I've been writing on a professional level for more than three decades, the majority of the assignments as a guest columnist or editor. But, once per year, I'll take on the role of a ghostwriter where I become the "dark shadow" or brain trust of another person, generally an acquaintance, so that I may crawl inside their cranium and pen what is on their mind.

To be an effective ghostwriter, you must be content to be the silent partner because you will not have a byline or receive adulation for a job well done. When I ghostwrite for a subject, I will do a face-to-face interview with the individual at their residence. I want to see who I'm dealing with, the type of environment they are in and the story they will challenge me to write on their behalf. If I spend an hour or two with the subject, I usually emerge from the meeting with enough ammunition to do the job well.

For the most part, I find that the subjects I represent have a passion for writing, but, for some reason, are not comfortable putting their thoughts on paper for the public to read. They prefer hiding behind the shadow of the ghostwriter.

One of my subjects, I'll call him Ed, was a local high school history teacher and an expert on the cement industry. The town in which he and I live is in the Cement Belt of the United States. This guy was the spitting image of Abraham Lincoln and he could talk in front of audiences of one or one thousand about the Cement Belt region. When he needed to convert his speech onto paper for a newspaper or magazine article, he froze.

On one occasion, I did a job for Ed where he needed to byline the centerfold story for a dedication brochure for our town's new municipal building. During our sit down meeting, he gave me data, quotes, testimonials and photos of the town, the cement companies within and what the cement industry meant to the economic vitality of the region.

I scripted the piece in a week, in time for the press run of the dedication brochure. At a dedication dinner a week after the brochure was released to the public, Ed received a standing ovation for being a contributor to the festive occasion. After the event, Ed wanted to pay me for my efforts. Since he was a friend, I told him to take me to dinner.

We toasted the project and our friendship.

Learn more about this author, David Skolnik.
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