How Do I Get a Ghostwriter?

If you are looking for a ghostwriter, you may be completely feeling out of your depth with where to even start. That’s perfectly normal, as you likely have had no need to experience or even think about the writing industry until now.

The good news is, you’re in the right place!

Getting a ghostwriter for your project can actually be very simple and straightforward, and you’ve already taken the first step on that path. Here’s what I would do next, if I were in your shoes.

Find your Ghostwriter

If you want to work with someone, first you need to pick them out. But when you don’t know anyone from Adam and all the search results just confuse you more, how can you pick anyone at all?

Your first option is to find someone you can read more about online, look at their information, and decide where to go from there. For example, you might read my blog posts, decide you like the way I explain things, and go on to check out my services before getting in touch.

Alternatively, you could go through an organisational body that can point you in the right direction. There are a few out there, but I would go for the Association of Ghostwriters. And, yes, I’m biased – being a member – but they do have a roster of very qualified and talented writers, all of whom will see your query before you have to put down a single cent.

You may get a lot of responses to your query, so your task then is to sift through them, see who resonates with you the most, and start a bit of correspondence to find out who you would be able to work with best.

Begin the Process

Next up, you’re going to want to get started on the process of “getting” your ghostwriter – in other words, beginning to work with them.

Each ghostwriter probably has a slightly different take on the process, so I will simply tell you mine.

I begin with a simple call. We meet over Zoom for about twenty minutes, though there’s always flexibility for it to take less or more time, depending on your needs.

We’ll have a chat there and talk about your project. I can guide you on what kind of help you need – perhaps you don’t really need a ghostwriter, but more of an editor or a writing coach; perhaps you want to co-author something; or perhaps you want to have me write the book from scratch in a true ghostwriting project. I can also guide you on other aspects of your project – such as how long your book should be, how long it will take to complete the project together, and so on.

If you’re happy to go ahead at this stage, I may next suggest a strategy session.

Create a Strategy

For me, the strategy session is about testing out our working relationship and coming up with a plan.

Every good book needs to have a solid plan behind it. The strategy session is our first official work together, and as such, there is a nominal fee for getting started – I believe this is a great step to test things out without having to commit to the full project fee, allowing both of us to assess the project and figure out whether we want to go ahead.

During this session, we’ll go over every relevant detail. This allows me to come back to you around a week later with a full proposal for how to go ahead with the project. That will include multiple price points and options, to ensure I have accommodated your every need and come up with something to fit your budget.

Once we have a strategy in place, the situation is very easy. Do you want to go ahead with the plan, or stop here? Should you decide to go ahead, we already know what to do, when to do it, how much it will cost, and how we’ll know when we’re done.

Having a strategy in place from the beginning means we both understand the full scope of the project, our expectations can be met on both sides, and the project is set up to be a successful one.

Get Going

What else is left but to get started?

You now have your ghostwriter, so we set off on the process of writing a book together. This is often a journey of six months, perhaps more for longer works or less for rush jobs, so we’ll spend plenty of time working together and getting to know one another. As we do, the book will slowly take shape, changing from a dream of an idea in the back of your head to a real manuscript you can hold in your hand.

If my process sounds good to you, you can get started on that first step today by booking a call. Alternatively, feel free to just get in touch over email to start the conversation. I’ll be waiting to hear from you.