Q: How do you represent ghostwriting work on a resume, or even clips? Or do you? If you're a "ghost"writer ... and you're trying to get work, how do you describe to a prospective editor your ghostwriting work without betraying your client? Are there unwritten rules of confidentiality with editors, that they won't tell who ghostwrote what?

A: I asked my ghostwriting genius, Jane Genova, who had this advice. "Ghostwriting is a special area of expertise or communications niche with its own rules. Of course, any experience in ghostwriting should be part of a resume since this credential is highly marketable and lucrative. But the trick is to present it in a highly professional manner that indicates, explicitly and implicitly, that you understand the importance of confidentiality and how to promote yourself without overshadowing a client/employer.

Given that, here are some guidelines.

1. Indicate ghostwriting experience in a generic manner on a resume. It could read, "Executive ghostwriter for business and political leaders. Published in top-tier media, print/online and best-selling books. Research, conduct interviews for, position, write, rewrite, edit and place executive-bylined content. Seven years experience."

2. With the clients' permission you can indicate organizations' names such as "Client list includes IBM, Colgate-Palmolive, GE, Manhattan Institute, New York Society of Citizens Concerned about Taxation." In the case of employers, you will include the names of organizations because your employment has been a public fact.

3. It would enhance your presentation of this credential on your resume if you had a section titled "Publication Credits." In it you would indicate, "Under executive byline, my ghostwriting has been published in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, WSJ.COM, THE NEW YORK TIMES, FINANCIAL TIMES, NEWSWEEK, FORBES .... and seven books such as "_____________"

4. That's all that's required for a resume. Highlight the best of all that in a cover letter.

5. As for any other disclosure, you have to consult with clients if you can reveal the nature of your working relationship and how they would prefer you describe it. Some will not want it revealed that they had any ghostwriting assistance. Don't break that confidentiality agreement.

Others will allow some details to be disclosed if they are described the way they want it described. I usually describe ghostwriting relationships as "I assisted the Iacocca turnaround team, such as Lee Iacocca, Chris Steffen and Robert "Steve" Miller, with their external and internal communications. That covered everything from research and policy positioning to creating content."

Common sense here is: The client wants to be the star. If you are able to live with a low profile, you will be in great demand as a ghostwriter.

6. In terms of clips or samples of your ghostwriting, again, you have to ask clients if you can present that ghostwritten content as work you "helped" produce. Always err on the side of caution."