Looking for a ghostwriter? Here’s what you should know

Prince Harry’s Spare.
Hillary Clinton’s It Takes a Village.
Michelle Obama’s Becoming.
Paris Hilton’s Paris: The Memoir.
Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog.
Keith Richards’ Life.

This is a list of nonfiction bestsellers written by the rich and famous, but book credits are often deceiving. Despite the names on the covers, ghostwriters penned each of these titles along with an estimated 60% of all nonfiction bestsellers. Professional ghostwriters like J. R. Moehringer and Joni Rodgers have collaborated with celebrities, athletes, politicians, and corporate icons. But more and more “ordinary people” are turning to ghostwriters for help with business books, blog posts, memoirs, and even novels.

I’ve been a ghostwriter/biographer for the past nine years and have learned the reasons people seek the services of a ghostwriter are as varied as the individual. Many have led lives filled with memorable experiences they wish to preserve for family and friends. My books, Blueberry Fields Forever and The Joy in Life is Helping Others, are two examples of legacy projects of accomplished men wishing to preserve their life stories for family and friends. The Last Beach Boy and Music is My Ticket: The Musical Journey of Bill Prince were biographies the authors made available for sale, hoping to see a return on their investment.

You may wonder why these people didn’t write their books. While some might have the skills to write a book, they often don’t have the time. Others have neither the skills nor the time and find writing a book is more difficult than they imagined. A recent study found that 97% of people who start a book never finish it, but some keep their dreams alive by hiring a ghostwriter.

If you’re considering working with a ghostwriter, think about the ramifications of your decision. Ask yourself if you have the time because working with a ghostwriter entails hours of interviews, editing, and months before the writer delivers your book. Also, ask if this is a wise investment. If you’re a successful entrepreneur or retired executive with a large bank account, then ghostwriting makes sense. Hiring a ghostwriter and believing book sales will more than repay your investment often leads to disappointment.

Before embarking on a ghost-hunting expedition, keep in mind that despite the fascinating life you’ve lived, the many obstacles you’ve overcome, and what you’ve achieved, it’s next to impossible to be traditionally published unless your name is as recognizable as those on the bestsellers I listed at the start, or you have a huge following. Unlike fiction, traditional publishers seldom gamble on unknown nonfiction authors. A professional ghostwriter will only agree to split royalties if you’re a celebrity with strong interest from publishers. A potential client recently emailed me, saying, “… that with your writing and my story, we could have a bestseller on our hands.” I replied that I couldn’t promise a bestseller, but I could promise a good book.

An author searching for a ghostwriter for the first time may wonder how to find the best person to tell their story. To paraphrase Stephen King, good writers are as common as table salt. The trick is finding the appropriate good writer for your project. Every project is different, but consider the following factors when hiring a ghostwriter:

• Expertise and Experience — First, examine the writer’s body of work. If you’re a corporate executive in the health or financial industry, finding a writer who has successfully written leadership books in those fields makes sense. If this is a memoir or biography, look for someone with a proven track record bringing those stories to life. You may have unique needs and want someone who is a good researcher as well as a good writer and has expertise in your discipline. Be prepared to ask questions at the initial interview. How many books have they written? How long does it take from start to finish? Can you see samples of their work? What about references?
• Read the Contract — Ghostwriting is a profession, and a signed agreement should cover all aspects of the writing project to be sure there is a clear understanding of both parties’ roles. The contract defines what the client can expect in terms of the scope of the project, including word count or number of pages, timeframe for the project, the number of revisions, an NDA or confidentiality agreement, designation of authorship (co-author or uncredited), payment terms, copyright agreement, and more. Agreements also contain the client’s responsibilities. For example, the client should make themselves available for interviews, agree to respond promptly to revisions and phone calls, and share relevant documents and contact information for family members, friends, and coworkers who may add context to the book. The contract is necessary to protect both parties.
• Style and Voice — Has the ghostwriter demonstrated they can capture a client’s voice? It’s not easy to do, but professional ghosts have learned to listen intently to their clients, absorbing all the nuances of expression and style. They take notes of the jargon used, study their mannerisms, and listen carefully to the recorded interviews. Capturing the voice is an important part of the ghostwriting relationship, and you want someone who “gets you.”
• Personality/Working Relationship — Completing a book can take anywhere from eight months to a year, so you want to work with someone you’re comfortable with. Your collaboration partner should be open to your suggestions, flexible and understanding. The process must be one of trust and open communication, and when working with an empathetic writer, the experience can be transformative and cathartic for the client. I’ve had clients share intimate moments, stories of tragedy and heartbreak. They know they can trust me with their secrets and that not everything they share will appear in the book.
• Budget — The contract always includes a payment structure, usually with a deposit upfront, followed by three or four other payments. I conclude initial prospective client interviews by asking if they have a budget in mind. Often, there’s a gap between their budget and my fee, and I detail all the steps that go into the project, but more importantly, they’re paying not only for my time but for my experience and expertise. A Writers Market survey reported ghostwriting clients can expect to pay anywhere from $22,000 to $100,000 depending on the ghostwriters’ expertise and the book’s complexity. Moehringer and Rodgers, the two ghostwriters I mentioned earlier, are at the top of the game and demand — and receive — fees in the $100,000 to $200,000 range.

You can see that hiring a ghostwriter is an important decision, so shop around and ask questions. A professional ghostwriter is easy to work with, understanding of your investment of time and money, and committed to delivering a book you’ll be proud to see your name emblazoned on the cover.