Publishing a book is a superb way to establish your authority. But there’s a little problem. You might be an expert in your industry, but that won’t make you a writer. So, what can you do then? The solution is as clear as the day. You hire a ghostwriter!
Ready to learn how to hire someone to write a book for you? Let us start by understanding what a ghost writer is for a book.
What is a Ghostwriter for a Book?
A professional ghostwriter writes content without receiving credit. They can be hired to write books, blog posts, or other materials for you.
Despite receiving payment for their work, bookwriters for hire don’t obtain credit for their namesake projects. The ghostwriter has no ownership of the content they create for you. These ghostwriters for hire work quietly in the background, remaining unseen.
Nobody even knows their name in the broader public. The author may credit the ghostwriter as a cowriter if they want to highlight their ghostwriter.
A ghostwriter’s work can include everything such as:
- Autobiographies
- Literary Prose
- Speeches
- Comic Books
- Magazine Articles
- Screenplays
- Journalism
- Blog Posts
- Academic and Medical Papers
- Novels
- Memoirs
- Religious Texts
- Songs
Can I Hire Someone to Write My Book?
Are you wondering if someone can pen your book down for you? We have good news, then! You can hire a ghost writer for content creation. This can help you if you’re an author or just someone who wants to boost their credibility.
Hiring a ghost writer can seem unusual. But they are much needed. This is because many people don’t have expertise in writing. They also may not know how to publish books.
Think of outsourcing for your business when you hire a ghostwriter for a book. So, you focus on other things and let them do their job. Famous authors also hire ghostwriters for their services when they can’t handle it alone. This has happened before and still happens.
The challenge is to discover your needs and hire the right ghostwriter for them.
You can’t just start your search for hiring a writer for a book and choose the first ghostwriter or ghostwriting agency you see. There are several things you need to ensure when you hire a book writer.
If you don’t plan, you may face some issues with the ghostwriter. For instance, they may:
- Generate subpar content
- Fail to produce detailed posts
- Totally miss being able to record your unique style and voice
- Will not produce value-added content
So, how do you hire a ghostwriter who actually produces results? While the process is pretty demanding, it gives you satisfying results.
How to Hire a Ghostwriter to Write Your Book?
Don’t rush into finding a ghostwriter. Carefully follow these instructions on how to get a ghostwriter. You should give this some serious consideration in advance if you want to increase the likelihood of hiring the best candidate.
Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Defining Your Objective
- Setting Your Budget
- Searching For Ghostwriters
- Defining the Project’s Scope
- Starting the Ghostwriting Process
Ready to get into details? Let’s start!
• Defining Your Objective
Ghostwriters compose anything from manuscript analysis to chapter summaries, book ideas, and, of course, finished manuscripts. You should have an idea of what you want written before contacting a ghostwriter for hire.
Do you already have a book summary? A rough outline of novel parts and chapter summaries? You don’t have to bring anything to the table when you hire a ghostwriter. But it’s best to think about your achievements as a prospective author before reaching out.
Write down your objectives:
- How would you like people to perceive this book?
- How should it affect your career?
- What value should it provide?
- Why is this book an important part of your brand strategy?
Finding the right ghostwriter will be much easier if you have a clear idea of your accomplishments.
• Setting Your Budget
It is important to have a well-defined budget for your project before hiring a ghostwriter to write a book. It would be disappointing to experience budget issues with your dream project when working with the ideal ghostwriter.
It is crucial to recognize the service’s worth and be practical about your budget when looking to hire a writer for your project. The pricing depends on:
- Ghostwriter’s experience and skills
It is important to factor in the time and cost involved in writing a book. It can take a few months to over a year for interviews, research, and writing.
Budget and cost should be discussed initially when approaching a book ghostwriter. It is best if the agency you work with has a selection of ghostwriters available. If the agency provides ongoing supervision, junior writers are usually a good choice.
• Searching For Ghostwriters
What is the best place to start searching for a ghostwriter or co-author? It can be challenging to find a ghostwriter for a book. Ghostwriters usually sign non-disclosure agreements, limiting their work sharing. You will want the same privacy once your book is live.
The best place to start your search for a ghostwriter is with a reputable agency like Maven Ghostwriters. They will connect you with competent writers who meet your exact specifications. Find writers or agencies that have a track record of both traditional and self-published novels. Before you make contact, make sure you have looked over all of your online possibilities.
The replies you get from prospective ghostwriters over the next several days should reveal a lot about their dedication and professionalism. Gather as much information as you can and apply it to at least a few ghostwriting prospects.
Be ready to ask them questions about ghostwriting:
- What are their core values?
- Which types of writing are they most adept at?
