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Gathering of the Ghosts

January 22, 2024

See the 2024 Andy award Winners

American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) and Gotham Ghostwriters co-hosted the first-ever national convention of professional ghostwriters in New York City.

GOTG IN THE PRESS

New York Times (January 23, 2024)

Publishers Weekly (January 23, 2024)

Publishers Lunch (January, 24, 2024)

The Gathering of the Ghosts highlighted and promoted the ghostwriting profession, elevating it as a viable career path for writers and bringing them together for a one-day, in-person event with education, awards, and networking.

Our immediate goal is to build a greater sense of community and connectivity within the field and start what we hope will be an ongoing dialogue about the trends shaping our work and the common challenges ghostwriters face.

Agenda

Programming Announcement Press Release (10/19/23)

Keynote Programming Press Release (12/7/23)

GOTG Moderators and Panelists

Hotel Courtesy Blocks

REGISTRATION & Breakfast
8:30 - 9:15 A.M.

Welcome
9:15 - 9:30 a.m.

Keynote Fireside Chat
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

The keynote panel will highlight the growing trend of established journalists and authors branching out and embracing the role of collaborator. Three accomplished writers who have made the leap into high-profile book collaborations will address increased public recognition of the service and value ghostwriters provide and how the field has evolved as a viable career path. Specifically, what led the panelists to make the leap into ghostwriting? How has it shaped their identity as a writer? And what advice would they give other authors and journalists who are thinking of tipping their toes into the ghosting waters?

Moderator

Daniel Paisner
Author, ghostwriter, and host of AS TOLD TO: The Ghostwriting Podcast

Panelists

Jodi Lipper
Ghostwriter

Seth Davis
Sports writer and broadcaster, CBS Sports

Holly Gleason
Writer, critic, and artist development consultant

How to Help Clients Choose the Best Publishing Path for Their Book
10:40 - 11:40 a.m.

As publishing continues to transform and hybrid and self-publishing companies grow their market share, collaborators are often asked to play a new role – advising clients about what type of publishing is best for them and their book. Find out what types of books and book proposals editors and agents are looking for, how to vet hybrid publishers, and when to recommend self-publishing. 

Moderator

Brooke Warner
Publisher, She Writes Press

Panelists

Naren Aryal
CEO/Publisher, Amplify Publishing Group

Josh Bernoff
President, WOBS, LLC

Regina Brooks
President/CEO, Serendipity Literary Agency ​

The Money Dance
11:50 a.m. -12:50 p.m.

Money, or the specter of it, pervades every aspect of the delicate romance between author and ghostwriter. So let’s talk pricing. How do you prove your work is worth what you deserve? What’s the right way to charge for initial “get-to-know-you” work, and how do you break down payments and milestones fairly? What’s the right range of fees for proposals and manuscripts, and do they vary based on the need for research, interviewing, shorter or longer manuscripts, or the number of revisions? Should you ask for a share of advance and royalties – and should you reduce your fee in exchange? Should there be more standardization? Should there be more transparency? And what do you do when the project takes twice the effort you expected – or stalls entirely?

Moderator

Kevin Anderson
CEO, Kevin Anderson & Associates

Panelists

Catherine Whitney
Author/Collaborator/Ghostwriter

Michael Levin
President/CEO/Michael Levin Writing Experiences

Marcia Layton Turner
Founder and Executive Director, Association of Ghostwriters

Presentation of Andy Awards & LUNCH
12:50 - 1:50 p.m.

Be a Visible Ghost
12:50 - 1:50 p.m.

Writers who differentiate themselves and expand their outreach can generate a river of requests, referrals and revenue. Prospective clients sometimes think, “one writer fits all” and may not know where or how to find the right ghost for their project. By showcasing your unique combination of skills, talent, and experience and expanding your visibility, you’ll connect with more clients who are good fits, whether it’s because of the genres you write, the topics you’re interested in, or the causes you care about.

Moderator

Fran Hauser
Founder, Bookbound

Panelists

Bryna Haynes
Founder & CEO, WorldChangers Media

Pauleanna Reid
Founder, The WritersBlok

Alice Sullivan
Alice Sullivan Literary LLC

Carol Tice
FOUNDER, Freelance Writers Den

AI: Don’t compete with robots, collaborate
2:50 - 3:50 p.m.

Instead of worrying about how AI is changing the way content is created, writers can learn how to work with it to make your process more effective and efficient. Artificially intelligent writing tools can summarize content quickly, assemble paragraphs in simple and clear language, and mimic the styles of any writer, so they can be helpful partners for those types of tasks. But it takes human intelligence to write with originality, humor, verve and wit. This panel will cover how writers can use AI as a productivity tool, how it will affect fees and change client expectations, the impact it may have on legal, copyright and plagiarism cases, and the skills writers need to develop to make the most of this new world.

Moderator

Gregory Mone
Founder, 509 Press

Panelists

Nathan Baschez
Founder, Lex

Stephen S. Power
Executive Editor, Kevin Anderson Associates

Scott Sholder
Partner/Co-Chair of Litigation Practice Group, Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard LLP​

Town Hall: Addressing the community’s needs and goals
4 - 5 p.m.

The convention will conclude with a Town Hall session to spur a dialogue about the community’s future needs and goals, including the urgent imperative to diversify.  A panel conversation will be followed by an “open floor” session for attendees to engage with their peers on a wide spectrum of topics, including future iterations of GOTG.

ModeratorS

Dan Gerstein
CEO, Gotham Ghostwriters

Emily Paulsen

PRESIDENT, AMERICAN SOCIETY OF JOURNALISTS AND AUTHORS

Panelists

Michael Franklin
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Speechwriters of Color

Pauleanna Reid
Founder, The WritersBlok

Thank you to our sponsors

For more information about the Gathering of the Ghosts, the Andy Awards, or sponsorships, please email gotg@gothamghostwriters.com

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Amplify Publishing Group
Speechwriters of Color
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Co-hosted by

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