Jul 27, 2023·edited Jul 27, 2023Liked by Christopher Frizzelle
I'm with Claire on this--I have no interest in following the Royals (even though her nonladyship matriculated at NU and I got all these gossipy bits from her sorority sisters about protecting her from the papparazzi) (and, okay, I also love The Crown) (okay, I'm lying), but now that I know this piece is really about ghostwriting, I'm beelining to my bathroom built-in magazine rack, where my New Yorkers go to die.
Have you ever been approached to ghost write something? Back in 2000, I was invited to ghost write the biography of Scoutmaster James Dale, who was an Eagle Scout and sued the BSA for keeping him from being a Scoutmaster because he was gay. It went all the way to the Supreme Court, if you remember, and basically broke the Boy Scouts. I, too am a gay Eagle Scout, and so I was a natural fit. But it was a topical issue and they wanted me to churn out a blockbuster within a month or so, and I was all ARTY WRITER. The hoops they make you jump through--of course they didn't want art, they wanted a clear narrative, but they wanted a narrative before the story was over, before the Supreme Court ruling, and I saw the limits of my skills. This is a long way of saying I have tremendous respect for ghost writers.
"Have you ever been approached to ghost write something?" What a great question. I was approached about ghostwriting a book from the point of view of one of Amanda Knox's lawyers. But I was juggling two other writing projects that I thought would turn into books of MINE, by ME, like you say, works of ART -- hahahaha. Oh god. Embarrassing in retrospect, the way I thought my precious artistic visions (not of interest to anyone) were the most important thing. I would have had READERS if I'd written about Amanda Knox.
One of my favorite pop culture books that was ghost written is "The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band" about the highest jinks of Motley Crue. I bought it as a gift for my niece years ago, but before I gave it to her I started leafing through it and got pulled in--great writing, story well-told--I ended up reading the whole thing and gave my niece a USED BOOK for Christmas. The ghostwriter for The Dirt was Neil Strauss, who has done several rock books. I have the greatest respect for him...
I loved that piece--read it on a whim months ago and was kinda blown away. I must say--I think I was prejudiced against ghostwriters because I thought of them as some kind of failed writers (which if you think about it coming from me is hysterical.) May I just say--I clearly had no clue? In fact, now I’m like, “hmmmm...ghostwriting...maybe best of all possible worlds?” In any case--it was the insightful, funny, and poignant. And I loved that paparazzi scene. It also makes me like Harry even more. I think I’m now going to go reread it, since due to a cancelled meeting I have four glorious unscheduled and ope hours today...😉
“hmmmm...ghostwriting...maybe best of all possible worlds?” -- I had that same thought! Come to think of it, I did a lot of ghostwriting at The Stranger (pre-writing and/or heavy rewriting for staff writers and contributors) and there was something kinda glorious about it. I got to be invisible.
I just read a book by another professional ghostwriter, Ada Calhoun, except her own book this time, non-ghostwritten: “Also a Poet,” about Frank O’Hara (and Calhoun’s own father, the art critic Peter Schjeldahl). Run don’t walk! Now out in paperback. I have so many thoughts about it, and I’ll be talking about it on episode 2 of the FrizzLit Podcast, which comes out Tuesday.
Four hours of unscheduled time! Lucky you. Enjoy every moment of it.
I almost didn't read it b/c, well, I have no interest in Harry. But curiosity about a ghostwriter pulled me in, you're right, it's well worth a read! (I try to keep my pile of New Yorkers to a manageable size by giving them away to the New Yorker-deprived masses).
So many things to say: 1) I miss the glory days of the Stranger. I’m so happy to have found you here; 2) check out JR Moehringer’s memoir The Tender Bar. Truth be told, I’ve seen the movie (with Ben Affleck so you can imagine the vibe) and only picked at the book. It’s a moving story) ; 3) Decades ago, I did a series of grueling two week assignments in Vietnam (refugee resettlement) and would bring stacks of New Yorkers to unwind with. This was in the days when the magazine was packed with long form journalism (remember Alma Guillermoprieto?) and pre-Internet. Those were among the best immersive reading experiences I’ve ever had. Plus I felt a great sense of personal triumph whenever I completed a month’s worth of issues. I’m heading out of town tomorrow and the Prince Harry memoirist piece and other New Yorkers wiil come with me. Thanks for the nudge.
