Hire a ghostwriter
How to find a bestselling ghostwriter for your book
If you’re looking to hire a ghostwriter, it can be hard to know where to start. Google the term: ‘Ghostwriter’ and you’ll be overwhelmed with details of agencies or websites offering the services of writers for hire. You might even end up down a rabbit hole of articles about famous people who have used ghostwriters for their novel or even music!
But fear not. In this blog post we will explore what hiring a ghost really involves. As a ghostwriter myself, I can explain what to look out for, how to hire a ghostwriter successfully and even what increases the chances of making your book a success, whether it’s a memoir, novel or non-fiction book.
Should I hire a ghostwriter?
It is very common for people from all walks of life to hire ghostwriters. Ghostwriters are used to write books, fiction and non-fiction, speeches and even songs for others. When people have an idea for a book etc. but cannot create it themselves, they can hire the services of a professional ghostwriter to help.
Ghostwriters are used for:
• Writing non-fiction books. That’s what I specialise in. I have written for people including an ex-solider, sportspeople, celebrities, reality TV stars, CEOs, entrepreneurs, even a coal miner’s wife!
• Writing fiction books. Increasingly people are turning to ghostwriters to help them write a novel. Celebrities such as Katie Price and Millie Bobby Brown are famous examples of authors who have used a ghostwriter to write their memoir or novels.
• Writing speeches. President Obama famously used a speechwriter to pen his speeches, and even called one of his ghosts, his ‘mind reader’.
• Writing music. Whether it’s rap, classical, hip hop or pop music, many artists use ghostwriters. Famous rappers who have used ghostwriters include Dr Dre, P Diddy and Drake, although when Drake was accused of using a ghostwriter it caused a bit of controversy.
Every week there are enquires to my website asking all kinds of questions about ghostwriting. The majority are from people from ordinary walks of life who have held a long-standing desire to write a book, but they need help because they do not have the expertise to write at length.
How much does it cost to hire a ghostwriter?
Fees vary wildly, but to hire an experienced bestselling ghostwriter, costs in the region of £20,000 to £100,000 plus for the service. The Ghostwriters Agency does not take commission from the author client, so you do not have to pay us to use the service. Firstly, we will have a chat with you directly to work out your requirements and then we send your request out to all of our wide network of ghostwriters. Next, we pass on the pitches of those ghostwriters who would like to apply for the role, and you select the best one. The ghostwriter pays a small percentage of commission to us themselves once a contract has signed.
There are a few factors affecting the cost of the book project. They include:
• How much of the book has already been written. For example, if someone provides 80,000 well written words for a memoir it means the project is unlikely to take as long and so costs could be less.
• How much travel is involved. If an author client wishes to do all the interviews face-to-face, extra costs must be factored in. Once I had to travel across the globe for a client who was a very busy CEO. An exciting (and tiring!) experience.
• How many interviews are needed. When I write a business book, for example, I sometimes need to interview more people who are connected to the author in some way, to include as extra cases studies to illustrate points made in the book.
• How much a ghostwriter wishes to do the project. If the subject matter is very close to a ghostwriter’s heart, they may consider dropping their fee in order to clinch the deal.
How to hire a ghostwriter
What’s the best way to hire a ghostwriter? Each option should be carefully considered to get the most for your investment of time and money. Let’s look at the options:
• Agencies. There are many agencies which have emerged in recent years offering ghostwriters for hire. Some of them offer a ‘full service’ including writing, proof reading and even publishing the book for you. Some of them are very cheap, offering deals from as little as a few thousand pounds, while others charge 20 times more. At The Ghostwriters Agency we only offer the services of bestselling ghostwriters, so that means all our writers have written Sunday Times, Amazon, or New York Times bestselling books. This means hiring a ghostwriter from us means you’re hiring one of the best ghostwriters in the UK, if not in the world! Developing and writing a very strong manuscript will make a publisher far more likely to consider offering a publishing deal. Or create something that’s ready to go straight to the self-publishing route. Our ghostwriters have extensive contacts and will help at their discretion to place the manuscript in the right hands. Many of our ghosts have experience securing book deals.
Be wary of any agencies who offer to write your book for very little or which make promises they cannot keep. Anyone promising to find you a traditional publishing deal should be avoided, because nobody can guarantee that!
• Self-employed ghostwriters. There are many credible and successful self-employed ghostwriters, I am one of them. To find a suitable ghostwriter for your project, read their website and then arrange a call. An experienced ghostwriter will be happy to talk through your project idea, give their opinion and clearly explain how they can (or cannot) help. I am always happy to answer any concerns or questions about ghostwriting. Common questions often include: ‘Can you find me a book deal?’ ‘How long does it take?’ ‘Will your name or mine be on the book cover?’ etc. Much of the public do not understand how hiring a ghostwriter works in detail, so I can explain everything.
• Websites offering ghostwriters. There are many freelance websites offering ghostwriting services via freelance writers. You may strike lucky and find an amazing ghost on there, however, most professional ghosts find the majority of their work through their own website or networks.
Why should I hire a ghostwriter through The Ghostwriters Agency?
Hire through GWA and you will be matched a bestselling ghostwriter with minimal effort!
The Ghostwriters Agency is run by two bestselling ghostwriters, who also write books for a living. Teena Lyons and I, have many years between us in experience and therefore have a unique insider’s view. We know what makes a good ghostwriter, what books are likely to appeal to a publisher ( so can advise on whether you stand a chance of getting a coveted publishing deal) and so we only invite bestselling ghostwriters with proven track records to join us.
