Content Writer, Copy Editor, Copywriter, Technical Writer, Ghost Write

Difference between all of them

[contentmaster]

Each one of these - web content writer, copywriter, Technical Writer, Writers, Proof Readers, Copy Editors, Research based Writers, Ghost Writers have different roles to play........however, I am trying to understand a clear cut definition of their respective roles......can anyone help?

Also how is a copy editor different from a content writer?

[stever]

The different "writers" that you mention are mostly self-explanatory.

Anyone can write content. Copy, IMO, implies a level of professionalism and specialisation. Thus a copywriter would often be used for writing text to be used in advertising or marketing. Content produced by professional journalists is referred to as copy.

A proofreader proofs copy for errors, grammatical and spelling mistakes and sometimes for house style and internal consistency.

A copy editor edits copy and, in addition to the proofreader duties above, may also be involved in shortening, lengthening, rewriting or reordering the copy according to the dictates of where it is likely to be published.

[larryhatch]

Ghost writer: This is simply somebody who writes for somebody else, but under his name.

Imagine a popular sports commentator (former athlete) who can't string a sentence
together, but has a book contract anyway.
Either he hires a ghostwriter, or more likely the publishing house assigns one.

There's nothing wrong with that, often the publishers will credit authorship
something like "Fun on the Bus .. by Hugo Schlubb (big print)
.. with Casper Ghost" (in smaller print.) -Larry

[contentmaster]

How would you define a Technical Writer? What qualifications are needed for one to become a Tecnhical Writer?

[larryhatch]

A technical writer is somebody with the smarts to understand how something technical works,
-AND- (unlike all to many engineers) the ability to explain it clearly to other people
who may be weak on the concept.

There are some really brilliant engineers, programmers etc. who just can't string a
sentence together without tripping all over themselves. -Larry

[Syzygy]

These should all be taken quite literally in their meaning - as is outlined below (well, the 'ghost' bit is open to interpretation...:-)).

* Web content writer - writes content specifically for web sites (see, it's not tough...)

* Copywriter - writes copy (this is usually applied in the sense of 'creative copy writer' - one who, generically speaking, works more in the advertising side of things and creates the blurb for ads/marketing materials).

* Technical Writer - usually a qualified/accredited professional in a given area who writes at a highly technical level to inform other professionals in the same sector and at a peer level.

* Writers - erm, they write... :-)

* Proof Readers: one who's job it is to read over articles that have been submitted for publishing (whether in print or web) and check for quality, speeling (!), consistency of style, grammar, etc.

* Copy Editors: Hmm, in publishing today - in my world; obsolete, generic term for proof/sub/asst/deputy editors. Just read 'assistant to editor'. Alternatively, if applied to the 'creative world', then the 'boss' to the 'creative copywriter'. Alternatively: underling who, fawningly, tries to emulate the editor. ;-)

* Research Based Writers: 1). Give a quality writer any subject and they will write - with research efforts that you pay for above and beyond 'normal' freelance writers - on anything. 2). Specialises in digging deeper into subjects on which they are knowledgable and finding & digging for new angles & perspectives (for the lay-person, think the book 'Freakonomics' - although that was somewhat tame!)

* Ghost Writer: Someone who puts into written form the things that someone else is unable to do. Invariably the ghost writer does not receive credit on the finished product, but gains higher kudos within the secret sect of ghost writers. At the thick end think celeb autobiogs; higher up - look for the likes of Colin Wilson.

These are very broad-based outlines of functions at a most simplistic level. They are my loose interpretations based on personal experience within the publishing sector. Other 'definitions' welcome.

Syzygy