I’ve published over 2,200 articles under my own name, and over 700 as a co-author, editor, or ghostwriter.
The biggest difference is that ghostwriting takes more creativity.
Sounds counterintuitive, but to formulate concepts in a way that specific others would, rather than what comes naturally to you, requires a great deal of ingenuity.
The writing has to be sincere and real to be good. So how can you be sincere and real and also capture someone else’s voice – when they themselves aren’t sure how to capture their own voice?
Now that is a puzzle.
It takes more work. It’s sometimes annoying and constraining, but there’s a different kind of reward.
Writing for myself, the reward is mostly the feeling of having made something, produced something, said something I want to say. Writing with or for others, the reward is mostly the feeling of having solved a riddle or brain-teaser. It’s a playful pride in cracking the code.
I prefer writing under my own name, but writing with or for the right person(s) can be a great experience, and keeps my skills sharp, preventing me from falling too far into the chasm of idiosyncrasy.