The right ghostwriter delivers transformative content. The trick is to critically sift through candidates and identify the best one for you and your particular project. The reward for that effort will be best-in-class content and a relationship that is not only fruitful, but downright enjoyable. Getting there is a matter of both parties honoring their obligations.
Finding the Right Ghostwriter
Connecting with the ideal ghostwriter is about seeking legitimacy and related experience. Professional ghostwriters don’t write as a hobby; it’s their full-time job. They also specialize to one degree or another; it’s smartest to hire someone who has tackled projects like yours and has client testimonials attesting to their success.
A general web search is a logical starting place, but you’ll sift through a lot of chaff to get to the wheat. It’s simpler and more direct to search professional sites like LinkedIn and Reedsy.
Literary agents maintain a pool of writers they use and trust. If you’re aim is publishing a book through the traditional process, you’ll work with an agent who can refer you to reputable ghostwriting candidates.
You can also reach out to ghostwriting agencies, like Gotham Ghostwriters. Be clear, though, agents and agencies of any sort are going to add a significant fee to the cost—normally 15 percent. Going direct to an individual ghostwriter is more work, but less expensive and more satisfying in the long run.
In any case, all professional ghostwriters follow basic professional practices.
The Ghostwriter’s Responsibilities
Legitimate pros adhere to common standards and practices.
• Trust. Ghostwriters operate under an unwritten code of ethics. Because they are often privy to sensitive information, discretion is paramount. All communications, interactions, and materials exchanged between client and ghostwriter are considered confidential unless explicitly stated otherwise. It’s standard for high-profile individuals to request and receive a signed NDA before hiring the ghostwriter.
• Contractual obligation. Even modest ghostwriting projects require a contract. Any legitimate pro can produce a boilerplate. Have a lawyer check the contract, but start with this: every piece of content created and exposed to a wide audience carries liability. For instance, if content is plagiarized, runs afoul of existing copyright, or defames a third party, anyone associated with that content may find themselves on the business end of a lawsuit. That should be the creator, not the client. That’s why a reasonable ghostwriting contract indemnifies the client.
However, it’s a two-way street. Once deliverables are approved and accepted by the client, the ghostwriter can’t control how the content is changed or used. That’s why the client also indemnifies the creator. This may be as simple as a clause stating that the content will not be used in support of, or to legitimize, illegal activities.
The contract need not be long, but should be detailed. It must specify not only the fee, but terms and scheduling for payment (including what happens if the work is not approved or accepted). A schedule with deadlines for both parties—creation and revision stages—should be included. Rights and ownership should be clearly defined.
• Accommodation. Professional ghostwriters serve clients, just as a consultant would. They show up on time, at the client’s convenience (within reason). They communicate regularly through the channel that the client prefers, and they modify their workflow to suit client preferences.
• Experience. The best ghostwriter is one who has executed similar projects. Request portfolio samples comparable to the content you want created. Ghostwriters, like other professionals, should also produce professional referrals upon request.
The Client’s Obligations
Ghostwriting clients should treat ghostwriters just as they would other trained, accomplished, experienced professionals. That starts with respect.
• Respect the quote. Ghostwriting fees reflect pragmatic living-wage considerations, competitive assessments, and prevailing norms. When a ghostwriter quotes a price it’s no different than a plumber or a lawyer giving you a quote; there is a logic behind it. Second-guessing or arbitrarily negotiating to a low-ball offer is insulting. It’s a good way to alienate a pro who might have done a stellar job for you. If the quote is more than you want to spend, simply shop for another ghostwriter. That said, it’s reasonable and standard to solicit quotes from more than one candidate.
• Stick to the schedule. The project schedule falls heaviest on the ghostwriter’s shoulders, but that doesn’t mean the client has no responsibility. Regardless of project scope, the client will review and revise at least once, and likely in multiple stages. Deadlines are contingent on the client turning around reviews or queries in a timely manner.
• Communicate concisely. Vague feedback is the sign of fuzzy thinking and content that has been scanned rather than read. Revisions and other feedback should be as clear, detailed, and concise as possible. Scribbled notes in a printout’s margins are recipes for miscommunication. Be specific on what you want changed.
Working with a ghostwriter should be like working with any other professional contractor. Take the time and effort to find the right pro for your project, and establish reciprocal trust and respect, and you’ll wind up with content that will elevate your voice, brand, and messaging.