You have a book (or a blog) idea burning inside, waiting to get out. The trouble is, you don’t have time to write it or maybe writing isn’t your forte. You’ve accepted you need a ghostwriter. The question becomes, “How to hire a ghostwriter?” I’m glad you asked. As a ghostwriter myself, I can walk you through the process.
Step 1: Research
You knew that was going to be the first step, right? The first thing to do when you contemplate hiring a ghostwriter is research ghostwriters in your field. I ghostwrite psychology blogs and books but there are ghostwriters for all sorts of things. I have a friend who ghostwrites biographies and oral histories. Other people ghostwrite business books. Some ghostwriters specialize in celebrity memoirs. What are you writing? From there, google and find someone who works in your field.
Step 2: Make Sure They’re Reputable
A lot of people claim to be a ghostwriter but they aren’t actually. They write something in their voice, not yours. Or they don’t know how to translate someone else’s ideas. Or they’re a scammer. Or. . . As you’re hiring a ghostwriter, you want to make sure they’re reputable. Some websites specialize in this. I just signed up for Reedsy, which is a publishing marketplace filled with writers, graphic designers, and editors. They have a vetting and verification process so you know the person you’re working with is a real person.
Step 3: Ask For a Writing Sample
You’ve done all the research, you’ve made sure the person is reputable, you’ve read some of the things they’ve written. Now you’re ready to hire the person, right? Sort of. The next step is to do a trial run. Just because all the other criteria match doesn’t mean they’re the best ghostwriter for you. It’s like dating — someone can seem perfect on paper but when you meet them in person, you struggle to carry on a conversation. The same principle is at play in ghostwriting. Before you sign a contract and spend potentially weeks or months working together, do a paid sample.
Identify a short topic you’d like to write about. Maybe it’s a vivid memory or a principle you want to explain. Go through the process that works best for you (bullet points, a voice memo, a recorded Zoom call, etc.) and ask the ghostwriter to take it from there. Once you receive the sample, assess it. Did the ghostwriter convey what you wanted? And how you wanted to convey it? Do they “get” you? Did they use words that you would use? Does their writing voice sound like yours?
If the above answers are yes, then proceed. If the above answers are no, then you’ll want to repeat the steps I mentioned.
So there you have it — how to hire a ghostwriter. And if you’d like to hire me I have some availability. Get in touch and let’s see if we’re a good fit.