Ahhh, I love this image of you reading saved-up New Yorkers while working on refugee resettlement in Vietnam and those being "among the best immersive reading experiences I’ve ever had." Yes! I wish more people talked about reading like this. It's amazing how words on a page can lift us out of circumstance.
I read it as someone who has written a memoir, and who has considered ghostwriting, and who feels a sort of affection for Harry and Meghan despite not caring even a little about the royal family. Or maybe because of it.
It sat open on my phone for at least several months, and I read the first bit 3 of 4 times. But when I finally had a moment to immerse myself in the storytelling, it was a really lovely, tender, funny read.
That’s the thing about the New Yorker, really, is that you’ve got to invest the time to read--really read--the stories rather than just reading over the words while the TV is on and your kid is smashing a toy train into your head and demanding that you speak in its voice. Which makes it hard to access with all the other distractions of modern life.
But that’s not to discount it’s value. I enjoyed this article, and will be more likely to read more stories from The New Yorker because I read it.
I'm glad you did too! This is true: "you’ve got to invest the time to read--really read--the stories rather than just reading over the words while the TV is on..." And the second part of your sentence cracked me up: "...and your kid is smashing a toy train into your head and demanding that you speak in its voice."
Yes! There’s something magical about that piece…I came for casual interest in royal debacle and stayed for all the things you beautifully mention. A few weeks ago a friend mentioned it out of the blue and we bonded over our enthusiasm. You’ve reminded me to dig up the actual magazine and tear out this piece.
Thanks, Chris. This was also my nudge to read the story—it’s been on my mind since it came out. Having an online sub, I sometimes copy and paste stories into Word, then print ‘em out to read them, as I did here. Easier/better than the computer or phone for me.
Thoughts on the story: Fascinating look at how he came to ghosting and the satisfactions / pitfalls. I wanted to know what the “thunderbolt” advice about memoir was. Loved “He knew that putting a first serve into the net is no big deal” … “Say my name!”… “… professional listeners: bartenders and priests.” Also, not “I got fired” but so much more subtle: “…then the editors suggested I go somewhere else.”
I am part of all that I have met – thought that would be Whitman, not Tennyson.
I glare at the word “teen-ager” in a New Yorker story—can’t help it.
Did you see the episode of “The Good Place” where –– I think it’s Ted Danson’s character –– is in Hell: a bare room with one chair, a huge stack of New Yorkers in front of him, with a new issue descending from the ceiling every few seconds, ad infinitum ? Hilarious.
One of my husband’s friends who is also a retired chiropractor comes to our house weekly to work his magic on hubs back injuries. And his payment? New Yorker magazines that have just been read , dropped in water, and probably marked up (I can’t help it, I have to scribble my thoughts). He is so happy with our arrangement. This is great motivation to try to keep up. A little assistance from the audible stories app and the podcast for fiction can help with taming the stacks.
I also really enjoyed the view from a ghostwriter!
I just started reading the article, and love how Prince Harry messes with him, as if testing/torturing him to see if he'd break, haha. Even ghost writers have to be hazed...
But in general, I'm curious if ghost writers are allowed to "out" themselves like this? I thought most have to stay hidden and not take credit per se for the written work. Like Michelle Obama's memoir "Becoming" had a ghost writer, too, but she/he won't be made public ever I don't think.
P.S. At first, I honestly did think Michelle wrote it herself, haha, given how it sounds so much like her. Now I realize she was prob interviewed and the ghost writer did a great job capturing her voice and creating this intimacy with readers.
"I'm curious if ghost writers are allowed to 'out' themselves like this?"
I'm not sure what the rules usually are, but I'd guess there is no one set of rules. I'll bet it depends on the contract that the ghostwriter has with a given author and/or publisher.
In his piece, he writes: "I had a clause in my contract giving me the right to remain unidentified, a clause I always insist on, but the leaker blew that up by divulging my name to the press." So I assume whether or not to identify himself was up to him, in this case.
I'm with Claire on this--I have no interest in following the Royals (even though her nonladyship matriculated at NU and I got all these gossipy bits from her sorority sisters about protecting her from the papparazzi) (and, okay, I also love The Crown) (okay, I'm lying), but now that I know this piece is really about ghostwriting, I'm beelining to my bathroom built-in magazine rack, where my New Yorkers go to die.
