Where Can I Find a Ghostwriter?

Have you thought about writing a book but need some help? A ghostwriter can help you finish that book but how do you find one?

And more importantly, how do you find the right ghostwriter?

A talented and successful author does not have to be someone who loves writing. You may be an expert in a field or subject, but it does not mean you can successfully translate that expertise into a best-selling book.

There is no shame in it.

Books will never exist without a knowledgeable author.

But many of the best-selling authors in history hate the idea of writing the words and doing the necessary research to come up with the physical proof or written account of their expertise.

This is where a ghostwriter comes in handy. Do not undermine the value of ghostwriting for there have been hundreds of best-selling books in history which were written with the help of a ghostwriter.

The authors whose names are printed on the cover of those books, realized that they were better off working with someone who as impeccable skills.

The Ghostwriter’s Job

So, if you are not enthusiastic about writing or maybe you just don’t have the time for it, then hiring a talented ghostwriter is the option that makes the most sense. The role of a ghostwriter is to write your book in your words.

Contrary to what most people believe, the job requires a ghostwriter to capture the voice of the author.

Hence, the work they’re doing isn’t their own.

Part of the ghostwriter’s job is to dig deep and have a comprehensive understanding of the author’s concept.

It includes identifying the target audience and learning how to spark their interest. Also, the ghostwriter is responsible for creating an outline from which the book’s structure is based.

Content creation is the sole responsibility of you, the author. However, the ghostwriter you choose to work with must obtain that content to proceed with his or her job.

Doing so require an interview of the author since it is the only way to capture the specific voice, knowledge, and expertise in the subject.

While creating the majority of the content is your job, the ghostwriter must possess the skills to research supplemental material.

Now that you have a clearer picture of what a ghostwriter can do for you, the next question is where to find the right person.

At this point, you already have a plan laid out for your book project. The only component missing is the ghostwriter who does the writing for you.

Things to Factor in Before Starting Your Search

• Book style
• Size of the book
• Goal/objectives
• Intended audience
• Existing content you want to use
• Amount of research needed

When you have all those things figured out, then you’re ready to start the search.

Ask People Who’ve Written a Book

You probably know someone who wrote a book before. Your inner circle of friends is an excellent place to start looking for suggestions.

While you may not have any accomplished author friends, there must be one who’ll tell you, “My friend hired a ghostwriter before.”

Well, it’s a start.

Social Media Is A Must

Social networking platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn can help in your search for a ghostwriter. There are a handful of groups you can join, or you can simply post an ad.

I found a group of freelance writers on Facebook and posted the job there.

I got at least 15 credible and highly qualified prospects.

Searching for prospects through social media is time-consuming, but it is worth it.

Use Google

The search for a qualified and skilled ghostwriter is quite specific, which means you cannot just hire anyone who has an extensive background in writing.

The good news is that you can always use Google to find and connect with legitimate ghostwriting services.

I found value in a paid ad over at Google. When I visited the site, I saw that they had a well-laid out service for aspiring authors like me who needed help.

The only downside to it was the price. It’s not like I wanted to go cheap, but I wasn’t ready to pay a premium for a ghostwriter at that point.

Search Freelancing Sites

You can also find decent prospects if you search highly regarded freelancing sites like Upwork, Indeed, Scriptd, and Guru; although you should be prepared to receive a ton of applications once you post a job for a ghostwriter.

Not all those applications are worthy of your response, though.

Set Up High Standards

The search for a ghostwriter varies from the perspective of someone hoping to write a nonfiction title and an author of a fiction book.

For a nonfiction project, the author is expected to supply the pertinent facts to the ghostwriter, including but not limited to the story, case study, and research.

For his or her part, the ghostwriter will do the interviews to obtain additional information and conduct supplemental research.

So, it is fair to say that working with a ghostwriter for a nonfiction project means searching for someone with research skills.

The ghostwriter’s role in a fiction project is not as defined or specific.

If you’re an aspiring novelist, all you must do is give the ghostwriter a premise, the main characters, and a general view on how you want the story to end.

The writer will do the rest. But to make sure you’re on board with the storyline and progress, you have the option to break down and examine each chapter before the ghostwriter proceeds with the next.

Value the Partnership

The most successful authors are the ones who appreciate and value the role of a ghostwriter. Instead of looking at them as a typical freelancer or worker, they consider the relationship as more of a collaboration.

It’s a back and forth affair.

Working with someone else to write a book is no cakewalk, but it has the potential of achieving great things. If you stumble upon someone who can quickly grasp your concept and objectives, and you respect him/her, then your book’s success wouldn’t be farfetched.