How to Choose a Ghostwriter: A Beginner's Guide for First-Time Authors
The Main Gist: Choosing the right ghostwriter requires more than finding a talented writer. Look for relevant experience, strong samples, clear communication, transparent pricing, and a professional process. Do your research, watch for red flags, and always use a contract that clearly defines ownership and expectations.
Key Takeaways:
Know your book, budget, and level of help before you start searching.
Choose a ghostwriter with relevant experience and strong writing samples.
Communication, trust, and the ability to capture your voice are essential.
Avoid guaranteed bestseller claims, suspiciously low prices, fake credentials, and high-pressure sales tactics.
Backlist Builders is a ghostwriting company that helps aspiring authors write their dream backlist quicker and easier.
Writing a book is a dream for many people. Maybe you have a great story to tell, valuable expertise to share, or a life experience that could help others. But when it comes time to actually write the book, many aspiring authors hit a wall.
Turns out it’s hard to write a book.
That's where a ghostwriter can help.
A ghostwriter is a professional writer who helps turn your ideas into a finished manuscript. They do the writing, but you remain the author. For many busy professionals, entrepreneurs, and first-time authors, hiring a ghostwriter is the fastest path to getting a book published.
The challenge? Finding the right ghostwriter.
If you've never hired one before, the process can feel confusing. There are thousands of writers online, and unfortunately, there are also scams and low-quality services that can cost you time and money.
Here's how to choose a ghostwriter with confidence.
Consider Your Goals
Before you begin searching, get clear on your goals.
Ask yourself:
What type of book am I writing?
Do I need help with the entire book or just editing?
Is this a memoir, business book, self-help book, or novel?
What is my budget?
Different ghostwriters specialize in different types of projects. A writer who excels at business books may not be the best fit for a memoir. The more specific you are about your project, the easier it will be to find the right person.
Know Your Budget
Before you start Googling ghostwriters, figure out what you’re actually able and willing to pay. Hiring a ghostwriter is a significant investment, and it’s not right for everyone.
Ghostwriting prices can vary a lot depending on the length of your book, how much research is involved, the writer’s experience, and how much help you need.
Generally speaking, you can expect to pay around $15,000 to $75,000 or more for a standard-length book.
While you shouldn’t automatically go with the cheapest writer you can find (for obvious reasons), remember that the most expensive ghostwriter isn’t necessarily the best one, either.
Look for someone whose experience, writing style, process, and pricing feel like the right fit for you. A good ghostwriter should be upfront about what you’re paying for and what’s included so there are no nasty surprises down the road.
Interested in working with Backlist Builders? Schedule a free consultation below!
Look for Relevant Experience
Look for ghostwriters who have worked on books similar to yours. Review their portfolio, website, or published work. If they have helped write books in your genre, that's a strong sign they understand your audience and expectations.
Don't be afraid to ask questions such as:
Have you worked on books like mine before?
Can you share examples of your work?
What does your process look like?
A professional ghostwriter should be able to explain their experience clearly and confidently.
Check Out Their Portfolio
A reputable ghostwriter should provide you with writing samples. Even if confidentiality agreements prevent them from sharing work they’ve done with past clients, a sample portfolio should always be present on their website or available upon request.
Reading the ghostwriting samples will help you evaluate their writing style, clarity, and ability to communicate ideas effectively.
Pay attention to whether the writing feels engaging and easy to read. Even more importantly, ask yourself whether you can imagine your ideas being expressed in a similar way.
Remember, you'll be working closely with this person for months. Their writing style should feel like a good fit for your voice and vision.
Schedule a Conversation
Never hire a ghostwriter based solely on emails or a website.
Schedule a phone call or video meeting.
This conversation is important because ghostwriting is a collaborative process. You'll be sharing personal stories, business insights, or creative ideas with this person. Trust and communication matter just as much as writing ability.
During the call, notice:
Do they listen carefully?
Do they ask thoughtful questions?
Do they seem genuinely interested in your project?
Do they communicate clearly?
A good ghostwriter should make you feel heard and understood.
Understand Their Process
Professional ghostwriters usually follow a structured process.
This often includes:
Discovery interviews
Research and outlining
Writing chapters
Revisions and feedback
Final manuscript delivery
Ask potential ghostwriters to walk you through their process from start to finish.
If someone cannot explain how they work or promises unrealistic timelines, consider it a warning sign.
Writing a quality book takes time. Be cautious of anyone who claims they can produce a polished 70,000-word manuscript in a couple of weeks.
Ask for a Sample
Some ghostwriters will give you a custom sample of what you could expect your book to be like if they wrote it for you. This may be available for free or for a small cost.
Get Everything in Writing
A professional ghostwriting project should always include a contract.
The agreement should clearly outline:
Project scope
Payment terms
Timeline
Revision policy
Ownership rights
Confidentiality terms
The contract should also state that you own the final manuscript and all associated rights after payment is completed.
Never start a large project without a written agreement.
Ready to Turn Your Idea Into a Completed Book?
I bet you are!
But instead of jumping straight to, “I should hire a ghostwriter,” ask yourself, “What’s the best way to bring this book into the world?”
For some people, that means writing every word themselves.
For others, it means partnering with an experienced professional who can help transform scattered ideas into a finished book–a lot faster than they could do it on their own.
Both are great options. They’re simply different approaches to the same goal.
And remember, hiring a ghostwriter doesn’t mean giving up ownership of your ideas.
When it works as it should, ghostwriting is a tool — a way to turn your knowledge, stories, and vision into a book that might never exist otherwise.
And for many aspiring authors, that support is the difference between talking about writing a book someday... and actually writing one.
So what do you think? How will YOU bring your book to life?
Want to work with Backlist Builders to turn your ideas into 3 completely ready-to-publish books – in only six months?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a ghostwriter?
A ghostwriter is a professional writer who helps turn your ideas, expertise, stories, and vision into a finished manuscript. They handle much of the writing and structural work while keeping your voice and perspective at the center of the book.
Why do people hire ghostwriters?
People hire ghostwriters when they have a strong idea but lack the time, writing skills, or experience to turn it into a finished book themselves. A ghostwriter can make the process faster and less overwhelming while helping bring the author’s vision to life.
Is ghostwriting just for celebrities?
No. Ghostwriters work with entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, busy professionals, public speakers, first-time novelists, and people with powerful personal stories. Anyone with a book idea who needs help executing it can benefit from a ghostwriter.
Is hiring a ghostwriter cheating?
No. Ghostwriting is a collaboration in which the author provides the ideas, stories, expertise, tone, and direction while the ghostwriter helps shape them into a polished book. You remain the author, and the finished book should still reflect your voice and perspective.
Who should hire a ghostwriter?
A ghostwriter may be a good fit if you have strong ideas but struggle with writing, don’t have hundreds of hours to dedicate to a book, or need help bringing your vision to life. Ghostwriting is especially useful for people who want to create a professional-quality book faster than they could on their own.
Who shouldn’t hire a ghostwriter?
Ghostwriting may not be right for people who want to write every word themselves to develop their writing skills or enjoy the creative process of doing it independently. It’s also not a good fit if hiring a ghostwriter would put significant financial strain on you.
What makes a good ghostwriter?
A good ghostwriter does more than write well—they listen carefully, capture your tone and personality, ask smart questions, organize complex ideas, communicate their process, and collaborate without overpowering your voice. The best ghostwriting relationships feel comfortable and collaborative, resulting in a book that feels authentic to you.