Have you ever been approached to ghost write something? Back in 2000, I was invited to ghost write the biography of Scoutmaster James Dale, who was an Eagle Scout and sued the BSA for keeping him from being a Scoutmaster because he was gay. It went all the way to the Supreme Court, if you remember, and basically broke the Boy Scouts. I, too am a gay Eagle Scout, and so I was a natural fit. But it was a topical issue and they wanted me to churn out a blockbuster within a month or so, and I was all ARTY WRITER. The hoops they make you jump through--of course they didn't want art, they wanted a clear narrative, but they wanted a narrative before the story was over, before the Supreme Court ruling, and I saw the limits of my skills. This is a long way of saying I have tremendous respect for ghost writers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_Scouts_of_America_v._Dale
"(okay, I'm lying)" -- hahahaha.
"Have you ever been approached to ghost write something?" What a great question. I was approached about ghostwriting a book from the point of view of one of Amanda Knox's lawyers. But I was juggling two other writing projects that I thought would turn into books of MINE, by ME, like you say, works of ART -- hahahaha. Oh god. Embarrassing in retrospect, the way I thought my precious artistic visions (not of interest to anyone) were the most important thing. I would have had READERS if I'd written about Amanda Knox.
One of my favorite pop culture books that was ghost written is "The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band" about the highest jinks of Motley Crue. I bought it as a gift for my niece years ago, but before I gave it to her I started leafing through it and got pulled in--great writing, story well-told--I ended up reading the whole thing and gave my niece a USED BOOK for Christmas. The ghostwriter for The Dirt was Neil Strauss, who has done several rock books. I have the greatest respect for him...
OMG I WANT YOU TO WRITE ABOUT AMANDA KNOX! 🙌🏾
OMG I WANT YOU TO WRITE ABOUT AMANDA KNOX! 🙌🏾
I loved that piece--read it on a whim months ago and was kinda blown away. I must say--I think I was prejudiced against ghostwriters because I thought of them as some kind of failed writers (which if you think about it coming from me is hysterical.) May I just say--I clearly had no clue? In fact, now I’m like, “hmmmm...ghostwriting...maybe best of all possible worlds?” In any case--it was the insightful, funny, and poignant. And I loved that paparazzi scene. It also makes me like Harry even more. I think I’m now going to go reread it, since due to a cancelled meeting I have four glorious unscheduled and ope hours today...😉
“hmmmm...ghostwriting...maybe best of all possible worlds?” -- I had that same thought! Come to think of it, I did a lot of ghostwriting at The Stranger (pre-writing and/or heavy rewriting for staff writers and contributors) and there was something kinda glorious about it. I got to be invisible.
I just read a book by another professional ghostwriter, Ada Calhoun, except her own book this time, non-ghostwritten: “Also a Poet,” about Frank O’Hara (and Calhoun’s own father, the art critic Peter Schjeldahl). Run don’t walk! Now out in paperback. I have so many thoughts about it, and I’ll be talking about it on episode 2 of the FrizzLit Podcast, which comes out Tuesday.
Four hours of unscheduled time! Lucky you. Enjoy every moment of it.
I almost didn't read it b/c, well, I have no interest in Harry. But curiosity about a ghostwriter pulled me in, you're right, it's well worth a read! (I try to keep my pile of New Yorkers to a manageable size by giving them away to the New Yorker-deprived masses).
Giving them away -- that is such a better thing to do than stacking them in the recycling. Thanks for the idea!
(Sometimes they go in recycling I should confess)
So many things to say: 1) I miss the glory days of the Stranger. I’m so happy to have found you here; 2) check out JR Moehringer’s memoir The Tender Bar. Truth be told, I’ve seen the movie (with Ben Affleck so you can imagine the vibe) and only picked at the book. It’s a moving story) ; 3) Decades ago, I did a series of grueling two week assignments in Vietnam (refugee resettlement) and would bring stacks of New Yorkers to unwind with. This was in the days when the magazine was packed with long form journalism (remember Alma Guillermoprieto?) and pre-Internet. Those were among the best immersive reading experiences I’ve ever had. Plus I felt a great sense of personal triumph whenever I completed a month’s worth of issues. I’m heading out of town tomorrow and the Prince Harry memoirist piece and other New Yorkers wiil come with me. Thanks for the nudge.
