How to hire a ghostwriter (who speaks your language and respects your story)
Or perhaps the better question is: How do you start writing a story about your life?
Not everyone is a writer, but almost everyone has a story to tell. If you’ve landed on this page, you likely have a very cool story to tell. And if you’re thinking, “Well, not exactly…,” don’t sell yourself short.
The best stories out there are based on real events and human experiences. Ernest Hemingway’s A Movable Feast. Bill Buford’s Among the Thugs (if you have never heard of this one, I highly highly recommend you pick up a copy at your local bookstore.) By the way, this is true of fiction books, too — if you’ve got a great idea for a novel, your own experiences will fill the pages with authentic moments.
But not everyone is a writer, and that’s OK. That’s why professional ghostwriters exist. A great professional ghostwriter is actually more like a book coach, editor, and writing partner all rolled up into one. They excel at teasing out your story, steering you in the right direction, and providing feedback that will help you tell your story in the best possible way for your audience. They sense when a topic is sensitive and they help you navigate tricky memories. They know how to weave in your dialect and way of thinking so the final book feels and speaks like you.
So how do you hire a ghostwriter? So how do you hire a stellar ghostwriter? Here to help you.
Step 1. Do some work in advance.
Before you even start looking for a ghostwriter, spend a few hours putting pen to paper (here’s a guide to how to start writing about your life). What you write down doesn’t need to be professional or even typo-free, but you’ll want ot have an idea of what you want to write, why you want to work with a ghostwriter, and how much you can invest in the process. To get stated try these questions:
Who are you, and why are you interested in writing a book about your life?
What kind of book are you interested in writing? (An e-book? An autobiography? A fiction book based on your life? A romance novel? The sky’s the limit, but a professional ghostwriter will want to know the answer.
How much money are you willing to invest? This is an icky question, I know, but ghostwriting a book is a huge undertaking for both you and your professional ghostwriter. And it might take up to six months or a year depending on the scope. So do some number crunching to determine how much you’re willing to spend before your meeting.
What are you looking for in a ghostwriter? Again, a strange question at least surface-level but it’s important! Do you want someone who can go off and get the writing done, or do you want someone who will meet with you weekly? Are you looking for someone with a sense of humor or sense of levity or both?
Step 2. Do some research.
Now that you’ve done some soul-searching about the kind of book you’d like to write, and the kind of ghostwriter you’d like to work with, it’s time to go hunting. The goal is to find someone who understands you, the business, and the art of storytelling.
Option 1: One of the best ways to find a ghostwriter is via word-of-mouth. If you have friends or acquaintances that have written books in the past, shoot them an email asking if they have ghostwriter recommendations. If you know people who write for a living, in any sense of the word (TV writer, freelance journalist, etc.) reach out to them to ask if they know some — we all know each other!
Option 2: Crack open books you loved to see if they credit a ghostwriter or co-writer. And here’s a pro tip: Not all ghostwriters get co-writing credit, but often, they’re included in the thank you note at the start of the chapter. A quick Google search will likely lead you to a LinkedIn profile or portfolio site.
Option 3: Google “ghostwriter near me,” “book co-writer near me,” “ghostwriter in Los Angeles,” etc. Don’t just pick the first option or the sponsored ad on the page. Usually, the first results will lead you to big agencies that specialize in SEO but may not actually specialize in professional ghostwriting. It’s annoying, I know. Instead, scroll through the first 1-2 pages of results and look for personal portfolios or smaller agencies (like ours!). Ideally, contact two to three to ask about their availability.
Spoiler alert: I’m writing this article because we (Nunc Studio) offer ghostwriting services in Los Angeles but also remote services. We welcome questions and queries!
Step 3. Reach out with a query.
Once you’ve found one to three options that seem intriguing to you, contact them with a short email or note that includes who you are and why you’re looking to write a book (refer back to the work you did in Step 1 for this!). Ask them if they’re available for new clients, and what the next steps would be. Typically, professional ghostwriters will suggest an introductory call to learn more about you and see if it’s a good fit — and they should! It’s a big commitment for both of you to work together on a large project like a book.
Step 4. Understand that it might take time.
You may luck out and find a professional ghostwriter with an immediate opening in their schedule, but many ghostwriters book up several months in advance (again, working on a book takes a lot of time!). When you meet with your potential ghostwriter, ask them when they might be able to start and how long their projects typically take. Expect the answer to be anywhere from several months to a year. If you’re eager to start, you might ask them if they offer an “expedite” rate, which essentially adds up to time and a half for freelance ghostwriters. Or, you can ask them what you can do to start preparing while you wait for their schedule to free up, so you can hit the ground running once they’re available.
Step 5. Get the ideal contract in place.
Again, professional ghostwriters do this for a living, so they’re going to have a whole system for how they work with clients complete with detailed ghostwriting contracts and invoicing schedules. Chances are, you won’t have to ask for a contract. But the final step of the process is hammering that out. Remember that statements of work and contracts are adaptable, so read yours thoroughly and make any requests for adjustments or tweaks that you need. Your ghostwriter will work with you to make sure the contract feels right for you both!
Written by Kit Warchol, founder of Nunc Studio. Kit has nearly 15 years of experience as a writer, ghostwriter, content strategist, and editorial director for brands big and small. Her ghostwriting has been published by Harper Collins and in magazines including Forbes, Fast Company, and Inc. Past clients and content partners include the University of Southern California, Squarespace, KonMari by Marie Kondo, RMS Beauty, Buck Mason, and Current/Elliott. She also has a robust freelance writing career with personal essays and articles published in/on ELLE, Fast Company, Coveteur, ARTINFO, The Rumpus, Food & Wine, and more.