghost writing for my books.

I am not sure if this is the place for me to post something of this nature but I found this community and thought it would be a good start. I do understand the value of time spent by those that would be involved.

I will then be seeking an editor of which I have read about several on here. Very excited to be moving forward.

 

[tinkerdan]

If you ghost, you need people invested in your story or things can go awry. Also ghosting out will make the work--not yours anymore even if you put your name on it. It's your idea and it can best be served by you.

Honestly speaking if you run your idea past someone and let them write it then all that is yours is the idea and the idea itself has little to do with the writing. This is just my opinion; but hopefully you get that I'd probably not offer my stuff to a ghost writer.

Oh-and-welcome to chronicles notice what it says under my avatar and you'll probably get why I forgot to be polite.

Looking forward to seeing some of your work.

 

[Tamsyn]

Tinkerdan, I am writing it but I really would like assistance with the fine details and a sounding board. The Ghost writing will be more of when I discuss and tell/write the story or main points of the story they assist with the details. This series has a lot going on and if not written in the correct time frame it can lose the reader which is something I do not want to have happen. I have been told it is great story told (verbally) but to write it is a whole new thing. The best analogy I can give you is the series Game of Thrones except my series is nothing like that one however there is much going on and it needs to be written in a way that can be followed. I really need some guidance from someone with sci fi writing experience and am willing to compensate as I want it to be done right. I truly appreciate all the input and feedback I can get as I have never written before let alone a series yet here I go.

Thank you for your straight forward response I like those!

 

[Tim Murray]

Tinkerdan, I am writing it but I really would like assistance with the fine details and a sounding board. The Ghost writing will be more of when I discuss and tell/write the story or main points of the story they assist with the details. This series has a lot going on and if not written in the correct time frame it can lose the reader which is something I do not want to have happen. I have been told it is great story told (verbally) but to write it is a whole new thing. The best analogy I can give you is the series Game of Thrones except my series is nothing like that one however there is much going on and it needs to be written in a way that can be followed. I really need some guidance from someone with sci fi writing experience and am willing to compensate as I want it to be done right. I truly appreciate all the input and feedback I can get as I have never written before let alone a series yet here I go.

Thank you for your straight forward response I like those!

In my first book, Thumar, (in another edit) there is a love story between two divergent cultures, one loose and immoral and the other, a chaste, fair society. Hopefully I built the expectations of the promised wedding night. When I got to the wedding night, A friend and beta reader found the prose lacked the "feminine touch." She took my writing and added a women's point of view, it only takes up part of a paragraph. I can tell the difference in writing styles immediately. If I can, readers will pick it up too. The jury is still out on it's final inclusion. However, on a positive note, one beta reader, a male, loved it.

In the end, the success or failure of ghost writing depends on how well it folds into the entire story arc and how seamlessly it fits in.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I think there may be a confusion of terms here. Ghost writing means writing the story for you. It even goes beyond collaboration. You have the ideas, and they write. What you are looking for, I think, is people to beta read or critique, who are also willing to brainstorm with you. This kind of arrangement usually involves returning the favor and doing the same for them.

 

[Tim Murray]

I think there may be a confusion of terms here. Ghost writing means writing the story for you. It even goes beyond collaboration. You have the ideas, and they write. What you are looking for, I think, is people to beta read or critique, who are also willing to brainstorm with you. This kind of arrangement usually involves returning the favor and doing the same for them.

What she wrote almost qualifies as GW.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Rewriting part of one paragraph would come under the heading of editing. If someone helps you by writing or rewriting a large part of your book, that is a collaboration. The ghost writer writes the whole thing.

 

[Tim Murray]

Rewriting part of one paragraph would come under the heading of editing. If someone helps you by writing or rewriting a large part of your book, that is a collaboration. The ghost writer writes the whole thing.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[tinkerdan]

Yes it sounds more like you want collaboration. Keep in mind that what you propose doing sounds epic and will take time; especially if you haven't written much before. Even more so if you have written, but not in Science Fiction. One of the best collaborations is to read a lot in the genre and stimulate your thought process that way.

Try not to hurry too much.

Unless you have an agent interested; then you need to get to work.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

It's a problem that comes up fairly often that people come here asking for help but they don't know what the kind of help they are asking for is called so they can't get what they need. That's why I'm being so nit-picky about the terms.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Ghost writers are for politicians, celebrities etc. You want a collaborator and/or editor.

Some writers get old, bored with series and rich, so "franchise it", employing Ghost Writers, (Leslie Charteris, The Saint), or a publisher/writer might employ teams of ghost writers.
see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratemeyer_Syndicate

Today a Franchise (Bond, Holmes, Hitchhikers Guide etc) might in contrast use a named successful author to promote the series.

 

[psychotick]

Hi Tamsyn,

My thought is that what you really want is a writers group. There are many, some online but many also offline. Usually when you join one, everyone gets to discuss something they're writing and the others make coments / suggestions. If you stay on this forum or other writing fora for a bit you can also get your work critiqued which may help. But I don't think anyone's going to actually write your book for you which is what ghost writing is.

Cheers, Greg.

 

[Brian G Turner]

I found this community and thought it would be a good start.

You're certainly among good company here - and welcome to the forums.

There are quite a few good links in the Writing Resources board:
https://www.sffchronicles.com/forum/writing-resources/

Also, you can see what sort of feedback people are getting for their work in our Critiques section:
https://www.sffchronicles.com/forum/critiques/

Of course, there are the general discussions on writing itself:
https://www.sffchronicles.com/forum/general-writing-discussion/

However, don't forget we also have the massive books and film/TV discussion areas. Getting involved with those, especially favourite authors, can give you an insight into critical points people make, and also provide recommendations on similar books that you may like.

 

[Tim Murray]

It's a problem that comes up fairly often that people come here asking for help but they don't know what the kind of help they are asking for is called so they can't get what they need. That's why I'm being so nit-picky about the terms.

At the risk of repeating myself, I get what you are saying and thank you for the help. The section in question does have a different flavor, writing style. It worked for one beta reader, but like a staffer pointed out, one doesn't count for much, many do.

 

[Loren]

I guess I am not sure why you wouldn't try this solo. It is going to be a learning experience, so why give that away to someone else if you are only going to cross that bridge again in the future?

I suspect that the areas you want/need help in could be accommodated here. Give it a try.

Best of luck!