What is a ghostwriter?
Ghostwriters cover a whole range of jobs in various media industries. There are ghostwriters for books, blog posts, newspaper columns, or even social media. Ghostwriters are write for film and TV scripts, even songs and speech writing. I know less about these latter subjects but when it comes to books, literature, and authors, I can write for hours…
WHAT IS A GHOSTWRITER?
Ghostwriters can write books for other people. Prince Harry’s ghostwriter, JR Moheringer, may even be a ghostwriter you have heard of. He wrote Harry’s global bestselling memoir ‘Spare’ and has spoken publicly about his experiences on several occasions.
Hip Hop rapper Drake has also spoken out about using a ghostwriter for his work, explaining creativity can be a collaborative process and therefore other writers may be of use.
Ghostwriters may also be used in other art forms such as for TV scripts. For example, often a pool of writers is used for comedy shows or TV series, many of whom are never named, even on the credits. While ghostwriters are often used to write speeches for politicians.
I am a ghostwriter who writes books, specifically personal memoir, and business books. I help people who want to become authors but lack the skillset or time to write a whole book. The people I work with are from all walks of life and many dream of becoming a published bestselling author. Other clients want to write a book for their family to remember them by.
WHAT IS GHOSTWRITING AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
Ghostwriting is a mystery to many, but needn’t be. Let’s break it down simply.
• Ghostwriting helps people who want to become authors write books. It is a professional service. Many ghostwriters are freelancers who write full time for a living, writing either fiction or non-fiction books.
• Ghostwriters collaborate with authors. The average length book is around 70,000 words for a memoir or 50,000 words for a business book. It takes around 3-6 months to write a manuscript which is ready for publication. I have written a memoir in as little as three weeks, but this was in exceptional circumstances and was adhering to a publisher’s tight deadline.
• Many high-profile authors like Prince Harry, work closely with a ghostwriter to write their book. They are often interviewed at length and those interviews are turned into a compelling narrative. This means the actual words they said, usually in an interview, appear in the book. A professional ghostwriter writes in a style which captures the author’s voice and makes it sounds as if they have written the book
WHAT IS THE POINT OF A GHOSTWRITER?
In my experience, the most common reasons for using a ghostwriter include:
1) A potential author doesn’t have time to write a book.
2) They lack experience of writing.
3) They do not have the expertise to know what their readership wants.
Many people decide to use a ghostwriter after trying to write their book and finding out it’s more tricky and time-consuming than first thought.
Almost all well-known faces and celebrities use ghostwriters, such as Prince Harry, Millie Bobby Brown ( who used a ghostwriter for a fictional novel based on her family’s experience), Katie Price, among many others. Some people might write parts of their book but the majority will be edited or finalised by a professional, either a ghost or an editor.
As a rule of thumb, if you pick up any non-fiction book from the shelves the chances are a ghostwriter will have written it!
Ghostwriters understand what makes a book sell, what is commercially viable and how a book should be structured. For example, Prince Harry might have chosen to use a ghostwriter because he didn’t know what to include or leave out of his book ‘Spare’ and he needed to get this right.
There were many highly controversial scenes in ‘Spare’ including a fight with his brother, Prince William. Prince Harry’s ghostwriter might have advised him on what he could and couldn’t say about members of the royal family. JR Moehringer also advised him on what parts of the book he should leave out. Also, when writing a memoir, it can be very helpful for a fresh pair of eyes to give a second opinion on what you want to write about. Often, when emotionally attached to a story, an author can struggle to express what they want to say concisely.
A ghostwriter can guide an author, so the potential book appeals to the widest possible readership too. They can also help navigate legal issues. In my experience, authors often need guidance around what is libellous or slanderous.
Most celebrities do not have the time or ability to write an entire book ( average length 70,000 words). In fact, the average person on the street probably doesn’t! It takes commitment, perseverance, and expertise to write any form of literature and complete it.
How is ghostwriting different to copywriting?
Copywriting involves writing content material in a clear concise way. Often copywriters work for marketing or advertising agencies. They could be writing words for a website, billboard, company literature or even adverts.
Whereas ghostwriting involves working with an individual, and is focused on capturing the author’s voice, whether it’s in a book, TV script, song, or speech writing.
WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING A GHOSTWRITER?
Being a ghostwriter is an amazing experience. I have been a ghostwriter for over 15 years, and it’s been an incredibly fascinating, rewarding, sometimes challenging, all-consuming job. I work fulltime, but often if a book deadline demands it, I will sometimes work evenings and weekends to make sure I get the job done. I often write at my kitchen table ( we have a bright and sunny kitchen and I love the light!) but sometimes I work in an office space in Soho if I need a change of scene or to do interviews in person.
