You're right about me wanting some legitimacy for the profession in general and me in particular, but you're also right about the other stuff too. I guess my point was that the practice is accepted everywhere else and the ability to write papers is not necessarily a reflection of learning. There are better ways of assessing academic achievement and forcing students to resort to our services is the "but for" in this situation. Teachers are too busy or lazy to learn and apply these alternatives, but thank God they don't. Chipping away is fun and profitable.

The question is, "Did their check clear?"

Are you sure that's right? "Public transportation" that only carries one (or maybe two) people? I've been to the Philippines and I've ridden my share of jeepneys and these are in fact public transportation but not tri-cycles.

On reflection, I guess tri-cycles are public transportation. There are a lot of them.

Questia is light on scientific stuff, but EBSCO fill in this gap.

*fills

This wouldn't be a problem for me since my work is perfect ;)

This wouldn't upset me personally (who the hell cares?) but the terms of service I use require the client to use the work product as a guide only. Therefore, this would strictly be a terms of service issue.

I started to check this service out today since they said no fees are involved but I agree, it looks a little shady to me and I did not complete the registration. I'd like to hear from others who have used this service, though.

"Fun" assignments for me include PowerPoint presentations, fliers or brochures. I guess I'm a frustrated graphic artist at heart. (Besides, these go fast.)

Yawp!

That's a nice turn of a phrase -- I'm going to steal it.

It's interesting you would mention that. That's the word our drill sergeant told us to scream when we were practicing with bayonets in basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina (God it was hot!) in 1971. He said it "scared the hell outta the g**ks." We watched our battalion commander walk up behind him as the drill sergeant was yelling at one of us for screwing up. The sergeant yelled, "You're dancing around out there like a fresh-f****** dog," and then he saw the lieutenant colonel standing there. Now that was funny.

You can send it to me.

Philosophy + Shakespeare = Ugh! I avoid these topics when I can.

Now here's an interesting word: "Yawp": "to talk noisily and foolishly or complainingly."

I'll have to use that in a paper soon - send 'em running for their dictionaries.

That sure sounds familiar.

I work with a reputable company and my projects are almost always on time. If there is a delay, I advise the client and the company well in advance. You are painting with a very broad brush.

I'd starve to death at those rates.

I have several of these in case anyone needs one.

You're right. I shouldn't have used the Bible as an example. The Wikipedia entry did contain the following that I thought highly relevant though:

"Ghostwriters are hired for numerous reasons. In many cases, celebrities or public figures do not have the time, discipline, or writing skills to write and research a several-hundred page autobiography or 'how-to' book. Even if a celebrity or public figure has the writing skills to pen a short article, they may not know how to structure and edit a several-hundred page book so that it is captivating and well-paced. In other cases, publishers use ghostwriters to increase the number of books that can be published each year under the name of well-known, highly marketable authors. Usually, there is a confidentiality clause in the contract between the ghostwriter and the credited author that obligates the former to remain anonymous."

I'm always open to constructive criticism.


I did a little more research (I looked at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostwriter - Wikipedia's entry for ghostwriting (Boo!)), but there are some historical precedents for this business besides just academia. This would make a good topic for a paper.

The U.S. Army taught me grammar.

I think the author's name is provided in the article, but it ain't me.

I'll rule you out as a vice president then ...

In a broad sense, the argument could be made that academic writers are also "information brokers":

"An information broker, also known as an independent information professional or information consultant, is a person or business that researches information for clients. Common uses for information brokers include market research and patent searches, but can include practically any type of information research. A Master's degree in library science (M.L.S.) or in library and information science (M.L.I.S.) is preferred or the norm. However, these prerequisites aren't always necessary. Some brokers have a master's or PH.D in law, social sciences or liberal arts."

There is also an aiip.org - Association of Independent Information Professionals.

Everyone has his own method of writing. Those are some useful tips for novice writers. As I've said elsewhere, the first 10,000 papers are always the hardest.

I thought the article was interesting and wanted to share it with others. Thank you for your feedback.

Who's not serious?

I was serious.

There are a lot of angry people in here.

When in doubt, begin at the beginning:

"Among the most important works in our history, The Bible is the classic example of a ghost written work. The Old Testament comes from an oral tradition similar to that which produced Homer`s works, but this keeps with the desired tone for the Hebrew Scriptures, attribution to human authors would fit uneasily with texts meant to collect the actions, mysteries and revelations of God.

The New Testament is equally strong as an example of ghostwriting. Scholars believe these too were dictated or reworked in the very early stages of Christianity. The Apostles were most likely entirely illiterate, while the Gospels are written in Greek showing higher learning uncommon among the working classes from which the Apostles came."

I'm not sure what you mean, but I do know that tone.

data.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/bi-vs-semi-weeklymonthlyannually/ - Here for example.

That was my hope. I'll be prez.

I don't know that it would be all that difficult -- we could say we are an association and we would be. Custom writing Web sites could include the association's logo and state they use only NAFAW members.

At any rate, besides verifying native speaker/writer status, members could subscribe to a code of ethics that would include:

1. The standard disclaimer that the work product is to be used as a guide only etc. etc.

2. Members will decline rewrite requests when they believe that clients have submitted work product word-for-word as their own.

3. whatever else the members decide...

This is what other professionals do -- we could too (don't forget the coffee mugs!).

We can help clean up our image. See my post on a national association.

Conversely, a national association might lend this industry some credibility. Anyone else have any thoughts on this issue?

Some interesting background information concerning the industry:

According to The History of Ghostwriting, even the Bible was written by ghostwriters.

I agree, but there is some debate over this.

Some people have gotten rich selling Avon and Amway. It just depends on how hard to want to work.

You have to be careful about terminology too: bimonthly can mean getting paid every two months (ugh!) but semimonthly specifically means twice a month.

I see many posters in here making fun of ESL students' English, but I wish I could speak and write another language as well as most of them. I've got a handle on English, but foreign languages make my eyes glaze over and I've lived abroad.