Writers and their craft

Writers and their craft

By Teeecher Carter

​What do you think a ghostwriter is? Discuss the term with the people in your group.

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Ghostwriter

Multiple Choice

A ghostwriter is

• someone who publishes books by dead authors

• a person who writes novels under a 'pen name' instead of their real name.

• an author who writes a story for someone else, using the other person's voice​

• someone who writes scary stories

​Andrew Crofts, ghostwriter

Watch the first part of an interview with Andrew Crofts, a ghostwriter. Check your answer for the previous question.

Writers and their craft

​Andrew Crofts, ghostwriter

What sort of people become ghostwriters? Is it different to being an author of novels, or a news reporter?

Writers and their craft

Watch the first part of an interview with Andrew Crofts, a ghostwriter. Check your answer for the previous question.

Poll

Here are some books Andrew Crofts has ghostwritten. Select the one you would most like to read.

Watch the video and take notes. Be prepared to explain

​- how he became a ghostwriter

- how he decides which stories to write

- which type of people need ghostwriters​

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Writers and their craft

​First steps

Multiple Choice

Which of the following correctly describes how Andrew Croft was first asked to be a ghostwriter?

• An important businessman wanted to write a book but his English was not very good.

• A business guru had already written a number of successful books but did not have time to write anymore.

• A publisher asked Andrew to interview a businessman and he turned the conversation into a story.

• A businessman needed to write some books but could not find the time to do it.

Multiple Choice

How does he choose a story to write?

• He looks on the internet for stories that he really wants to write.

• When someone contacts him, he calls them to check their story is long enough for a book.

• He sends a few emails every day to people who are too busy to write

• He calls his publisher who tells him how many words to write, and gives him creative ideas.

Multiple Choice

What does he enjoy about being a ghostwriter?

• Every book is written from a different perspective

• He is famous and his publishers trust him

• The stories are easy to create and are always interesting

​Past simple

He wanted to write a book but didn't have the time​

​Past continuous

He was interviewing somebody for a business magazine.​

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Past tenses

​The smoke alarm went off.

​I worked all morning.

Combine the sentences

Past tenses

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

​In the morning I was working when the smoke alarm went off.

Past simple and past continuous practice

She listened to the teacher for the whole class. Her phone rang in the middle of the class.

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They had a meal in a restaurant. Someone stole their car.

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A girl climbed a tall tree. She fell down and broke her arm.​

Past tenses

Imagine these are the opening lines to a story. Work with your group to make them as interesting as possible.

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​Past tenses

​Opening lines

She was drifting off to sleep when suddenly ...

We were watching the final, boring episode when ...

They were sitting on the plane on their way to Australia when ...​

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Adjectives for feelings and experiences.

​fascinating

___________

inspiring

________

embarrassing​

​​People and things

​__________

confused

__________

shocked

________​

Feelings

Write six sentences about your life using the adjectives.

​Your sentences do not have to be true.

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Swap your sentences with another member of your group.​

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​Writing task

Ghost write the story you have just been given. Start your first paragraph with

I was .......... when ......​

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Make it a good story!​

​Writers and their craft.

​Ghostwriting