Ghostwriters can bring your story to life

Imagine this scenario. Maxine was the first-ever female plumber in her area. As she progressed in her apprenticeship, nearly everyone she encountered was surprised to see a “girl plumber”. Many doubted her expertise. Over time, however, she discovered that her female clients felt much more comfortable with having a female “handyman” in their homes, and Maxine was inspired to found a company entirely staffed by the next generation of women plumbers. She gained unique insights into business and human nature in the process, and now that she’s about to retire, she is strongly considering writing her memoirs — knowing that they’ll inspire others and offer unique insights. 

The only problem? Maxine is heavily dyslexic and not that great with words — part of what drew her to plumbing in the first place. Rather than giving up on her dream, Maxine could choose to work with a ghostwriter, and still publish very successful memoirs. 

Ghostwriters are versatile professionals who are dedicated to getting other people’s stories across. Today, you can hire a ghostwriter to write anything from full-length non-fiction books to novels, and from academic papers to blog posts or strong personal statements. Ghostwriters ultimately take all your big ideas, and transform them into beautifully-written texts conveyed in your voice. Ghostwriters make story-telling accessible to everyone with the means to pay, and the nature of the teamwork that unfolds between clients and ghostwriters is often close and intimate. Hiring a ghostwriter is a legitimate way to tell your story. 

The only question is — how? How do you find the perfect ghostwriter for you?

1. Decide Precisely What Your Goals Are

Ghostwriters rely on your ideas; their aim is to convey your message in the way you want it to be told. Before you set out to find the perfect ghostwriter for you, decide, in as much detail as you can, what the final version of your work is going to look like. If you’re after a scientific article, you may provide all of the research, while your ghost will choose the words and you review them and offer feedback. If you are a busy industry expert hoping to publish a “how-to” book, you may offer an outline before allowing your ghostwriter to conduct research and in-depth interviews, If you are, like Maxine, hoping to publish your memoirs, your ghost may record the stories you tell them, and they’ll run with your experience from there. 

The more closely-defined your final goals are, the more successful a skilled ghostwriter will be in getting your unique message across. 

2. Finding Ghostwriter Candidates

Although a significant portion of the books and articles you read in your daily life will primarily be produced by ghostwriters, these professionals can be hard to find. Due to the sensitive nature of their work, ghostwriters may keep a low profile and sign non-disclosure agreements that prevent them from discussing their past work. 

If you are a high-profile professional looking for a ghostwriter to produce non-fiction for you, asking around in your own professional circles can be an excellent way to connect you to skilled ghostwriters. Those who don’t have this advantage can, however, turn to the internet to find a ghostwriter. You may find ghostwriter candidates by scouring the internet for ghostwriters within your target genre or niche, and there are even a few dedicated ghostwriter marketplaces. You can also, however, simply search for professional writers, review their portfolios, and approach those you feel a connection to about your ideas. Many experienced and highly-skilled writers could potentially be willing to engage in ghostwriting, and this path has the added advantage that the ghost will also have writing published under their own names, which you can then review. 

Finding a ghostwriter isn’t easy, but it can be a highly rewarding way to share your voice with the world. Don’t compromise, and keep looking until you find a ghostwriter you are comfortable with.