Meaning of Ghostwriter: Is It Ethical to Hire Someone Else to Write?
- 22 hours ago
- 16 min read
“You’re kidding, you didn’t really write your own book, right?”
Many successful writers face that same question from people after they find out they worked with a ghostwriter. Usually, people ask that question in a tone that sounds like an accusation—like hiring someone else to help you write your book is somehow cheating or being dishonest. Yet, when the same person is asking this question, they are likely not batting an eye when:
A C.E.O. hires a speechwriter to prepare a high-profile speech
A business hires an ad agency to develop an ad campaign
An entrepreneur hires an architect to create an office building
A band works with producers and sound engineers to record new songs
So why the double standard with writing a book?
The reality is that there is an unfair stigma surrounding ghostwriting due to an overall lack of understanding of the process. Most people have little knowledge of what ghostwriting is, how it works, or that it is a perfectly acceptable (and very honorable) field of work. In this guide, we will help you get rid of the myths about ghostwriting. You will learn the true definition of ghostwriting, you will learn that utilizing a ghostwriter is not just morally correct, but many times it is the intelligent decision to make, and you will learn that many of the greatest books ever written (those written by well-known authors) were written using ghostwriters’ help .
Do you want to collaborate with a professional ghostwriter to create your book? Contact us now via WhatsApp for more information about Rolling Authors and how we can help you turn your expertise into a published book.
Table Of Content
What is Ghostwriting? A Real Definition
A ghostwriter is an author who is paid to put together written works (books, articles, speeches, etc.) that are subsequently published in someone else’s name.
The Ghostwriter:
Is compensated for their efforts
Transfers ownership of all content to the author/publisher
Usually does not receive public acknowledgment
Stays “invisible” (like a ghost)
However, it should be noted that current ghostwriting encompasses a significantly larger range of possibilities than this straightforward definition would suggest.
The Modern Ghostwriting Spectrum
Today, ghostwriting encompasses a continuum of collaboration:
Completely Ghostwritten: The ghostwriter completes the entire amount of writing required for the project based upon comprehensive interviews with the client. The client contributes ideas, experience, and anecdotes, while the ghostwriter supplies form, writing ability, and finishing.
Co-Writing: The credited author and ghostwriter both complete portions of the written content. In many cases, the book is annotated with the words “with [ghostwriter’s name],” or the ghostwriter is identified in the body of the book.
Developmental Editing: The ghostwriter takes a draft of the client’s written work and significantly revises and reconfigures the text.
Ghostwriting Does NOT
Constitute plagiarism. Plagiarism is taking credit for another person’s work without their permission. Ghostwriting is a legal, paid, and contracted agreement between the writer and client who has asked the writer to create original content for them.
Constitute fraud. The ghostwritten text will express the credited author’s ideas, knowledge, expertise, and experiences using the writer’s ability to express these thoughts in a well-written format.
Constitute an old practice. While the practice of ghostwriting has been utilized for centuries, it was established long before the invention of the internet.
Ghostwriting History Goes Back Further Than You Think
Ghostwriting is not a new service, nor did it originate through the internet. Ghostwriting is one of the oldest forms of collaboration between people.
Ancient Ghostwriting
The Bible (multiple centuries B.C.E. - C.E.)The Bible likely represents the most well-known example of ghostwriting in history. The books of both Testaments were written by numerous authors over an extended period, accumulating stories and teachings gathered from many different sources.
In Ancient Greece and Rome, when literacy was uncommon, it was common for wealthy individuals to pay people (scribes) to create documents such as letters and speeches on their behalf, since the concept of authorship as belonging to an individual person did not exist. All narratives belonged to the culture that created them rather than to the creators or authors themselves.
From the late eighteenth century through the nineteenth century is when the perception around ghostwriting began to change. During the Age of Enlightenment (1700s), the idea of the “auteur” emerged—the “auteur” being the individual creator—the “genius” who was solely responsible for the work. At this time, the term “hack writer” was used derogatorily to refer to ghostwriters, and Samuel Johnson (one of the most widely read English authors) started as a hack writer. While he was at the peak of his career, he also utilized ghostwriters to help him write.
