The Top 5 Things to Keep in Mind When Working with a Ghostwriter

by Cris Yeager
DIGITAL MEDIA GHOST
Ghostwriting

You may be thinking about hiring a ghostwriter to help you with excess writing. If you aren't familiar with working with one, it can be difficult to know where to start. You might end up paying too much or getting stuck with someone who doesn’t fit your needs and style as an author if you aren't careful. 

If you're thinking about hiring a ghostwriter, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. 

You'll want to make sure you can ask the right questions so your ghostwriter can work effectively with you.

Every writing project differs from one another. The process can be very confusing, especially if you don't know the first thing about working with a ghostwriter. Here are the top five things to keep in mind before making your final decision to hire and work with a ghostwriter.

1) Types of ghostwriters
The ghostwriter profession can be split into two camps: those who specialize and those who are generalists. Specialists usually have expertise in a niche area such as writing blogs, biographies, etc. whereas generalists may or may not be experts in something, but they can write anything related to your topic. Some ghostwriters also have experience working on books, white papers and dissertations while others have spent years working as journalists or magazine writers so you'll need to keep these things in mind when deciding which type of ghostwriter is right for you.

2) Working with a ghostwriter
Your main concern is having a professional and knowledgeable person representing you. That’s it. It's imperative to build a strong relationship through clear communication of work processes and goals. Without good communication between client and writer, there can be misunderstandings that undermine projects or even damage personal relationships. 

Often ghostwriters work on specific topics or sectors, and clients must understand their writers’ areas of expertise. If you're hiring an individual writer, ask them what they are passionate about and what kind of projects they enjoy writing about most. Before you hire your ghostwriter, make sure they have professional writing experience, either in their field or in other fields like journalism or marketing. Writers can also be hired by literary agencies and boutiques specializing in everything from business writing to celebrity memoirs. 

3) Be prepared
If you’re the owner of a small business, it’s probably already time-consuming to keep up with your company's day-to-day operations. Writing creative and interesting content is not going to be any easier, so your ghostwriter is going to need your help. Your ghostwriter will have questions about your business and needs time to research and understand the specifics. Be sure to set aside enough time for them (and yourself) to do their research. The more information you give them the better job they can do when writing for you! An experienced ghostwriter will research your company first thing anyway, but it's a good idea to mention it just in case. Here are some other tips to make the process easier and more efficient:

• Outline your overall goal for the writing campaign:  Writing can be very time-consuming, so you must outline your goals before hiring a ghostwriter. The better you can define what you want, and how you want it done, the more likely it is that you’ll get exactly what you need. 
• Give a detailed list of topic ideas: There are tons of ghostwriting services out there, but not all are created equal. You’ll want to make sure that your ghostwriter is experienced and skilled at writing on your industry’s specific topics. Before hiring someone, give them a short list of potential topics you would like them to write about. Be sure to be detailed as much as possible and include any research already done! The more information you can give them upfront, the better job they can do.
• Be prepared to discuss pricing and deadlines: Hiring a ghostwriter can be an expensive endeavor, but you’ll want to make sure that you find someone who is both experienced and able to complete your project on time. Don’t be afraid to ask for references or talk about pricing before signing any contracts. It’s better to know what you’re getting into in advance rather than after you’ve already started working with someone! 

Once you hire your ghostwriter, they must have access to all of your company's information. Make sure that they have access to everything they need from your company, including social media accounts, email addresses, website links, etc.

4) Communication
Keeping the lines of communication open and clear is an absolute must. Consistency is key to success. You must communicate your vision and tone to your ghostwriter. Be sure to make yourself available for phone or Skype conversations so your ghostwriter can ask questions about your project's content and direction. Meet weekly or bi-weekly to discuss progress, too, which will help ensure consistency from start to finish. That way there can be no miscommunication about the amount of work being put into the project.

5) Ask the right questions
A big part of the hiring process is asking questions, and since many ghostwriter websites offer mostly superficial information, it’s important to know exactly what questions you should be asking. Having a conversation with a potential ghostwriter before signing anything can prevent problems down the road when the project begins. 

BONUS TIP: It’s also a good idea to have multiple writers at your disposal so you have someone else on call when things get busy or if your usual writer gets sick or has other commitments. This gives you a team of people who are ready to work on your project if needed. Hiring a ghostwriter is an exciting time for any author and knowing that there are multiple writers out there ready for hire will help keep stress levels low when starting out.

Work efficiently
You want to make sure you’re working efficiently with a ghostwriter. It’s important to be productive and rely on your ghostwriter when it comes to completing projects. You want your ghostwriter to pick up on what you need as an author, so make sure you communicate with them effectively. As an author, you should ask for help when you need it. A ghostwriter cannot simply be handed an assignment and be expected to complete it without your knowledge and input. They aren't your employees, they are hired to do a specific job - they are your partner. Just like any other position, you must do your job before they can do theirs. Sometimes that means having a writer take some of your tasks off your plate, and other times that may mean simply asking a question or getting clarity on a certain subject matter. It’s always smart to double-check before making any decision with your project.

It’s also helpful for you and your ghostwriter to create an outline that can serve as your guide. This will help your ghostwriter focus on just what needs to be accomplished and make it easier for them to come up with ideas. Remember that you can be very particular about how you want things done when working with a ghostwriter. Be honest about what works best for you, and make sure they have no trouble communicating back. Being efficient is important because time is money. If you aren’t able to maximize your time, then it means less money earned per hour spent working. It’s not wise or practical to pay someone else by their hour if they aren’t going above and beyond expectations.

A good ghostwriter will ask questions about your goals and help guide them throughout their process. Be sure to mention any specific deadlines or other details like who else will be involved in making decisions on the final content. It’s also helpful if you have an idea of how much money and time you are willing to spend on content creation. This way, both parties know where they stand from day one!

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