Selecting a Ghostwriter
If you have too many ideas to write yourself (or if you’ve come across so many projects that pay that you just don’t have the time), you might consider hiring someone to help with the work. Someone like a ghostwriter. If you do decide to hire someone, be picky. Find someone you can work with and who can produce the final product that you desire. If you and your ghostwriter are a distinct personality clash, the match probably isn’t a good one and you should look elsewhere for the help.
Your criteria will vary depending upon what exactly the product is. You may find that the right person to write the information on your own website is not the right person to ghostwrite a novel. The types of services ghostwriters offer varies from advertising copy to articles and even to non-fiction books and novels. Not all ghostwriters are capable of writing all these things. Make sure you fully understand the talents and skills of potential ghostwriters before committing to a contract.
Finding a ghostwriter isn’t as hard as you might think. A quick Internet search will turn up many people and even companies offering ghostwriting services. Finding a good ghostwriter, however, might take some searching. Ask for a full body of work relating to the field your book or article falls into. You probably don’t want to hire someone who specializes in sword and sorcery fantasy to write your contemporary women’s fiction novel. Take your time and you’ll surely find someone you can work with.
Ghostwriting Contracts and Their Details
Most ghostwriting contracts are for an upfront free. The ghostwriter gets paid to create the work and you take the credit and get to keep all proceeds that they work may generate. Because you are investing money and time, don’t take anything for granted. Before hiring a potential ghostwriter, check out their body of work and get references if possible. Because many ghostwriting contracts demand confidentiality, references may be a problem, but ask anyway. At the very least, make sure you see a body of work that relates to final product you desire. I know I’ve already mentioned this, but it bears repeating.
The ghostwriter you choose should offer portions of the work for you to read through as they are completed. This is a necessity when committing to a contract. Otherwise you might end up with a product that isn’t at all what you wanted or expected. Negotiate with your ghostwriter, making it clear that you want to see some portion of the work as soon as possible so you can be sure it sounds the way you want it to.
You will, of course, have to pay for ghostwriting services. Make sure the contract you and your ghostwriter sign specifies the payment plan. In general, a portion of the total cost, often ¼, will be paid immediately. Until the first quarter of the work is completed to your satisfaction, there is no further payment. The final payment is not made until the completed article or book is delivered to you.
A good ghostwriter will be able to make the book or article sound like you wrote it. He or she will be able to assume your voice. So read over the first portion of the work to make sure it sounds like you. The contract you sign should give you the option to cancel with notice without penalty, provided you do it in writing. If some of the work has been completed, the ghostwriter probably can and should keep that portion of the money. However, make sure you never offer the full fee up front and examine the contract carefully before signing.
Whether you are interested in being a ghostwriter or hiring one, most of the same rules still apply. Know what you’re getting into, read a contract before you sign it, and above all, make sure that the final product is well written and comprehensive.
