The Ghostwriter as Therapist?

Ghostwriters do much more than write ...

Photo from Wix Media

Ghostwriters often joke that the job is similar to a therapist's—and I've had plenty of clients tell me, mid-call, "I feel like I'm in therapy right now!" It makes sense: Just like (successful) therapy, writing a (successful) book often requires vulnerability.

It takes true connection for a collaboration to thrive, which is one reason I'm optimistic about the future of ghostwriting, even as AI marches grimly on. Recently, I was also heartened Dan Gerstein's interview with The Washington Post's Ron Charles, which makes it clear that even as the Bots move in, human ghosts aren't going anywhere. Some highlights from Gerstein's interview:

✅ “AI can in no way fill the role of a skilled collaborator... It can’t draw out stories from the author. It can’t get them to be vulnerable.”

✅ “Having someone who cares about you and is invested in your success but has some distance and perspective as a writer to be able to help you draw out some of those stories and feel comfortable, that is a soft skill that the best collaborators bring to the table.”

✅ “The ghostwriter is not just your thought partner and editorial support system...They are your consigliere, your part-time therapist.”

I couldn't agree more. Currently, when people ask what I do, I tell them I'm a ghostwriter. But maybe I should start saying I'm a consigliere. It's not that far off from the truth—and everyone loves a good Godfather reference. I guess it's time to update my LinkedIn profile.

Thank you for reading my blog! This is a space where I share personal thoughts — an opportunity for self-expression that has nothing to do with my professional writing. None of the thoughts or opinions expressed in this blog should be construed as anything but my own, nor should they be affiliated with any company or person I contract with or write for as a ghostwriter.

NOW that that's done... I'd love to hear from you about this blog post in the comments!