How to Find a Ghostwriter Who Matches Your Voice Perfectly
- Jul 2
- 7 min read
There is a narrative within you, waiting to be revealed to the world: an account that can only be related by you, or expertise acquired only by you. The search for a ghostwriter is usually obstructive, given the first-time author's dilemma of finding someone who writes not just proficiently, but in a manner that captures their unique writing style - their voice. This is what this guide is designed for.
šĀ Contact Rolling Authors over WhatsAppĀ - Let's Discuss Your Book! š
Table of Contents
Voice Matching is the Most Important Element
When authors search for ghostwriters, they typically look at credentials, pricing, and reviews. These can all play an important role in the decision; however, they do not define whether a project succeeds or fails. It is the voice of the author that defines the success or failure of a project.
Your voice is defined by how you think, how you convey stories, the metaphors that you use, what is appropriate in terms of your communication style, and your personal sense of humour. Ghostwriters have to start from scratch learning about your voice and usually will do that in a short amount of time. When a ghostwriter successfully matches the voice of the author, then the reader experiences what feels like a direct and personal conversation with the author; whereas, if the voice matching is unsuccessful, the reader instantly identifies a lack of connection with the voice and writing of the author. Even if the composition of the writing is perfect (i.e. grammatically correct and contains beautiful language), the reader will instantly be aware of the absence of the author's voice from the writing.
Here's the cold, hard truth about ghostwriting: most professional ghostwriters can write well ā but few have the rare gift of being able to mimic your unique voice. Thatās the real talent you need to identify.
Determine Your Voice First, Then Search
To locate someone who is able to emulate your voice, the first thing to do is identify your own voice. Before even interviewing potential ghostwriters, do these things:
ā¢ Write three unedited paragraphs about yourself, as if you were just writing freely and having fun. This will help you establish what your true voice is like in its rawest form.
ā¢ Evaluate your tone: would you describe it as direct or discursive? Warm or authoritative? Storytelling or straightforward? Do you use a lot of industry-specific jargon or none?
ā¢ Create a collection of roughly 5-10 pieces of writing that you feel represent your voice from other forms of literature or media; also, select approximately 3-5 examples of things that are the opposite of your voice. The contrast between these two groups of writing will provide more information to a ghostwriter than reading anything that you may write in a descriptive format.
ā¢ Consider the type of relationship you would like to have with your readers. Would this be one where you would serve as a mentor to your reader(s)? Peer-to-peer? Friend-to-friend, sharing experiences? Setting the tone of this relationship will help to shape the rest of your project.
Potential Sources for Hiring a Ghostwriter
ā¢ Ghostwriting agencies or premium book development studios that focus mostly on book writing, like Rolling Authors, offer a specialized product, which includes a writer with an understanding of structure, pacing, and narrative arc. An additional benefit of using a reputable agency is that they provide quality control and editorial oversight.
ā¢ Freelance marketplaces like Reedsy are curated exclusively for publishing professionals. As a result, the ghostwriters are all vetted for both the ability to write and a track record in the publishing industry.
ā¢ General freelance marketplaces (like Upwork and Fiverr) can provide a large variety of options, but all vetting of writers is on you. They are best for shorter projects or discovering a test writer when you are on a smaller budget.
ā¢ A personal referral is the best way to find a good ghostwriterāthis gives you a finished book as an example of the writer's work, as well as some level of trust established.
Evaluating the Writer's Portfolio for Voice Compatibility
Many authors tend to skim over portfolios too quickly, and this is a big mistake; read the portfolio thoroughly:
ā¢ Search for diversity in the writer's portfolio, not just quality of writing. If a writer's samples all feel very different from one another, the writer can show how adaptable they areāthe writer can embody someone else's voice.
ā¢ When reading samples in a portfolio, you want to look for the writer's authenticity. Producing technically sound writing is very easy to do, but you need to pay attention to whether the sample feels like it was written by an authentic person (with their own personality and perspective).
Donāt penalize NDAs. A lot of professional ghostwriters cannot disclose the names of their clients. This indicates that they are going to be discreet. Instead, we recommend you ask to see examples without names on them.