- Can they provide any examples of their writing?
- What are their signature genres?
If you’re considering hiring a ghostwriter, your choice will hinge on their satisfactory answers. Keep in mind that working on a book together is going to be a very personal experience, more like a partnership than a job. Prioritize hiring someone you feel comfortable with.
• Defining the Project’s Scope
Once you’ve chosen an affordable professional ghostwriter and one who shares your views and understands your vision well, evaluate the project scope to decide what the ghostwriter should write, what you want their advice on, and what you want to accomplish yourself.
You may want your ghostwriter to take notes during brainstorming meetings and create a book synopsis and chapter plans. You can use those resources to write the manuscript yourself. Your ghostwriter can then provide input to help you polish the piece for publication!
Alternatively, the ghostwriter can create the book and make changes based on your comments. Most authors employ this method because they want professional ghostwriters to write and organize content. Whatever method you use, the job must fit you!
• Starting the Ghostwriting Process
Your ghostwriter and you agreed on the scope. What now? After settling on a budget and task with your ghostwriter, the exciting part begins writing your book! This is when your book takes shape and enters the world. Note that this list of deliverables may change based on how you and your ghostwriter have divided up the work, but here is an overview of a typical ghostwriting process: an author hires a ghostwriter to write everything from a synopsis to the manuscript’s final draft.
You will give the ghostwriter all of your stories, case studies, studies, and other papers that you have written. This information guides the writer’s process and the next stages. The ghostwriter may interview you and other book subjects over several months to fill in the gaps and build a rich, detailed story. Before starting the project, the ghostwriter will provide chapter summaries and book proposals to ensure you’re on the same page. As the manuscript develops, these materials may change.
- The ghostwriter will compose the first draft.
- You will give your input and track edits.
- The ghostwriter will write a second manuscript draft.
- You’ll review it and make modifications if necessary.
- The ghostwriter will compose a third and final draft.
Timelines vary on budget and ghostwriter availability. Being realistic about the timetable is important since high-quality work takes time. After writing, a professional editor will check your work for grammatical, informational, and structural errors.
Finally, after writing, editing, and proofreading, the ghostwriting agency will proceed with publishing your book using your chosen publishing method.
What is included in Your Ghostwriter Contract?
The ghostwriter contract should cover all aspects of your arrangement. If problems arise, you can refer to the contract. Yes, a contract is necessary, even if you have trust in this individual.
Your contract should cover the following:
- Service cost
- Terms of payment
- Deliverables
- Royalties and rights
- Termination rights
- Anonymity provision
Here’s more information on them.
• Service Cost
The service pricing may be negotiated several times. Payment for ghostwriting depends on the work. You will agree on a project pricing and pay in installments if they write your book. For instance, you may pay a portion of the total amount once you have received the outline, another chunk when you have completed one-third of the book, and the final payment when the last revision has been completed.
• Terms of Payment
For regular writers, you can choose payment conditions. Most writers like every other week since it mimics a paycheck and helps them budget. The contract also specifies how often and how you pay (check, PayPal, etc.).
• Deliverables
Don’t skip deliverables. You should be really specific about the services your ghostwriter will provide. Book ghostwriters must meet the chapter or word count, book-length, and revision requirements that you specify.
• Royalties and Rights
Your contract should define who owns the finished product’s rights. When they provide you with their content, the ghostwriter gives up all rights. Royalties should not be shared with a ghostwriter unless included in the payment. Some firms match you with ghostwriters who work at a discounted rate in exchange for royalties.
• Termination Rights
Your contract should allow termination. A lot of things can happen. Maybe your firm fails, and you can’t pay the ghostwriter. There are a lot of incidents and unforeseen circumstances that can impact the terms, so it’s needed.
• Anonymity Provision
Finally, include an anonymity clause to prevent your ghostwriter from boasting about drafting your book. If your ghostwriter is discovered, it might damage your career as a famous author. You might not want others to find out you hired a ghostwriter as an author.
Now that you understand all the ins and outs of hiring a ghostwriter, are you finally ready to hire one? Then, look no further than our experts at Maven Ghostwriters.
Get in touch to get started!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hiring a ghostwriter moral?
It is fine if you’re transparent with your ghostwriter, don’t mislead clients, and abide by the terms discussed in the contract. With the right practices, it’s ethical.
Can I sell my book online?
Ready to release your masterpiece? Kindle Direct Publishing allows self-publishing. KDP lets you establish pricing, update them anytime, and receive royalties.
Do ghostwriters receive copyright?
Yes! This is why you need a contract. The foundation of a good ghostwriting agreement is a ghostwriter assigning the copyright in exchange for cash, acknowledgment, or other terms.
