photo credit: zoonabar”

… but will you love me tomorrow?”

I spent part of the past weekend crafting my first ghost blog post for a tech start-up client. Believe it or not, I have never (ever!) written a single word under someone else’s photo and byline before.

I won’t reveal the client, the post or the blog, but the blog is very well known in the tech/marketing community. It’s generated more than a handful of comments and creating a good deal of lively conversation — much more so than I generally generate here in my personal online ’salon’, but not quite as many as my Copyblogger Landing Page Makeovers generally do.

My client is pleased, saying I was able to write what was in his head. Good, since that’s the job. My client also paid in advance. (Thank you!)

So why does it feel a little, well … weird?

Writing this piece wasn’t like my regular copywriting duties where I happily take on the client mantle and wax madly and passionately about benefits and offers and the like. (While I’m in the ‘zone’ I am unquestionably that product or service’s best, most enthusiastic advocate.)

Rather, this was an opinion piece with a particular point of view – but it ain’t my opinion! (Most of it is, but not 100% of it.) Obviously, I’m still sorting out my personal variations on the weirdness and you get to watch.

Like any good marketing writer, I put myself in my client’s shoes. I reviewed his notes to make sure I knew what he wanted to say and the points he wanted to make. As I researched, wrote and edited my way along, I reworked phrases thinking they sounded too much like me and not enough like the client. I pulled back on my own favorite constructions and found new ways to say what the client wanted out there. Three steps forward and one step back for rephrasing seemed to be my writing rhythm.

Is ghost blogging any different than speech or comedy writing where the writer is paid (hopefully well) to write material for others to deliver? Or is it, by its very nature, inauthentic?

I’ve never written a speech or told a funny story that wasn’t completely my own to tell. In my own ego-centric-driven fashion I’m thinking, “No one can deliver my speeches or tell my stories better than me.” Yet someone has said to me – “Roberta, YOU can tell my story better than me. So here’s a bunch of money and let’s get started.”

Hmmm … maybe these folks have it right. Maybe what I’m wrestling with is giving up a piece of my own ego in exchange for a fee. Am I over thinking? It won’t be the first time. Is it the name and picture thing? Is it a filthy lucre question?

Here’s the thing, though … even with a few misgivings and discomfort at first, I have to admit I liked this first-time challenge. And like the first time you do anything at all, sometimes it stings a little. Who knows, with a little more practice – and with clients of good character and impeccable references – I just may try this ghost blogging thing again … for the right fee.

So what do you think? Do you ‘ghost’ write for clients? Do you have any ‘issues’ about it? Maven wants to hear your thoughts.