Books and publishing
Choosing an authorship arrangement
Who is named as the author, who may say they wrote it, and who owns it. The four arrangements, what each means for both sides, and why nothing is chosen for you.
2 min read · Last checked 18 October 2026
Why it matters
The arrangement answers three questions that are hard to settle after the work is written: whose name goes on it, whether the writer may show it in a portfolio, and who owns it. The answers decide which contract WBA draws up and which clauses it contains.
That is why the platform never chooses for you. A default here would be a decision about someone's name and rights, made without asking them.
The four arrangements
Each arrangement, as the writer and the client see it:
Credited commission
For the writerYou are publicly named. Credit wording, placement and portfolio use are contracted.
For the clientThe writer is named as author, on wording and placement you agree before work starts.
Ghostwritten or uncredited
For the writerYou remain confidential, and public portfolio use of the work is prohibited.
For the clientYou are credited. The writer is never identified as its author.
Collaborative or co-authored
For the writerCredit is shared. Order, responsibilities and ownership are agreed in writing.
For the clientYou and the writer share agreed credit, approval and ownership terms.
Organisational authorship
For the writerA company or institution is named as author, under contributor and confidentiality rules.
For the clientYour organisation is named as author, with contributor rules recorded.
Which one fits
| If you want… | Choose |
|---|---|
| The writer's name on the cover, as author | Credited commission |
| Your own name on it, and the writer never identified | Ghostwritten or uncredited |
| Both names on it, sharing the credit | Collaborative or co-authored |
| A company, church, school or institution named as author | Organisational authorship |
| To decide later, after talking to bidders | To be negotiated |
To be negotiated
You may record that the arrangement is still to be agreed. That is honest, and writers can still bid. But it is a hard stop for everything after the bid:
- 1Bids can come in while the arrangement is open.
- 2You agree the arrangement with the writer you choose.
- 3Both of you accept it, and only then can the contract be drawn up and the first stage funded.
Once the contract is accepted
The arrangement locks when the contract is accepted. Changing it later takes an amendment that both of you accept, and both versions are kept on the record.