Thinking About Hiring a Ghostwriter for Your Book? Read This First

By Marie Hasty

Ghostwriting is a shadowy little industry, but if you’ve been wanting to publish a book for your business, you might be curious about it. Some experts estimate that more than 60% of the nonfiction titles at your nearest bookstore were ghostwritten. Celebrity memoirs, business books, and even novels by your favorite authors are often outsourced to unnamed writers. 

I’m a ghostwriter, and I love helping my clients put together books that earn them author PR, speaking engagements, consulting gigs, and even patient referrals. Usually, my clients are first-time authors who don’t know anything about the ghostwriting industry before working with me. And if you’re in a similar spot, there are a few things you should know before contracting with any ghostwriter. 

So first, let’s talk about why you might choose to work with a ghostwriter, and why you might want to write your book yourself. 

The Benefits (And Drawbacks) of Working with a Ghostwriter

My clients have a few reasons for seeking out a ghostwriter for their book project. Some of the major benefits they’re searching for are:

• Faster timeline. Ghostwriters are generally faster at writing books than you are. Professionally ghostwritten manuscripts usually require fewer editing rounds from your publishing team. 
• Easier process. Some of my clients are actually not bad writers themselves, but they just don’t have the extra time or energy to devote to a book. I help them complete a manuscript without taking time away from their work, family, and travel. 
• Quality writing. On the other hand, some of my clients wouldn’t describe themselves as writers, and they don’t enjoy the writing process. Working with a ghostwriter helps them get the benefits of a professional book without spending years on the craft of writing. 
• Third-party insight. Some folks come to me knowing they have a great story, but they don’t know how to tell it for their audience. I help strategize a narrative strategy, voicing, and audience so that marketing their book is easy. 

Ghostwriting is a great fit if you’re ready to invest in professional help for your manuscript. But there are some drawbacks to working with a ghostwriter, and it’s not right for everyone. Here are the top reasons I recommend people not hire a ghostwriter:

• Less creative control. Unless you plan to re-write every word, hiring a ghostwriter is a hands-off approach to writing your book. As the author, you get the final say in your manuscript (before publishing, that is). You’re outsourcing your book to someone else, so you might feel disconnected from the final product.
• Intimate collaboration. Ghostwriters aren’t just channeling your words onto the page. There’s a ton of creative input and decisions that go into every project. I expect my clients to give feedback and articulate their likes and dislikes. Some people prefer to work more independently.
• Expense. Quality ghostwriters aren’t cheap. I don’t recommend investing in ghostwriting unless there’s a clear ROI from your book, or you’ve got the cash to spare. My clients are typically using their book marketing to gain speaking engagements, consulting gigs, and business opportunities. 

Ghostwriting is a great investment for some authors, but it’s certainly not for everyone. If this section hasn’t turned you off from the idea, let’s jump into some common questions I get about my work. 

Ghostwriting FAQs

If you’ve ever thought about hiring a ghostwriter, you probably have these questions:

How Much Does a Ghostwriter Cost?

If you want a professional ghostwriter to complete your manuscript, expect to spend $20,000 or more. You can contract with a ghostwriter for less, but you’ll likely get a sub-par manuscript. And some writers are charging far more; J.R. Moehringer, Prince Harry’s ghostwriter, was reportedly paid $1,000,000 to write Spare. 

How Long Does it Take to Ghostwrite a Book? 

If a client and I are on a regular interview schedule, and our manuscript is a standard length (50-70k words), the whole process takes 4-6 months. Sometimes my clients are busy, and that’ll set our schedule back, but they’re usually surprised by how quickly the process moves once we get started. 

How Should I Find a Ghostwriter?

The first place you should look is within your network. Have any of your friends or family written a book? If they wrote it themselves, you might ask if their publisher has any writers they’d recommend. If they used a ghostwriter, ask if they’d recommend that person. 

A referral is an ideal way to find a good ghostwriter, but it’s not the only way. If you’re already working with a publisher, ask them if they have any writers they’d recommend. Smith Publicity has some ghostwriters on their list, and they can help you get started in your search as well. 

What Should I Look for in a Ghostwriter?

You’re probably thinking of great sample pieces and amazing book accolades, and those are great to have. Another essential quality in a ghostwriter is just being a good listener. In your first conversations with a writer, do they feel like someone you’ll want to talk to every week? Are they attentive to your goals? Do you feel comfortable sharing your stories with them? Choosing a ghostwriter is about personality as well as writing expertise. 

How Does the Ghostwriting Process Work?

To help tell my clients’ stories, I use Zoom and phone interviews. These help me use my clients’ speaking voice to build their writing style. I’ll talk more about my process in a second, but there are a few different ways that ghostwriters work with clients. These include:

• Real-time interviews
• Questionnaires
• Sampling your previous writing work
• In-person interviews
• Interviewing your friends and family

It’s important to get clear on the methods and processes a ghostwriter uses before you agree to work together. For your reference, I’ve included my complete process for writing a client manuscript in about 4-6 months. 

My Ghostwriting Process

Every ghostwriter’s process is a little bit different, but they tend to follow the same general flow. Here’s mine for reference:

1. Disco Call: Every client project starts with a casual get-to-know-you chat. This is an opportunity to ask questions, get feedback on where a client is in their project, and see if our personalities meld. 
2. Contract: I send over a detailed contract with pricing, project scope, timeline expectations, and an NDA. Once we’re set with these documents and our first payment, we’ll set a time for our onboarding call. 
3. Onboarding Call: The client brain-dumps all the ideas they want included in their book. We’ll talk about the structure and flow of their manuscript, the stories they want to share, and how we can weave them together. After this call, I’ll give them an outline of what we spoke about that will become our Table of Contents. 
4. First Interview Call: Once we have an outline laid down, we’ll zero in on our first few chapters and have an interview about the topics we’re covering. Afterward, I’ll write up a draft and then send it to the client for feedback.   
5. Chapter Interviews: These are a few hours long, and we’ll chat every few weeks depending on our schedules. In between interviews I’m writing up our chapters and putting together a rough draft. 
6. Rough Manuscript Review: I’ll hand over our complete manuscript for a content review. The author goes through it for feedback, and I’ll take a few weeks to make any changes. 
7. Editing: We’ll send our manuscript to an editor for a more in-depth look. Sometimes we’ll go straight to a publishing house for editing, and depending on the firm this can be a cheaper option. Then we’re off to publishing with a clean manuscript. 

If you’re looking for a ghostwriter, be sure to ask about their specific process for putting a book together. Their timeline might also be longer depending on how many projects they’re working on. 

Thinking of Hiring a Ghostwriter? Start with Smith Publicity

If you’re thinking of writing a book (or hiring someone else to write it), you’ve come to the right place. The folks at Smith Publicity are pros at helping authors secure speaking engagements, branding, business opportunities, and book sales. Whether your book is ghostwritten or not, it’s never too early to think about marketing your book.

If you’d like to see Smith’s recommendations for ghostwriters and learn about book marketing, reach out to the team via their contact form. 

Marie Hasty is a ghostwriter and content marketer who helps medical innovators reach more patients and secure their real estate in the medicine of tomorrow through high-level partnerships and organic content strategy. She works closely with clients—typically experienced clinicians—to create compelling medical copy which puts them at the front of their field. Connect with Marie on her website and LinkedIn.