How to find a ghostwriter

Why hire a ghostwriter?

Your story is important. You already know that, if you’ve started looking for a ghostwriter to write your story. But it may be that you only have a hint of how important it is, right now. During the process of working with a good ghostwriter, you will begin to understand on a whole other level how important your story is.

During my decades of working with clients in a clinical context, one of the most powerful agents of change for them has been their ability to rewrite their story, making it more accurate, and dealing more fairly with the events in their past. They write a new story that respects both their failures and successes, but also the elements in their environments, relationships and events, that they managed to navigate.

I wish you all the best in finding one and hope that it brings about many of the benefits I’ve seen in my clients. But since anyone can call themselves a ghostwriter, here are some key things to look for in finding yours.

What should I look for?

1. Experience and Expertise

• Relevant Experience: Look for a ghostwriter who has experience in writing personal stories or memoirs. Writing a person’s personal story is different from other kinds of writing. Ask them how much they have worked on personal stories, specifically, even how many different people they have worked with. They will be limited in the specifics, out of respect for the client, but a rough number is fair to ask.
• Writing Style: Ensure the ghostwriter’s style resonates with how you envision your story being told. Read as much of their writing as you can get your hands on. Again, this may not be the actual stories they wrote for clients, but a person’s writing style comes through in just about anything they write. As you read it, notice how you feel about the tone, pace, and flow. Is it too formal, or too relaxed? Is it easy to follow, or do you find yourself having to re-read to grasp the message? How comfortable do they seem to be with talking about the real emotional experiences of life?

2. References and Reviews

• Client Testimonials: Although client testimonials can be problematic in a profession that is built on privacy, some clients volunteer them and work out an agreement with the writer regarding how they can be shared while still maintaining privacy. It’s fair to ask if they have any available for you to read.
• Word of mouth: There is hardly any better way to find a good professional than word of mouth, but here again, due to the nature of ghostwriting, the client may decide not to disclose the degree to which a ghostwriter was involved. But, if you can talk to someone who worked with a ghostwriter, ask them about their experience, what they liked and what they didn’t.

3. Communication Skills

• Initial Interview: This is probably one of the best ways for you to gauge how you will feel about working with a particular ghostwriter. You will be talking about very personal and possibly emotional aspects of your life. I would caution you against ever hiring a ghostwriter without having a direct, preferably in-person, meeting with them.
• Understanding and Empathy: The ghostwriter might not have experience with the specific story you are telling, but they should be very easy to talk to. They should be interested in understanding you. You should have the feeling that they see you as an interesting person with an interesting story. If the interaction feels rushed, or they did too much of the talking; take that into account. Ask yourself if you had the feeling of wanting to share more, when talking to them. Do not discount any misgivings you feel inside about this, no matter what recommendations, or other qualifications they may have. You need to be comfortable working with them.

4. Contract and Terms

• Clear Contract: An experienced ghostwriter should be able to show you a sample contract, even if yours will be slightly different. Does it spell out deadlines, the responsibilities of both you and the ghostwriter in creating the resulting document? Does it also allow for flexibility that respects the specific nature of the story, your life circumstances, and unforeseen events. For example, consider what happens if you aren’t able to meet a deadline for responding to a draft, or if additional meetings need to be scheduled, or deadlines need to be extended. What costs are associated with those types of events? How long will the resulting document be, either in words or in standard page length? In what format will the resulting work be delivered to you?
• Rights and Credits: Discuss whether the ghostwriter will receive any credit for the book or need to be mentioned at all. The contract should specify what rights of ownership you have after the project’s completion. All of these are negotiable but the ghostwriter should have a standard description of how it usually works with them.

5. Confidentiality

• Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA): Depending on the nature of the stories being told, you might want a non-disclosure agreement to keep your information confidential during and after the writing process. They should be familiar with this and able to provide you with a standard agreement they use. A real bonus here is working with a professional like a Psychologist or other professional who has had to keep things confidential as a requirement of their professional ethics.

6. Cost

• Fee Structure: Many writers expect a certain amount at the start of work, and then other payments tied to milestones in the project. This may include another payment when the draft is delivered, and another when the final revisions are made. For longer works, there may be word count, or chapter count milestones tied to a payment. Remember the cheapest option is not necessarily the best option. You are buying something that may have a life long after you’re gone. It’s worth finding someone that can do it well.