The Making Of A Ghostwriter

By Douglas Pilarski (possibly not his real name)

A friend of mine called me the other day to ask if I knew of anyone interesting. One of his contacts needed someone to call. He wanted to do an interview. We kicked around some names. After a few minutes, my friend threw my name in the hat. I reluctantly agreed after some cajoling, coaxing, and consternation. We set up a call.

We decided the premise would be my experiences as a ghostwriter. Since the piece would not be published by the interviewer, I made sure I could use it for my purposes, and so it is available here for the first time ever. My interviewer was Eric T, a graduate student going for a Master’s degree in communications in the bay area.

What does a ghostwriter do?

I am a writer. I work for a client. I think of it as being a hired hand. I do what they can’t do or don’t have time to do. It is behind-the-scenes work. My name is not attached to the published work. I work under contracts and NDA’s. I write according to my client’s needs.

I get marching orders. I march!

How did you begin?

I was an HR executive. I worked in Fortune 500 companies. I found myself writing for all sorts of projects. I remember updating a training library that had not been touched in years. The materials were used daily.

Some of the courses were 15 years after the copyright date. That was a big project. I not only rewrote the training, but I also updated many of the lessons and added new material. While passing these milestones, I realized that writing was something I could do.

I knew instinctively not to operate in a vacuum. I talked to all sorts of managers and specialists. I made sure to incorporate their comments and ideas into the material. I created an internal network of subject matter experts. Came in handy when I was up to something new!

So much of what I needed to communicate was in writing. I took the writing part seriously. I realized I was in a position of influence. I was under the microscope, and my results had to be spot on. I worked hard to make improvements. It forced me to learn how to write.

I was up for anything, and as opportunities came my way, I jumped on every single job. I figured it would be a good experience, and I could sort it all out later.

What do you like about writing?

My goal is to influence the reader and or change their mind and way of thinking. Writing is thinking. Writing for a luxury brand is about accuracy and getting the voice right. It is geared to a specific audience.

You can be more playful when writing about street tacos or a 43-ounce medium-rare steak smothered in butter, mushrooms, and gorgonzola. I take both sides seriously.

No matter what the situation, when I write for a client, I write for THEIR customer. I want to change the mind of the reader to favor my client. It’s influence.

The best part of being a writer?

I DECIDE when it is a new paragraph.

Are you a journalist?

No, not when I am in ghostwriting mode. Not in the sense that I collect information that turns into the news? Ghostwriting is more like being a hired gun. I have an objective. When I hit submit, I have to be on target. What I write has to answer my client’s specifications.

I am a pack rat when it comes to snipping articles, photos, and materials I can use when I have an assignment. Those snips turn into something later.

What does storytelling mean to you?

Writing is all about storytelling. You capture the reader and keep them interested. Even when I am writing for a diverse audience, I am aware that I need to get the reader involved.

A client told me once that I write punchy copy. The feature format is well all storytelling. It is a much freer style of storytelling that involves my point of view and my experience. I like fact-based writing. Telling a story lets you bring in all sorts of elements that you may not see coming.

There is a well-known explanation of storytelling. At the beginning of the story the character, a guy, is going great clips. He is on his way to good fortune then there’s a sudden turn. Disaster hits. He finds himself down and out. He meets a girl. The girl cares enough to dust him off and the pair experience a steady climb back to good fortune. It’s a boy meets girl story. And yes, they live happily ever after.

Do you specialize in certain topics?

I get hired over and over again to do certain kinds of pieces. Clients who like what I do continue to give me projects. I suppose you gravitate rather than specialize until you hit it big.

I do have areas that are stronger than others. I work a lot in luxury goods, horology, exotic and vintage cars, food & fine dining, travel, and workplace issues. I write for companies and publishers. I also write for executives who are too busy or do not think they write well.

As a ghostwriter, I may never see the true final result of my work. If I do, I don’t see my name. I am a behind-the-scenes player. I also, on occasion, use a pen name.

I have written pieces about septic tanks, $220,000 watches, and small jets that are popular with high-flying executives.

I have written for CEOs and fortune-tellers. A real estate agent in Nova Scotia, and even an executive bio for a computer genius in Tel Aviv which I also translated to English.

I have clients in Hong Kong, Montreal, Paris, Milan, NYC, and Madrid. You never know what is coming next. I have also tried to stay open to new things.

A friend of mine who writes novels has also written for psychics, a Thai restaurant, a personal sex coach, and a house painter in Texas. The point is you have to be ready for anything.

