Indie Writers Club 061 - Author Scams & Ghost Writing
Oct 31, 2025
Dive into the mysterious realm of ghostwriting, where a seasoned professional spills insights from the shadows of the literary world. The hosts tackle the rise of author scams leveraging AI, revealing a chilling trend in personalized approaches. Learn how structured outlines aid ghostwriters and why these gigs can provide a steady income. Ethical concerns in collaboration and the importance of transparency are also explored. Plus, a quick Halloween chat adds a touch of seasonal fun to this engaging discussion.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
AI Helps Craft Not Core Storytelling
- AI helps mechanics of writing and production but struggles with original plotting and storytelling.
- Authors should embrace AI for editing, organization and marketing, not story creation alone.
Realistic Film-Option Scam Example
- James shared a realistic scam email claiming Archwell+Netflix interest to illustrate sophisticated author scams.
- He plans to engage the scammer to see when money is requested and report back.
Never Do Unpaid Trial Chapters
- Expect to be paid for trial writing tasks and refuse unpaid trials.
- Demand payment when asked to write sample chapters before hiring starts.