The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience How #1 Sunday Times Bestselling Ghostwriter Marie Ellis Writes
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Jun 6, 2025 Marie Ellis, a Sunday Times bestselling ghostwriter and former journalist, shares her unique journey from acting to storytelling. She candidly discusses overcoming Impostor Syndrome and the art of productive procrastination. Marie emphasizes the importance of embracing failure to boost creativity and reveals how her diverse background enriches her ghostwriting process. The conversation touches on the delicate balance between a ghostwriter's creativity and a client's vision, highlighting techniques for mapping character arcs and plot structures.
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Ghostwriting Egoless Support
- Ghostwriting requires managing your ego by supporting the author's voice, not dominating it.
- You must assert yourself when necessary but accept stepping back when the author's vision differs.
Career Shift From Acting to Ghostwriting
- Marie transitioned from child actor to journalist after struggling in acting and loving literature.
- She lucked into journalism via language skills and later became a ghostwriter for Penguin Random House.
Ghostwriting as Character Play
- Ghostwriting is like playing a character, writing from the author's unique voice and perspective.
- Each book and author is different, causing the ghostwriter to face impostor syndrome with new projects.