You said you work for corporations and publishers. Who exactly?

See, that’s the funny thing. Here is how it happens. I connect with a company that has a need or an agent who wants something done for their client. I get the call and say I will or I won’t. I almost always say yes.

We can accomplish a lot of the groundwork on the phone. We talk about style, tone, brand voice, and how long a piece should be. We may discuss roadblocks, how the piece will be edited, and the key points that need to be included or omitted. Once in a while, they already have a piece that they love but think needs more attitude. In that case, I am a ghost-rewriter!

I work through my notes and get a rough draft on paper. I also want to nail down a deadline. This helps me to plan. Do I need to compress time, or can I take the time to research and think?

Once I have hit the high notes and have the word count right, I start to edit. I have a strong preference for letting a piece sit for a day or two before I edit. That way, the ideas gel a little, and I determine if I like it or not.

Here is an example: say I am writing a piece on Kauai, I will have read everything I can find. I take my notes and mash them into something readable. So maybe it is 8,000 words mashed into 3,000 words. I edit and rewrite and edit more until I get to the target word count.

Someone told me once that a writer needs to edit mercilessly. That stuck with me. To me, it means that nothing I have on paper is safe.

I will move things around. Make the middle the beginning or whatever. I am amazed at how much the tone or flow improves when I whack a paragraph.

Share a project you had fun doing.

My agent arranged for me to take an Italian sports car out for a spin. I had it for a day and later wrote about the experience. I picked up the car in Torrey Pines and wandered around the San Diego beach towns. I found the 8 East. I enjoyed letting the car get some exercise while heading north on 15. There was plenty of room and hills to get up and down.

The real fun started on Highway 74 near Lake Elsinore. To call this a twisty, winding ride with plenty of ups and downs would be an understatement. The car never broke a sweat over 21 action-packed miles. I felt stuck to the road the entire time. I would describe my car as nimble, stable, and fast.

I picked up the 5 South at San Juan Capistrano and headed back to my endpoint in La Jolla. I had the top down the entire time. Brought that baby back with nary a scratch. It was warm, sunny, and breezy! Wow-what a day.

What has surprised you about writing as a career?

Two things. The need for continued networking and marketing. Professional writing is competitive. I figure that I am only one of 232,000,000 million other writers out there. If I am not pitching stories and networking, I am writing. I have done work for more than 200 clients. I did not realize how much marketing there was in being a freelancer. I am used to it now.

Do you have a favorite magazine?

I grew up reading Sports Illustrated, Road & Track, and MAD Magazine. Later I read Fortune, HBR, and some others.

Today, I like Fast Company, Wired, The New Yorker, and Texas Monthly. I read quite a few trade magazines as well. Everything from crop protection to vinegar, and Peterbilt 379 transmissions to the latest in HDTV. I interviewed a woman who lays out airports and another who is an interior designer specializing in luxury yacht interiors. There is a wealth of information out there and no shortage of people and topics.

What do you do when you have downtime?

I love sports cars. I cook from scratch. I love to bbq. I make pickles. I am interested in baking bread, beekeeping, and hot peppers. I have a collection of jazz guitars and a recording studio.

I have to shout out here to my golden retrievers Coopie, Rainbow, and Ranger.

What is your favorite music?

I listen to everything. To name a few, Miles Davis, Kenny Burrell, Gov’t Mule, Bluegrass, Junior Wells, Mozart, Sade, and the Allman Brothers. My list is a mile long.

OK, now for the lightning round.

Pineapple and ham OR anchovy mushroom?

Anchovy mushroom every time. Fruit does not belong on pizza btw.

Frank Sinatra OR Mel Torme?

Mel Torme.

East Coast OR West Coast?

West

Don Quixote or Lord of the Rings?

Don Quixote

Lamborghini or Ferrari?

McLaren!

Private yacht or Private jet?

Jet

France or Spain?

Both

Miles Davis and Kenny Burrel or Dixieland and Ragtime

Miles & Kenny

Share a favorite quote with us?

“The sword of destiny has two edges, you are one of those edges.”

What does the future look like for you?

I like what I do, so more of the same is great! I will continue to write on Medium and look for opportunities to do radio and magazines.

The world has gone digital! Content rules!

Thanks, Eric!

Best to you in your studies.

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Douglas Pilarski is an award-winning writer & journalist based on the west coast. He writes about luxury goods, exotic cars, horology, tech, food, lifestyle, and workplace issues!

You’re welcome to share your thoughts or tell me your story. Email me here. [email protected]

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