Ahhh, I love this image of you reading saved-up New Yorkers while working on refugee resettlement in Vietnam and those being "among the best immersive reading experiences I’ve ever had." Yes! I wish more people talked about reading like this. It's amazing how words on a page can lift us out of circumstance.
I miss the glory days of The Stranger too.
I read it as someone who has written a memoir, and who has considered ghostwriting, and who feels a sort of affection for Harry and Meghan despite not caring even a little about the royal family. Or maybe because of it.
It sat open on my phone for at least several months, and I read the first bit 3 of 4 times. But when I finally had a moment to immerse myself in the storytelling, it was a really lovely, tender, funny read.
That’s the thing about the New Yorker, really, is that you’ve got to invest the time to read--really read--the stories rather than just reading over the words while the TV is on and your kid is smashing a toy train into your head and demanding that you speak in its voice. Which makes it hard to access with all the other distractions of modern life.
But that’s not to discount it’s value. I enjoyed this article, and will be more likely to read more stories from The New Yorker because I read it.
I’m glad I broke the seal.
I'm glad you did too! This is true: "you’ve got to invest the time to read--really read--the stories rather than just reading over the words while the TV is on..." And the second part of your sentence cracked me up: "...and your kid is smashing a toy train into your head and demanding that you speak in its voice."
Yes! There’s something magical about that piece…I came for casual interest in royal debacle and stayed for all the things you beautifully mention. A few weeks ago a friend mentioned it out of the blue and we bonded over our enthusiasm. You’ve reminded me to dig up the actual magazine and tear out this piece.
Yay!! I’m happy to be tangentially related to your bonding moment with your friend
GOOD LORD. What is with a case lock and 2x post. 🤔
Thanks, Chris. This was also my nudge to read the story—it’s been on my mind since it came out. Having an online sub, I sometimes copy and paste stories into Word, then print ‘em out to read them, as I did here. Easier/better than the computer or phone for me.
Thoughts on the story: Fascinating look at how he came to ghosting and the satisfactions / pitfalls. I wanted to know what the “thunderbolt” advice about memoir was. Loved “He knew that putting a first serve into the net is no big deal” … “Say my name!”… “… professional listeners: bartenders and priests.” Also, not “I got fired” but so much more subtle: “…then the editors suggested I go somewhere else.”
I am part of all that I have met – thought that would be Whitman, not Tennyson.
I glare at the word “teen-ager” in a New Yorker story—can’t help it.
Did you see the episode of “The Good Place” where –– I think it’s Ted Danson’s character –– is in Hell: a bare room with one chair, a huge stack of New Yorkers in front of him, with a new issue descending from the ceiling every few seconds, ad infinitum ? Hilarious.
One of my husband’s friends who is also a retired chiropractor comes to our house weekly to work his magic on hubs back injuries. And his payment? New Yorker magazines that have just been read , dropped in water, and probably marked up (I can’t help it, I have to scribble my thoughts). He is so happy with our arrangement. This is great motivation to try to keep up. A little assistance from the audible stories app and the podcast for fiction can help with taming the stacks.
I also really enjoyed the view from a ghostwriter!
I just started reading the article, and love how Prince Harry messes with him, as if testing/torturing him to see if he'd break, haha. Even ghost writers have to be hazed...
But in general, I'm curious if ghost writers are allowed to "out" themselves like this? I thought most have to stay hidden and not take credit per se for the written work. Like Michelle Obama's memoir "Becoming" had a ghost writer, too, but she/he won't be made public ever I don't think.
P.S. At first, I honestly did think Michelle wrote it herself, haha, given how it sounds so much like her. Now I realize she was prob interviewed and the ghost writer did a great job capturing her voice and creating this intimacy with readers.
"I'm curious if ghost writers are allowed to 'out' themselves like this?"
I'm not sure what the rules usually are, but I'd guess there is no one set of rules. I'll bet it depends on the contract that the ghostwriter has with a given author and/or publisher.
In his piece, he writes: "I had a clause in my contract giving me the right to remain unidentified, a clause I always insist on, but the leaker blew that up by divulging my name to the press." So I assume whether or not to identify himself was up to him, in this case.