What You Need to Know Before Hiring a Ghostwriter

There are many reasons people hire ghostwriters. You may have a great idea for a book but no time to write it, or you might be an expert on a subject but a lousy writer. None the less, ghostwriting is very common. Often, books by celebrities, experts, and corporations are written by a ghostwriter. If you are considering hiring a ghostwriter, there are two things you must know before hiring a ghostwriter.

Know What You Want

Before accepting a project, a ghostwriter will have many questions about your book. You need to know the answers before you start talking to the ghostwriter. Here are a few things you need to consider.

• How do you picture your book?
• What is the tone and style?
• How long is it?
• What is the subject?
• What topics are covered?
• Who is the audience?
• What is the purpose of the book?
• What do you expect from the ghostwriter?
• How much of the material will you provide?
• How involved do you want to be in the process?

Know Your Budget

Writing a book is time-consuming, especially if you want to write a quality book. The process includes research, brainstorming, writing, rewriting and editing. This process is no different for ghostwriters. Therefore, book projects can be costly. In fact, research shows that prices can range from $10,000 to $50,000 per book. These prices depend on the writer’s experience, the length and difficulty of the project, the materials you provide and the deadline. Before hiring a ghostwriter, figure out how much you can spend. Don’t hire a ghostwriter and decide you can’t pay for the project. Like all professionals, ghostwriters MUST be paid.

ABOUT CHERI BREEDING: Since 2005 Cheri Breeding has been working as the Director of Production for Outskirts Press. In that time, she has been an instrumental component of every aspect of the Production Department, performing the roles of an Author Representative, Book Designer, Customer Service Representative, Title Production Supervisor, Production Manager and, Director of Production. She brings all that experience and knowledge, along with an unparalleled customer-service focus, to help self-publishing authors reach high-quality book publication more efficiently, professionally, and affordably.