So you’re here to learn how to find a ghostwriter. Congratulations on deciding to move forward with your book idea! You are about to embark on a great new chapter in your life.
Learning how to hire a ghostwriter isn’t hard. You just need to know where to look, what qualities to search for, and what questions to ask. This blog on how to find a ghostwriter will walk you through all of that.
So let’s get started!
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How to find a ghostwriter
There are three main ways to search when learning how to find a ghostwriter: individual searches, freelance marketplaces, and ghostwriting agencies.
Individual search
When learning how to find a ghostwriter, you can simply search through Google or LinkedIn for candidates.
Of course, it can take a lot of time to sift through profiles on LinkedIn. When learning how to find a ghostwriter on LinkedIn, you can be overwhelmed by thousands of results when you type in “ghostwriter.”
With each candidate, you will also have to go to their writer’s website and look at previous work they have done.
Google is a little easier because you can see popular results for ghostwriters right away. Of course, you still have to sift through a ton of results.
When learning how to find a ghostwriter on Google, remember that the first few pages are going to be freelance marketplaces and ghostwriting agencies, which we will cover soon. If you want to find individual ghostwriters, you will need to dig deep into the SERPs.
If you are just learning how to find a ghostwriter, we don’t always recommend individual searches. That’s because it can be difficult to tell who is legitimate, and there is a lot of legwork upfront to find candidates.
Instead, you might want to look at a marketplace or agency when learning how to hire a ghostwriter.
Freelance marketplaces
The next place to try when learning how to find a ghostwriter is a freelance marketplace. You will still have to search through profiles for the right candidates, but you can find platforms with vetted freelancers who deliver high-quality work on the whole.
One freelance writer marketplace is Reedsy. It’s easy to learn how to find a ghostwriter on their site. Simply select ghostwriting as a service and filter the genre and language you are looking for.
If you are looking for a business book ghostwriter, you can find someone with experience in that specifically.
These book-specific filters are very helpful and will save you a lot of time when learning how to find a ghostwriter.
Some other marketplaces you can try include Mediabistro, the Association of Ghostwriters, and even freelance websites like Upwork.
Ghostwriting agencies
Ghostwriting companies can be a good place to learn how to find a ghostwriter, with one caveat. A lot of the companies are scams.
You want to do some research into reviews about the companies to make sure you don’t end up getting taken advantage of.
You should probably avoid companies like:
- Nexus Ghostwriting
- Book Writing Inc.
- Ghostwriter Inside
- Write Right
- And HireWriters
This is not an exhaustive list of companies to avoid, so please do your own research.
You should try to choose established ghostwriting agencies with native English speakers and happy customers.
At selfpublishing.com, we offer ghostwriting services as well as editing, marketing, publishing, and more! We can help you every step of the way to becoming a bestseller.
Now that you know where you can find a ghostwriter, let’s talk about the next step in how to hire a ghostwriter – finding the right-fit candidate.
How to choose your ghostwriter
You don’t need to work with a ghostwriter to find out if they are good. When learning how to find a ghostwriter, here are some things you should consider:
Price
You wouldn’t want to find the cheapest doctor or lawyer, and the same is true with a ghostwriter. When you go cheap, you often sacrifice on quality.
For a 100-300 page nonfiction book, prices for ghostwriters can vary drastically. Here are what to expect at different price points:
- $1,000-$14,000: When learning how to find a ghostwriter, you probably shouldn’t work with anyone charging less than $15k. If you can’t afford that, decide if you really need a ghostwriter, or if you can write the book yourself!
- $15,000-$75,000: This is usually the range you should look at for a good ghostwriter.
- $100,000-$250,000: This is a book of elite ghostwriters. Some have published their own books and many have written bestsellers. As long as you vet their work, you should be guaranteed a good quality book.
Experience
When learning how to find a ghostwriter, ask how many books the writer has done and what types of authors they have worked with. Discover if they have worked with high-level authors or thought leaders.
You should try to find someone who has written at least five books.
Ability
Don’t just take their word for it. When learning how to find a ghostwriter, you should actually evaluate their work.
Read some of their past work and make sure there are no glaring errors. You also want the book to be engaging and maintain a consistent voice throughout.
How engaged are you when you read?
The tell-tale sign of good writing is: how engaged are you? How much do you want to keep reading?
Good fit for you
When learning how to find a ghostwriter, not all writers will be the right fit for you. Just because they are a talented writer it doesn’t mean they have experience in your niche or have the right personality to work with.
Ask about their process and working style to make sure it works for you.
Next, reach out to past clients of theirs to learn how they were to work with. You can ask their favorite and least favorite parts of working with the ghostwriter. It’s also a good idea to ask how much they were charged to ensure you aren’t being taken advantage of.
Of course, you don’t only want to ask questions of previous clients. You should also have some questions ready to ask the ghostwriters themselves.
Questions to ask your ghostwriter
When learning how to find a ghostwriter, here are some questions you should ask potential candidates:
- Do you offer a money-back guarantee?
- What time of day do you like to take calls?
- Do you have any client pet peeves?
- What questions do you have for me?
It’s important that your ghostwriter has questions for you. It shows that they truly get you. The more questions they have, the more engaged they are in you and the writing topic. This is a good sign that they are going to deliver a quality product.