At best I can write 5000 words a day, and once I even managed to write 10k words in 24 hours! I have worked with authors from all over the world including Africa, America and the Middle East.
I have written books for people including a whistleblower, TV presenters, models, activists, sports stars, a billionaire, highly successful businesspeople and entrepreneurs, and many ordinary people with extraordinary stories to tell.
Some of my work is found via my literary agent and lots of it comes directly from my website. People often find my personal website ( by Googling ‘ghostwriters’ or ‘ghostwriting’ and then drop me an email.
Being a ghostwriter is a varied and privileged job. I feel very lucky to do this for a living.
What percentage of books are ghostwritten?
Nobody knows for sure, as nobody has studied and done a definitive count. Some studies claim it is as high as 90% but nothing is confirmed. What we do know is the publishing industry couldn’t function without freelance editors and ghostwriters!
How many hours does it take to ghostwrite a book?
This varies but on average for a 70k word manuscript it takes around 25 hours of interview time with the author. To write and complete the manuscript it takes around three to six months.
ARE THERE ANY FAMOUS GHOSTWRITERS?
The public appetite to learn about what ghostwriters do has grown significantly in recent years. As you can imagine, ghostwriters have plenty of interesting stories to tell. In America, the most famous ghostwriter is probably JR Moehringer. I have appeared across the national media, interviewed for newspapers, magazines, podcasts and radio. Teena Lyons, co-founder of The Ghostwriters Agency, was even recently interviewed for a programme on MTV!
However, we must be careful what we talk about in interviews as many of us have been contracted not to talk about their clients. Only sometimes celebrities are happy to mention who their ghostwriter is, Katie Price is one of them.
DOES GHOSTWRITING PAY WELL?
It can. A ghostwriter can earn anywhere from £20,000 to six figure sums for writing a book. Especially if they are bestselling ghostwriters with a proven track record.
Is ghostwriting ethical?
Absolutely. Ghostwriting is not cheating or taking a short cut. In fact, an author must work closely with a ghostwriter in order to achieve an authentic product. Using a ghostwriter is often gaining a significant advantage over many other authors because you’re using the services of a professional. A ghostwriter will finish to an agreed deadline, can advise on next steps to finding a publisher or agent and write to attract the widest possible readership.
If you are serious about writing a successful book, always use a ghostwriter.
HOW LONG HAS GHOSTWRITING BEEN AROUND?
This surprises a lot of people but ‘ghostwriting’ has been around since ancient times. The Holy Bible was one of the first books ghosted by nameless authors and legendary books like The Iliad by Homer may even have been ghosted by an unnamed writer.
Ghostwriting is nothing new. Since writing was invented people have wanted to share their stories and not everyone has the ability to get words down. So scribes, writers, ghostwriters, collaborators, whatever you want to call us, we have existed.
How do you become a ghostwriter?
Ghostwriters come from various backgrounds, including from industries such as journalism, marketing and even teaching. Getting the first break is often by accident and there is no ‘one route’ into ghostwriting. Many ghostwriters started out writing for free or a reduced fee to get their foot on the ladder.
Are there any ghostwriters you recommend following on social media?
Ghostwriters tend to be quite introverted people, and many cannot mention what their current work is in detail. However, there are ghostwriters online who share what they can and give fascinating insights into the industry. Our favourites on X include:
Tony Horne: @HorneyMedia
Linda Watson Brown @lwatsonbrown
Andrew Crofts @AndrewCrofts
Ginny Carter @_GinnyCarter
Our friends in America, Gotham Ghostwriters who run America’s biggest ghostwriting agency @GothamGhosts
And of course, us! Shannon Kyle: @Shannondotkyle and Teena Lyon @ProfGhost and The Ghostwriters Agency @GWAgencyghosts
How does The Ghostwriters Agency help ghostwriters?
The Ghostwriters Agency is a unique, easy to use online platform that helps people find a ghostwriter quickly and easily. We are different to other agencies out there because ALL of our ghostwriters have written bestselling books. Many of the leading ghostwriters in the UK are part of our network and the agency is run by two Sunday Times bestselling ghostwriters. Simple fill in the form and we will get in touch.
The client selects the right ghost for them and can be matched in as little as a few days.
How can I contact The Ghostwriters Agency?
It is very simple. Either fill in the form online or email us: info@theghostwritersagency.com. We are always happy to hear from people who want to talk through their ideas or want to know more information.