Call me a cynic, but this isn't going far enough. Celebrities who aren't writing the book should not be credited as 'authors.' There needs to be a call for a clear distinction that the celeb name had NOTHING to do with the writing and is, effectively, a 'producer.'
This doesn't have a finger on the pulse of authors who are frustrated by celeb fiction. Why is the chair 'applauding' celebs who bring their ghostwriters to events? This call to action seems weak. SoA took stronger positions on non-writer issues, so I'm slightly disappointed by this.
Yes. My only caution is that celeb books are propping up publishers' revenues, & it isn't clear whether they're cannibalising proper books or are additive. Some of each, probably. As a first step, a specific recognition of who actually wrote the book - preferably on the cover - would be positive.
There are grey areas here between 'written by', 'story by' and so on. I've heard of some celebs who genuinely think they wrote something which has been heavily edited / borderline ghosted by the publisher.
I agree it's a start, though the SoA could be bolder. This response was a very tame one. And there are all sorts of grey areas with this, I agree, but I firmly believe ghost-written novels should be done away with. If you can't write, you have no business publishing a novel.
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