In the 20th century, with the emergence of celebrities and memoirs, paired with their lack of time or capability to write themselves, ghostwriting became essential. Political speechwriters also came to be commonplace – most Americans do not expect the president to write all of the speeches delivered by the president himself or herself. CEOs, on the other hand, also began to write books in order to establish themselves as thought leaders, and most of those CEOs utilized ghostwriters.
The Transparency and Acceptance of the 21st Century
The Internet Made Ghostwriting Easily Observable
With the advent of the internet, ghostwriting became much easier to see than before, thereby making it harder to keep secrets.
Greater Transparency
A larger number of ghostwriters are now being published with acknowledgment, such as: “with Jane Smith” or “as told to John Doe.”
Industry Standard
Some estimates suggest that over 60 percent to 80 percent of all nonfiction bestsellers have involved one or more ghostwriters.
People are beginning to lose the stigma associated with ghostwriting because of the general acceptance that ghostwriting is simply a collaboration between two parties, rather than fraud or deception.
How Ghostwriting Works
Understanding how the ghostwriting process works can help to clarify why collaborating with ghostwriters is ethical and not deceptive or fraudulent.
Phase 1: Discovery and Planning (2 - 4 Weeks)
Initial Consultation
Meeting between client and ghostwriter to discuss project, vision, goals, audience, outcomes, timeline, and budget.Signing contracts and Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs).
Voice Capture Session
Many interviews (generally 10 - 20 hours total).Ghostwriter learns how the client speaks, including their language use, delivery style, sense of humour, and mental processes.Objective – to capture the client’s true voice.
Outline of Project
Developing detailed chapter breakdowns together to outline themes and messages through milestone timelines.
Phase 2: Research (2 - 6 Weeks)
Research on the industry and topic. Interviewing additional industry experts as needed.Collecting and interpreting data (statistics).
Phase 3: Writing (3 - 6 Months)
First draft. Ghostwriter writes in the client’s voice, utilizing the noted outline and abiding by the pre-established word limit or requirements.
Client reviews chapters of the draft (multiple/iterative feedback), provides feedback, corrections, and/or additions; the ghostwriter edits accordingly (2 - 4 iterations total).
Phase 4: Refinement, Editing, and Polishing of the Manuscript (1 - 2 Months)
Developmental editing of the manuscript (structure and flow), line editing of the manuscript (sentence-level improvement), copy editing (grammar and punctuation), including fact-checking and final polishing.
Phase 5: Delivery
Final manuscript, copyright transfer to client, and usage rights clarification. Optional: assistance in publishing.
Collaborative Reality - Notice the relationship between the client (who provides concept/conceptualization) and the ghostwriter (who provides structure/skill).
Ideas? Client’s Expertise? Client’s Experiences? Client’s Insight/Framework? Client’s Writing Craft? Ghostwriter’s Story Structure? Ghostwriter’s Polished Expression? Ghostwriter’s
This is collaboration, not forging documents.
Ethics Question: Is Hiring a Ghostwriter Dishonest?
Let’s face it head-on! The accusation is, “If you are having someone else write your book, isn’t that a misrepresentation of authorship? Are you being dishonest?”
Analogy Testing
Consider these scenarios:
Scenario 1: Home
An architect provides the structural plans/designs for the house you want to build. You provide the architect with the concept/dream.
The architect will then prepare the blueprints to build your dream house based on your concept. You then take those blueprints to a general contractor to build your new home.
Scenario 2: Your Home
When visitors come over, they are welcomed into your home. Because the owner of your house is not the same as the builder of your house, nobody argues that you are lying when you say, “Welcome to my house.” If you tell someone, “Welcome to my home,” no one says, “That’s misleading.” Why? Because everyone knows the homeowner’s vision, and the builder executed it properly!
Scenario 3: The Company
If you hire a marketing agency to develop marketing campaigns for your company, and the marketing agency does all of the strategy, the writing, the design, and the messaging for those campaigns, you, the company, get to run the campaigns under your own company name, and no one says it is misleading. Why? Because it is your vision for the company, products, and brand that the marketing agency developed strategy for, and you are paying the marketing agency to create communication of your company’s vision.
