In 2001, Loana, the winner of the first reality TV show, Big Brother, released a book "She called me … Crumb, "which sold 120,000 copies. On the cover name of a certain Jean-François Kervéan appears. "I wrote, and she has validated. At the time, was that the use of the name "Negro" does not appear. But as Saint-Tropez all saw me trotting behind her platform boots (platform shoes, Ed), it was decided that my name appears as co-author inside the book. And I hit 100,000 francs, "said he to the magazine L'Express.
Since then, the rules of publishing have changed, and the term "literary negro" is no longer valid. They are now called "collaborators." Publishers have become accustomed to mention their name on the back cover, or under the general title inside.These writers specialize particularly in the autobiographical genre, and work with documents.
It is thanks to Bernard Fixot, CEO of XO Editions, this revolution in publishing could take place. Having learned that Paul-Loup Sulitzer used a "collaborator" to write his books, Bernard Fixot decided to give the name of it in the book. Thus the name of Loup Durand appeared on the cover alongside that of Sulitzer. And this revelation has not stopped the pair to continue to get a few best-sellers.
Between 5000 and 15,000 euros for a beginner
Having discovered that the publication of the name of the employee has no impact on sales, publishers have almost all agreed the new rules of the game now, the work of an employee is defined by a contract signed with the publisher.Particular, it sets the fees paid, regulated working hours and the number of pages written. According to several sources of publishing, a "collaborator" beginner, these fees vary between 5,000 and 15,000 euros as a package. As for the more experienced writers, they would receive a percentage of sales in addition to the fixed sum. Copyright between 8% and 15% per book sold, 30% to 50% they would, depending on the reputation of the main character in the book.
However, the compensation varies depending on the work done. Sometimes, the employee simply corrects the style and reread the manuscript, written by the "star" before publication. In other cases, it is he who is in charge of investigative work and writing the book on behalf of the main character."To be negro must be graphomaniac, do not be afraid to write a lot, at the risk of not being published," said Mohammed Aissaoui, literary journalist of Le Figaro. For before the publication, "star" and the employee and make the replay together. And many passages can be deleted or modified.
The meeting between the "star" and the employee does not last more than thirty hours in all. The character confesses, the employee takes notes and tries to adapt his writing style in his own way to speak and to give thought. "The power is on or not. It's like love at first sight to have. An exercise that is to be the mirror of the other, "says Catherine Siguret a" collaborator "who has written books for Claudia Schiffer, Gérard Louvin, or Julien Courbet. For her, the work of the employee, the opposite of a journalistic investigation.Do not be objective, but try to be superimposed on the main character in the novel.
Is there still "negritude" in publishing?
A novelist too productive? It is likely that the books published under his name are written by real "Negroes." While many secrets of this profession were revealed recently, is still far from knowing everything. Because the old practices still existed today. According to Armelle Brusq, director of the documentary "The Negro, writing quietly," about a third editions in France would be made of books' authorship is unclear. " Estimates, which can neither be confirmed nor denied, as no writer, the reader will say that it commits a negro to write books instead. Anne-Sophie Demonchy, journalist Magazine books, conducted several investigations of the writers of the shadows in France."For a publisher, the author must be friendly, and have a great story to tell. Tell the reader that the book was written by a "negro" is not in the interests of the publishing house, "she says.
Industry experts recognize: Some books are a real marketing strategy of publishers. They might even be the result of work of an entire team. The author has an idea. This idea is developed by employees in the synopsis of the publisher. And then this pattern is sent to a ghostwriter for writing. "In general, it does not mention the names of the authors, this subject is taboo," says Anne-Sophie Demonchy. "Amazing, because the movies, or music, the product is the work of a team and it does not shock the consumer."
These writers of the shadows, whose name is not mentioned, are bound by a contract with the publishing house, which prevents them from talking about the project, on which they work. According to the National Union of publishing, in 2010, the turnover of the sector accounted for 2.8 billion euros with around 452 million books sold. One can imagine how much the business of writing anonymous organization.
A phenomenon which diversifies
Use a negro to write a book is one thing. Use a "negro" to write a dissertation study is another. The Internet can now find people offering such services.An article of a "ghostwriter of factors" American, recently published in The Chronicle of Higher Education, the journal of higher education, reveals failures in the field of education across the Atlantic, allowing university students to cheat. Employed by a company that specializes in rewriting, the author, known as Ed Dante, addresses, exasperated, directly to teachers: "I'm tired of you help your students have qualified air." Among the "clients", it separates three categories of students: those whose English is not their first language, those who are very bad writing, and those that are "rich and lazy." Working since 2004, the author claims to earn about $ 66,000 per year.