Have you ever wondered what writers do when they hit a wall and can’t seem to write? Some push through and write anyway, even if it means taking risks. One ghostwriter in particular has caught our attention for breaking the cardinal rule of his profession: he’s openly discussing the secrets of his trade.
Ghostwriting can be both rewarding and punishing. While guilds don’t specifically outlaw ghostwritten books during times of discord, ghosts know that much of what they write is factually false or at least distorted. J.R. Moehringer, a serial ghost, knows this all too well. His latest work, Spare, about Prince Harry, has landed on the bestseller list despite receiving some challenging reviews.
Moehringer isn’t shying away from the controversy, either. He wrote an article for The New Yorker detailing his fights with his subject and his doubts about his “hacky, shady, and faddish” profession. As someone who has been offered ghostwriting jobs, I can attest to the fact that some subjects are upfront about their intentions to tell lies. I, for one, declined the offer.
Moehringer’s work has won praise several times, including Open, Andre Agassi’s memoir, which Moehringer wrote. While some ghosts like Michelle Burford or Daniel Paisner have ghostwritten scores of books, most members of the fraternity never write or even talk about the process.
Memoirs and autobiographies often claim to be self-written, but some become jokes because “their ‘authors’ may have the bricks but could never erect a building,” as Burford explains. Some show business “memoirs” are famous for their preposterous exaggerations and inventions.
In Spare, Moehringer was careful to warn Prince Harry that “this is not the story of your life; it’s a story carved from a particular series of events chosen because they have the greatest resonance for the widest range of people.” Despite occasional arguments over the book, Moehringer insists that its publication ended with hugs and special thanks to Meghan Markle for giving toys to his children.
Their final understanding was an agreement that “ghosts don’t speak.” To which the ghost added, “Well, maybe they can; maybe sometimes they should.” And so he did.
