Quick Link: How to Hire a Ghostwriter

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I don’t know that hiring a ghost writer is something that I will ever need to do, but I can see how they would useful for other people.  At Reedsy, professional ghost writer Andrew Crofts gives us tips on how to hire a ghostwriter and get the most out of the experience.

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How to Hire a Ghostwriter

By Andrew Crofts

Andrew Crofts is a ghostwriter and author who has published more than eighty books, a dozen of which were Sunday Times number one bestsellers. He has also guided a number of international clients successfully through the minefield of independent publishing. You can check out his Reedsy profile here.

Why Hire a Ghostwriter?

The job of a ghost is to write the book which you would write if you had the time or the ability. Writing books takes practice, like any other skill, it also requires more time than most people can afford. It is perfectly sensible to hire a professional to do the job for you, just as you would hire a barrister to plead for you in court or a speechwriter if you wanted to get into the White House.

It will still be your story, whether it is an autobiography, a memoir, a family history, a how-to business book or even a novel, just written with professional help.

Whatever you need, a ghost will do for you, but you must first be clear in your mind what it is you do need.

Traditional Publishing Deal or Self-Publishing?

Do you want to follow the traditional route of trying to find a big name publisher and getting an advance to help defray the costs? Or do you want to maintain control of the whole project and self-publish, either with or without the help of an independent publisher?

If it is the former then you initially need the ghost to produce a proposal which can be taken to publishers, either by you, by the ghost or by an agent who the ghost may be able to lead you to. The ghost can then write the whole manuscript once the publisher has been found.

If you want to maintain control then the ghost will be writing the whole manuscript for you from the start, and should be able to help you find the experts you need to turn it into a finished book. (Although most of those services are also available on Reedsy).