Does hiring a ghostwriter seems daunting to you? As a plethora of people find it pretty intimidating, they are caught between issues like “Is it ethical to hire a ghostwriter for book writing and giving you credit for it?” and “Can you have that sort of faith in a complete stranger?” While both of these reservations are valid, the reality is that ghostwriting has been used for ages.
So, if you are considering hiring a ghostwriter to assist you in appreciating your ambition of being a published author, why not give it a shot?
If you are not sure where to begin, keep reading; at the conclusion, you will have the answers to all of your technical questions about why to hire a ghostwriter.
Why Hire A Ghostwriter?
There are two reasons why someone might hire a ghostwriter: they don’t have enough time, or they don’t have enough expertise, and both are fair arguments.
So, let’s go through these in further detail!
Not Enough Time
It is nothing new that people nowadays live in a continuous hustle and bustle. Instead, they are compelled to pursue occupations that provide them with instant financial benefits at the cost of their greatest desires.
Many authors aspire to be best-selling but lack time to sit down and start penning down their ideas and thoughts. By doing so, people continually put off working on their ambition, finally abandoning it.
However, some people choose to hire a ghostwriter in order to complete their tasks. After all, that book will represent their ideas, opinions, and narrative voice; therefore, it will still be their work. The ghostwriter is frequently thought of as only a transcriber or performer of your thoughts.
Lack Of Experience
Another reason some people choose to hire a ghostwriter is that they do not have much experience. Yes, they may have a wonderful concept and a beautiful story in their mind, but putting it on paper is a very different thing.
Furthermore, producing a manuscript isn’t the only step toward becoming a published author, which adds to the complexity, especially for those who are new to the process.
As a result, they opt to hire a ghostwriter, who are typically professionals who have a lot of expertise putting ideas and thoughts into a paper and guiding them through the publication process.
Which Is Better: Hiring A Ghostwriting Service From A Professional Company Or Just A Freelance Ghostwriter?
Let’s start with the most vital question: Where can I get a ghostwriter?
The answer is really dependent on whether you want to engage a ghostwriting service or a sole ghostwriter. Both choices are excellent. A ghostwriting service could provide you with extra book editing, formatting, cover design, and book publishing service at discounted price which is a benefit you shouldn’t overlook.
On the other hand, if you want to work with a single ghostwriter, Fiverr is a terrific place to start.
What Things To Consider Before You Hire A Ghostwriter Or A Ghostwriting Service?
It might be difficult for you to hire a ghostwriter. For this reason, I have compiled a list of questions you should ask a ghostwriter before hiring them.
Ask Them About Their Experience
Ghostwriters, unlike other writers, cannot be precise about which projects they have worked on in the past for obvious reasons. However, this does not exclude you from inquiring about their experience.
Furthermore, if you want to discover more about their skills, you should not overlook this question. Instead, you should inquire about their experience as a writer, the genres they have worked in up to this point, and the number of books they have ghostwritten.
Furthermore, keep in mind that newcomers deserve a chance as well, so if you have a good feeling about them, give them that chance, test their writing abilities, and then go on.
Ask Them For Samples
Yes, ghostwriters are not permitted to discuss all of their previous work with anybody else. They can, however, provide a little piece of material that they have produced so that you can evaluate their writing abilities.
One thing to bear in mind is that the writing style utilized in the sample shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Remember that writers usually follow the specifications of their clients, so it might not be exactly what you are looking for, but that’s not a problem.
Inquire About The Cost And What Is Included In The Package
Pricing is quite essential, and I understand that it may be the first question you ask them. However, don’t forget to inquire about the first-draft deadline, the number of times they will interview you, and the number of revisions you will receive for that amount.
Also, inquire about the cost of conducting additional interviews with you and offering additional edits if necessary.
You may also like: Simple Tips on how to write an ebook fast
What Should You Provide To The Ghostwriter Before They Start Working?
Remember to discuss the writing process and what they want from you. Some ghostwriters may demand you to inform them of the topic, the genre in which the book should be written, or even an outline or an interview in which you may discuss your book ideas. Remember that the more information you provide them, the better they will be able to execute their job. As a result, do your best to be as cooperative as possible.
You may accomplish it in the following way:
- Provide an overview of your thoughts
- Provide some references
- Be explicit about the genre
- Tell them about your storytelling style
- Always be responsive
- Give constructive feedback
Always Sign An NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement)
Ghostwriters are usually required to sign NDAs for each of their customers due to the nature of their profession. That’s why, before you share your thoughts and ideas about your book with them, make sure you get them to sign an NDA.
If you are unfamiliar with NDA, you can contact your attorney and request that they provide you with all of the essential information. One thing I can tell you about NDAs is that they are commonly required when sensitive information is communicated with potential workers, clients, investors, and others. It makes sure that the ghostwriter will not reveal their identity as the author of your book in the future.
If they do, you will have the option of pursuing legal action against them.
Ask Them To Sign A Copyright Agreement
Many individuals feel that signing an NDA is sufficient when hiring a ghostwriter, but you should be aware that an NDA does not imply that you will own the book’s copyright.
As a result, if you want to preserve the copyright, which I assume you do, you should insist on having your ghostwriter sign a copyright agreement in which they grant you entire ownership of their work.
What about royalties?
Even if you hold copyright, you will have to split the revenues of your work with the ghostwriter unless they specifically indicate in their contract that they would only charge a flat price. True, they prefer a flat price option when you hire a ghostwriter, but some authors can agree to pay a part of their revenues to their ghostwriters.
Regardless of whether you wish to do it or not, you should inform the ghostwriter of your decision and incorporate it into the contract.
What about acknowledgment?
Some ghostwriters can insist on acknowledging the book, for example, being noted in the book’s acknowledgments.
As a result, before hiring them, make sure to address this thing with them.
Final Thoughts
Many prospective authors have a dilemma when it comes to ghostwriting. However, ghostwriting has been used for decades, and many well-known authors have used ghostwriting services. Hopefully, this blog will assist you in hiring a ghostwriter without difficulty. However, keep in mind that hiring someone who displays trust and expertise is always the greatest option.
