Being Anonymous

Do you mind not having your name on the cover of the book?
 
Frankly, no. I can remember what a thrill it was the first time my name appeared inside a book I’d worked on – as a subeditor at Time-Life. I drove 120 miles to show it to my mum. Since then, I've had my name or a pseudonym inside lots more books and on the cover of 200 or so (let me stress, many were quite short). It’s still a thrill any time I have a book published.
 
But having my name on the cover is something I’ve learned to live without. It's what a ghostwriter signs up for.
 
We’re paid to be anonymous, like the stuntmen in movies. The author doesn't have to mention us in any way at all or acknowledge our help. Some even make us sign non-disclosure agreements and swear us to great secrecy. Others are more willing to share the credit. They recognize that they couldn't write a book themselves. They have the knowledge but they don't have the skill or the time. They have no problem about saying, “I was helped with this book by…”
 
In that case we are mentioned in the acknowledgements and either credited as a writer or an editor or just thank you for our support.
 
Every ghostwriter I know is fine with that, because it’s our job.

Given that it's how we've chosen to earn our living, the money is ultimately more important than the credit.