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| gen. |
ghost-writer (marina_aid); hodman (a low-level laborer; refers to writers who perform essential but unglamorous tasks in the literary world. They might write blog posts, ghostwrite for less prestigious projects, or do extensive research and editing for others. They may not receive full recognition for their work, but their efforts provide the foundation for others' successes Taras); ghostwriter (Taras); contract writer (the term emphasizes the transactional nature of the work, often for specific projects or assignments Taras); hireling pen (a more literary term, often used figuratively to highlight the writer's lack of control or ownership over their work Taras); literary hack (implies the writer is of low quality or produces formulaic work for quick pay Taras); pen for hire (similar to "contract writer," but with a hint of mercenariness or lack of artistic passion Taras) |
| brit. |
pen for a quid (similar to "pen for hire," but using British slang for "pound" Taras); hack scribbler (combining "hack" and "scribbler" for a particularly harsh description Taras); ghost in the shadows (a more subtle alternative to "ghost in the machine" Taras) |
| ironic. |
inkwell drone (a humorous term, poking fun at the writer's repetitive and monotonous work Taras) |
| slang |
content mule (a derogatory term, comparing the writer to a beast of burden producing content for someone else's benefit Taras); wordsmith for rent (a slangy wordplay on "swordsmith," emphasizing the writer's craft but also the commercial aspect Taras); ghost in the machine (a modern slang term, emphasizing the writer's hidden and anonymous contribution Taras); shadow puppeteer (similar to "ghostwriter," but highlights the fact that the writer controls the words behind the scenes Taras) |