While genre alignment is helpful, it is not everything. The voice is often more difficult to learn than the genre. A talented voice-matching ghostwriter will be able to make the switch.
The Discovery Sample: Your Most Important Test
Before you fully commit to any project, you will want to have a trial chapter done. When you read your chapter, you will want to ask yourself not, āIs this a well-written piece?ā but rather, āDoes this sound like me?ā These two questions are evaluating completely different things.
Prepare to fully brief your ghostwriter, and know that you will get an imperfect first draft ā developing your voice will come from the feedback cycle ā and pay for the discovery sample. That is a good and useful filter.
Questions to Ask Prior to Committing
ā¢ āHow do you learn a personās voice?ā Good ghostwriters will have a process (lengthy interviews, reviewing your content, asking you to speak vs. write). If they are not clear in their response, this is a sign they are not experienced.
ā¢ āWhat will happen if the draft does not sound like me?ā This tests accountability. Their response should detail a clear revision process and a commitment on the ghostwriter's part to delivering an accurate piece. If they become defensive, this is a red flag.
If a ghostwriter is unable to provide references, then use caution in moving forward.
"A great ghostwriter will be open about what you need to provide them in order to aid you in succeedingā for instance, asking you for background information, existing documents, and asking you to work with them while they write." An individual who simply wants "a brief and a place to write" is not an appropriate ''voice'' match for you.
Signs that a ghostwriter may not be suitable for you:
They are guaranteeing that their work will be a bestseller. (No ghostwriter can assure you that it will become successful.)
They have not discussed with you your style of writing, audience, and current body of writing.
They do not walk through their process step by step with you.
They demonstrate an unwillingness to be open to critiques or respond defensively to your request for revisions.
They offer you unrealistically low quotes or quick results. A well-written book takes months.
They do not provide you with a clear document outlining what you would own if it became the final version of your book.
If you want a single point of contact, can monitor quality control independently, or your project is clearly defined and you are primarily concerned with cost, a freelancer will most likely be a better fit for your needs than an agency.
If you want accountability, editorial oversight, and revisions (guaranteed revisions, replacement options) when it is your first time writing, or you want guided support, use an agency. Either way, you must meet the writer before making a commitment.
The Experience of Working with a Great Ghostwriter
When the experience is correct, it will be different from what most first-time authors would expect; it wonāt feel like delegating, but like collaborating with your ghostwriter, who becomes a kind of mirror, listening carefully to you, asking good questions, and preparing thoroughly for the words they produce.
When you read the first draft of the chapter, you will not say that it is well written, but rather, that it is you. Your ghostwriter is not writing your book; they are assisting you in finally completing your book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it ethical to hire a ghostwriter?
Yes, ghostwriting has been an accepted method of publishing throughout history. You are responsible for the ideas, experiences, and perspectives contained in the work; a ghostwriter provides the skill to translate them into print.
How long will it take me?
A complete non-fiction book usually takes around 3-9 months from start to finish, without an author wasting time rushing through the writing process.
How Much Will It Cost?Ā
Fees vary a lot because of the many different experience levels of the author. Newer ghostwriters can charge less to write a book, while seasoned authors who have had prior success can charge more.
Is The Ghostwriter Going To Get Credit For My Book?Ā
In a normal situation, they do not receive credit. The IP will be transferred entirely to the author.All ghostwriters have signed contracts that prohibit them from using your name on anything unless you give permission first.
What If I Don't Sound Like Me In Draft 1?Ā
Typically, this will happen and is anticipated. The project starts sounding like the client after several drafts and rounds of feedback. What is most important is that the ghostwriter takes the feedback the author provides and makes all of the revisions needed to move the manuscript closer to being authentic to the voice of the author.
Ready To Find Your Ghostwriter?
We work exclusively with authors to create a match with their voice, and their project will always start with a conversation.
š Rolling AuthorsĀ ā Get Started with Writing Your Book Today š
You can also visit us at: www.rollingauthors.com
Comments