IWSG Octopus 2026

Oops. Well, that mistake makes me smile, so I’ll leave it. There hasn’t been much of that, lately.

Anyhoo… Many people are calling for writers who use AI to disclose it. Most who employ ghostwriters do not admit it – do you think authors who use ghostwriters should have to disclose that, too?

I already disclose that I do not use AI in the front matter of my books.

I don’t like how broad the term “ghostwriter” is.  If someone else is writing your book, then at the very least they should by mentioned with an “and.”

The only kind of ghostwriter I’m sort of okay with is a house series – like the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew. There were so many Nancy Drew books it was absolutely ridiculous to think one person wrote them all, and that fast. In the early years they must have had a dedicated editor to make the voice consistent across all the books, but you also knew what you were getting when you picked up a Carolyn Keene book.

Even then, I’m not that thrilled with it. I would like the actual author to get some credit.

Comments

4 responses to “IWSG Octopus 2026”

  1. Jemima Pett Avatar

    I often wonder why the actual writer does not want the credit. People who need to write, but too insecure to put their name to it? People who want the set amount for doing the job and not the nerves over royalties? Tax avoidance purposes?

    And yes to house writers.

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  2. Esther O'Neill Avatar

    Credit, definitely, for any work, not only writing. . Just made what might seem to be an idiotic response on another blog. Anybody who knows me, or my new co-writer and husband will believe that we are capable of working together, on a joint project – crime fiction. How good the writing will be remains to be seen, Neither of us could have transformed a previously grim area of our house * into a great bathroom. Plumber etc reviewed, recommended, and crucially , NAMED on a tradesperson website.

    • former cow house, no cows.

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  3. 3mpodcast Avatar

    After reading some other posts, including by people who have ghostwritten, I think it should be up to the ghostwriter whether they take the credit or not.

    Shannon at The Warrior Muse

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  4. alexjcavanaugh Avatar

    Yes, the writer should get the credit.

    I like your mistake!

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