To date, we are the biggest network of bestselling ghostwriters in the UK. Our ghostwriters live all over the country from Scotland, Ireland, to the South Coast. We also have ghostwriters worldwide, many in America, Europe and even South Africa and Asia.
When I speak to potential clients about their book project many of them have been considering writing their book for years. That means once they get in touch, they’re very keen to get started straight away. However, many bestselling ghostwriters will be booked up in advance. Often I find myself booked up for months or even years in advance, so clients may have to wait until my schedule is free. The Ghostwriters Agency however has such a vast network of writers we can pretty much guarantee to find a suitable bestselling ghostwriter within days.
Our ghostwriters write a ‘pitch’ for the role which we send on to author clients. Then the client can decide who to shortlist. We recommend speaking directly to at least three ghostwriters to find the best fit. Once a ghostwriter has been chosen, a contract will be drawn up between you and the ghostwriter. The terms of that contract can often be negotiated.
What ghostwriting services does The Ghostwriters Agency offer?
Our ghostwriters specialise in writing books in many genres which include:
• Memoir/ autobiography
• Self-help
• Business books
• Celebrity books
• Fiction (novels, children’s books)
Occasionally we offer services to put together a book proposal. This is a document which traditional publishers require before making the decision to commission a book. A book proposal takes around 6-8 weeks on average to write and often costs from £3k to £10,000.
Some of our ghostwriters also offer editing services. If you have a well written manuscript, or a partial manuscript which needs work, an editor might be more helpful more than a ghostwriter.
Can I hire a ghostwriter to write my book?
The answer is always yes, yes, YES! Hiring the services of a ghostwriter is not illegal or unethical. A client author will always work closely with their ghostwriter, shaping ideas and their words via interviews into coherent chapters. When I start a book for a client, I always see it very much as their story, not mine. I am simply the midwife to encourage the birth of the story.
There is nothing wrong with using a ghostwriter. In fact, many famous books and authors have used ghostwriters. It is believed Ian Fleming used ghostwriters to help write his most famous novel The Man with the Golden Gun, the iconic novel The Count of Monte Christo by Alexandre Dumas was completed by a 19th century ghostwriter called Auguste Maquet and even famous book series such as Goosebumps by RL Stine entrusted a group of ghostwriters to help keep up with demand for new titles.
If still, you feel uneasy about using a ghostwriter, consider this…in many ways, writing a book is a team effort whether you write it all or not. Nobody sits down to write a whole book and gets the first draft published. Often many revisions are needed. Every single book found in a bookshop will have involved an editor (every book must be edited, usually by a proof and copy editor), and often a team of marketing people will have helped promote it. A ghostwriter is simply a professional who can be part of this process. Remember too, you will also be fully involved and have to work hard to help put the book together. An author always needs to be interviewed, be questioned on their ideas and then be involved in editing the manuscript.
Can I hire a ghostwriter to write my song?
The Ghostwriters Agency doesn’t offer this service, our services focuses on books such as memoirs, business books, self-help, and for celebrities. But there are reputable services out there offering song writing skills.
Can I hire a ghostwriter to write my website?
The ghostwriters Agency doesn’t offer this service either. You need a professional copywriter/ content creator to write your website content. Many reputable copywriting agencies offer freelance writing services for this.
Can I hire a ghostwriter to write my podcast?
Again, The Ghostwriters Agency doesn’t offer this service and a professional copywriter is needed, who could also be found through a professional copywriting agency.
Tips for hiring a good ghostwriter
Now you have an idea of how to find a ghostwriter for hire. Here are a few final tips to clinch a deal with your bestselling ghostwriter…
• Use a trusted agency or indeed come to us at The Ghostwriters Agency! We have bestselling ghostwriters with proven track records.
• Always take time when selecting a ghostwriter. Read their profiles and pitches carefully. Feel free to ask any questions which spring to mind. How long will it take them to write your book? How many other books have they written in this genre? How many bestsellers have they had? Why are they attracted to your project?
• If you’re looking for a traditional publisher, find out if your ghostwriter can signpost you in the right direction. Many ghostwriters are happy to share advice and contacts at their discretion if they believe your manuscript might be of interest.
• Don’t worry about what people think if you want to use a ghostwriter. It’s estimated up to 90% of non-fiction books are ghosted for example. It is VERY common for authors to hire ghostwriters. You do not have include the name of the ghostwriter in your book ( although I always appreciate if this happens in acknowledgments!). I always tell my clients that despite using my services as a writer, the story is THEIR story to tell, not mine. My aim is to capture their voice and write the best manuscript possible that’s ready to put in front of publishers, agents or self-publishing.
• Make sure you have a proper contract between you and the ghostwriter. A professional ghostwriter will offer their own personal contract, and often this includes a couple of edits and a read of the first few chapters to make sure everything is on the right track.
• Trust your instincts. When interviewing ghostwriters, always rely on your gut feeling too. I do the same with potential clients. If I think, for whatever reason, I am not the right match for the job, I will recommend someone else.
• Enjoy the process. For many people, whether it’s for their memoir or novel, hiring a ghostwriter is a once in a lifetime experience. Many of my clients admit they miss our interview sessions when they come to an end, and many of them say they have learned a lot about themselves by putting experiences down in a book. I don’t think any clients regret the time or investment. It can be cathartic, fun, entertaining and sometimes a very moving partnership. I have stayed in touch with some of my former clients and even become friends with others.
Finally, please do contact us, here at The Ghostwriters Agency. Simply drop us a line at info@theghostwritersagency.com or fill in the form here.
Shannon Kyle