By Harriet Porter
Ghostwriting is the act of writing for someone else. A ghost writer for hire is most commonly associated with writing books but there are many other areas where the skills of such a person may be used today. Great amounts of content writing are being produced in fields like social media and public relations. These writers can be used for many situations from writing speeches to keeping blogs up to date, helping to make the process of writing less intimidating or simply stepping in for those too busy to produce content themselves.
Celebrities and other public figures like politicians are often too busy to write their own books and this is where these writers come in. They can help them turn their stories and ideas into the written word. Cookbooks, memoirs and self-help books are just some of the types of books that are written in this way.
There are ghostwriting firms that can be approached or you can search for freelancers who advertise their services on various freelance websites. These freelancers will bid on your project and you then make your choice. As competition is fierce, this may provide a way of hiring an experienced person at a reasonable cost. On the other hand, there is little guarantee of reliability or competence.
Budget plays a part in the hiring process but just selecting the individual who charges the least amount can be a dangerous mistake. Well established writers obviously charge more but the extra cost ensures a quality end product. Another factor that affects costs is the complexity of a particular project. Ghostwriting a whole book may take months whereas writing a speech may have to be done in a few days.
When hiring a person, it is very important to examine samples of previous work product. This will often give a good indication of capability, particularly if the work is of a similar nature to what is required. However, sometimes ghostwriters are contractually obliged not to reveal what they have written. In this case, they can be given a chance to produce a custom sample by writing about a small memory or idea.
The process of ghostwriting is highly collaborative. This is why a personal interview with the person is necessary. A good rapport is essential so that communication is open, expectations are manageable and boundaries are clear. The person has to understand exactly what has to be conveyed and translate this into words.
A contract should be drawn up addressing all the issues involved such as time frames, fees and when and how payment has to be made. Every project is different and some are driven by strict deadlines. The clearer the contract, the less chance there is for problems to occur. Once both parties have signed, work can begin.
Some ghostwriters are credited on the cover of a book. Others are acknowledged inside. However, the majority receive no acknowledgement and no-one is aware of how much they have done. However, despite the fact that they remain in the background, experienced professional ghostwriters have chosen a career where they help others to bring their stories and ideas to life, often fulfilling a lifelong dream to do so.
Celebrities and other public figures like politicians are often too busy to write their own books and this is where these writers come in. They can help them turn their stories and ideas into the written word. Cookbooks, memoirs and self-help books are just some of the types of books that are written in this way.
There are ghostwriting firms that can be approached or you can search for freelancers who advertise their services on various freelance websites. These freelancers will bid on your project and you then make your choice. As competition is fierce, this may provide a way of hiring an experienced person at a reasonable cost. On the other hand, there is little guarantee of reliability or competence.
Budget plays a part in the hiring process but just selecting the individual who charges the least amount can be a dangerous mistake. Well established writers obviously charge more but the extra cost ensures a quality end product. Another factor that affects costs is the complexity of a particular project. Ghostwriting a whole book may take months whereas writing a speech may have to be done in a few days.
When hiring a person, it is very important to examine samples of previous work product. This will often give a good indication of capability, particularly if the work is of a similar nature to what is required. However, sometimes ghostwriters are contractually obliged not to reveal what they have written. In this case, they can be given a chance to produce a custom sample by writing about a small memory or idea.
The process of ghostwriting is highly collaborative. This is why a personal interview with the person is necessary. A good rapport is essential so that communication is open, expectations are manageable and boundaries are clear. The person has to understand exactly what has to be conveyed and translate this into words.
A contract should be drawn up addressing all the issues involved such as time frames, fees and when and how payment has to be made. Every project is different and some are driven by strict deadlines. The clearer the contract, the less chance there is for problems to occur. Once both parties have signed, work can begin.
Some ghostwriters are credited on the cover of a book. Others are acknowledged inside. However, the majority receive no acknowledgement and no-one is aware of how much they have done. However, despite the fact that they remain in the background, experienced professional ghostwriters have chosen a career where they help others to bring their stories and ideas to life, often fulfilling a lifelong dream to do so.