What is a Ghostwriter?
You may already have a general idea of what a ghostwriter is. You know it’s not a book written by the ghosts you see on Halloween (although that would be hilarious). But what exactly does a ghostwriter do?
A ghostwriter is someone who writes content without being labeled as the author or co-author. They’ll be hired by a business owner, individual, or other professionals to write books or other content.
For some, being a ghostwriter is a full-time job. Other freelance ghostwriters may only work on individual content writing projects in addition to their regular job.
Chances are you’ve read plenty of written content by ghostwriters before. Everything from celebrity memoirs to company website copy to textbooks can be ghostwritten.
There are many reasons why someone would hire ghostwriters. It often comes down to time. A growing business may want to invest time and energy into more strategic work like attracting prospective clients instead of crafting regular blog posts.
Qualities of Best Ghostwriters
Not all freelance writers are at the same skill level. Also, some excel in certain styles of writing, like technical writing, while others are better at creative writing. Non-fiction versus fiction writing requires different strengths.
No matter where their strengths lie in terms of style or industry knowledge, there are clear attributes that you should prioritize in prospective ghostwriters. Before hiring, you should look out for these specific writing qualities.
Experienced Freelance Writer
A freelance ghostwriter will be very familiar with the freelance process. That means that, first and foremost, they’ll be communicative and adhere to deadlines.
Whether you meet with them in person or message them digitally, it’s important to communicate regularly. It could be progress updates, word count, questions, additional details, etc.
An experienced freelancer will know the importance of consistent communication and make sure to be responsive.
Deadlines are important for any book project or other tasks. An experienced freelancer has worked on many different timeframes. This means that they’ll be capable of writing a great story, blog post, or other content in a short amount of time. Being late isn’t an option.
Finally, an experienced freelance ghostwriter will accept feedback and apply necessary changes. They’ll deliver you a first draft so you can know if they’re on the right track. After receiving comments, they can revise the draft so that the final outcome aligns with the vision.
Professional Writer with a Proven Track Record
In addition to the qualities mentioned above, a skilled ghostwriter will have past work to show. They’ll have been involved in the process of published books, evergreen advertising copy, or other written content.
Many writers will have references such as past clients or a literary agent who can attest to their skills. You shouldn’t have to become an investigative reporter to find their portfolio.
Very importantly, professional writers will be experts when it comes to proper grammar, sentence structure, and word choice. Sloppiness could be a sign that the writer isn’t as experienced as you thought.
Ghostwriters’ skills extend beyond just writing. They can also serve as a trusted editor. Maybe you have content written, but you want someone to look the writing over and tweak it, so it sounds better.
A ghostwriter will read through, offer insight, and make edits. A fresh set of eyes can be especially useful if you are self-publishing a full-length book.
Finding a Professional Ghostwriter in Your Subject
Many people focus on hiring ghostwriters who have in-depth knowledge of the content’s area of focus. This makes a lot of sense considering someone familiar with these subjects will have more insight into the target audience and what they’re hoping to read.
For example, if you have a science fiction book idea, you’d want a ghostwriter who has knowledge of science fiction. Or, if you have plans to self-publish business books, it’d be a great idea to hire a ghostwriter who has business experience.
Most ghostwriters will highlight the subjects that they consider to be their strong suits. A prospective client should take these into account before hiring a ghostwriter. Not only will the content be better, but the ghostwriter will have an easier time with the content writing.
In addition to their areas of expertise, it’s obviously very important to consider what language and dialect a ghostwriter is writing in. Although some people who ghostwrite are multilingual, you may want to hire freelancers whose first language is the same as your content.
For instance, a native English speaker will be more familiar with the nuances of the language. It will feel less like it’s straight out of a textbook and will read more naturally.
Where to Find Ghostwriters
Now that you know what qualities to look out for in ghostwriters, your next question may be: where can I find a ghostwriter for hire?
There are many different ways to find an experienced ghostwriter. One obvious way is to write and post a job listing. You could post it to a freelance site, on social media, or any other popular job board. There are many sites specifically dedicated to connecting ghostwriters with clients.
This method will require some extra work on your part because people are not guaranteed to apply, and if they do, you’ll have to sift through them to choose the right fit. Additionally, you’ll probably have to determine the terms of your contract one-on-one.
A more convenient way to find an experienced ghostwriter is to solicit the help of a content writing agency. These companies vet and employ writers from all backgrounds and offer all sorts of content writing services to meet your needs.
Freelancers who work with a content writing agency have demonstrated strengths and are assigned different projects based on them. This means that the agency will match you with a writer who best fits what you’re looking for.
These agencies generally have pricing tiers based on what a client wants. If you need multiple press releases written a month, your price is going to be lower per release than if you were to hire a freelancer for a single article. It’s beneficial to be a recurring client.
How to Hire a Ghostwriter
So once you write and post the job listing or reach out to the content agency, what’s the next step? What does the process for hiring a writer look like?
Lots of ghostwriters will offer a free consultation. During this meeting, you can expand on what you’re looking for and learn a little bit more about their ghostwriter. Do they seem like a good fit? Do they communicate well and seem to understand your wants? This initial meeting is mutually beneficial.
Once you’re confident that you’ve found the most well-suited ghostwriter for your project, it’s time to write and discuss the terms of the contract. This is the point where you’ll want to set expectations around deadlines, compensation, length, research topics, etc.
This is also another reason why working with an agency requires less work on your part because the agency handles the contractual aspects.
Once that’s all squared away, it’s time for them to begin the writing process. This will probably involve some research, especially if it’s a non-fiction project or a white paper. Even a fictional story can require research, though.
Ghostwriters for Hire
Did you know that we offer awesome ghostwriting services? Tons of individuals, business owners, and others utilize our services for all kinds of projects.
ContentAdore works closely with skilled ghostwriters from all over the world. Every experienced writer we work with has a unique specialty. Our ghostwriters write on just about every subject, from health and beauty to finance and tech to marketing and sales.
Check out our services to learn more about how you can rely on us for your next project. It’s easy to get in contact with us and learn what we can do for you based on your unique needs.
Final Thoughts: Find a Ghostwriter for You!
Hopefully, you’ve gained a better understanding of what ghostwriters do and what you should look for in ghostwriting services. If you find yourself short on time or patience when it comes to writing, a ghostwriter may be the best decision you can make.
Once you decide to hire a ghostwriter, you should give careful attention to their qualities. Consider their past experience, references, areas of focus, native language, etc.
After all is said and done, it’s your name that will end up on the finished product. You want to make sure the content is something you’d be proud to claim as your own.
We’d love to know your experiences working with ghostwriters if you have any. Leave a comment about what you found most useful about the process. Be sure to share this post on other platforms to spark a conversation.
Creating a space for ghostwriting advice benefits everyone!