Scenario 4: The Speech
If a CEO presents a phenomenal keynote speech, the CEO most likely did not write it alone; a professional speechwriter prepped the speech for the CEO, so the audience does not feel misled; they feel inspired by the ideas and leadership of the CEO while being able to appreciate how efficiently and effectively the speechwriter was able to express the CEO’s vision through writing.
Now, the Book: If a ghostwriter works with you to write your book about your entrepreneurial journey, your expertise in your industry, or your unique method of doing business, and you, the author, give the ghostwriter:
Your experiences and stories
Your frameworks and insights
Your knowledge and expertise
Your overall vision for the message of the book
Your continuous feedback throughout the entire writing process
If the ghostwriter can provide:
Professional writing experience
A professional writing style and narrative structure
Research support
Editorial review
The question: is what the ghostwriter does for you as an author any different from what the architectural designer does for you as the owner of a building?
There will be no difference between your answers of “no” and “yes” in relation to the type of collaborative process used.
The Key Ethical Test for Ghostwriting
Ghostwriting is ethically justifiable because:
An authentic idea is evident from the credited author’s true knowledge, experience, and insight;
All authors are actively involved in creating an original piece of work;
An author’s creation is through assignment of their work, as opposed to simply purchasing a finished product;
The intention behind ghostwriting is to share one’s true expertise, and there will be no misrepresentation of credentials or expertise;
The process of collaborating, and how the parties are compensated, is fair and reasonable to both.
If these criteria are satisfied, ghostwriting will continue to be not only ethical, but also an example of the sound use of professionals’ services.
Time Realism
Principle: Time is limited, and there are trade-offs between the limited resources of time and money.
It will take an average of 200 to 500 hours to create a quality written piece in the form of a book. Here are the hours needed to create a well-written book:
Planning/Outlining: 20 - 40
hoursResearch: 40 - 80 hours
First Draft Writing: 100 - 200 hours
Editing & Revising: 40 - 100 hours
Editing: 20 - 40 hours
For busy professionals such as a CEO, doctor, or entrepreneur, those 400 hours may produce an income of between $200,000 and $2,000,000. If these professionals spend 400 hours producing a poorly written book, versus hiring a professional ghostwriter for $30,000, the professional can instead produce an estimated value of $500,000 through their primary occupation.
Provide Quality Service to the Reader
Principle: The reader receives a product that is properly written and completed.
Two different possibilities exist with regard to experts completing their books.
When compared to a book written by a ghostwriter, books written by a field expert who is learning how to write may take a much longer time to complete, have a much lower quality of writing, and may not be edited well, making it difficult for readers to get any value out of the book. As a result, the reader will likely get a lot of information from the book but will find it hard to follow because of the poor structure and quality of writing and editing.
When an expert uses a ghostwriter, the writer will write the book in a much shorter time frame, do a much better job of editing, write the book in a way that is easier for the reader to understand, and have a much higher quality of writing in general, making it easier for the reader to absorb.
Malcolm X wrote “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” (1965), which includes input from author Alex Haley. Their collaboration resulted in one of the most significant works published during the 20th century. While Malcolm X provided Haley with his own narrative, Haley was able to turn his life’s story into a compelling work of fiction. Nobody views this as an unethical act, but rather as an excellent partnership.
John F. Kennedy’s book “Profiles in Courage” (1956) received a Pulitzer Prize, and there was a considerable amount of input from ghostwriter Ted Sorenson. Both JFK and Sorenson contributed to the book, with JFK being responsible for providing the vision and political insight for each section, and Sorenson writing out each of those ideas in a first draft for the majority of the sections.
In “Trump: The Art of the Deal,” Donald Trump used ghostwriter Tony Schwartz to assist him in creating a bestseller. Schwartz followed Trump around for approximately 18 months, interviewing him to gather all the information needed to create a book that represented who Trump is as a successful businessman. Schwartz then published the book without mentioning his ghostwriting assistance.
Presidential memoirs by some of America’s most well-known and successful political figures were produced through the ghostwriting process:
Bill Clinton’s “My Life” was ghostwritten.Barack Obama’s “Dreams From My Father” has considerable editorial assistance throughout the book; however, the majority of the content was written by Obama himself.Ronald Reagan’s “An American Life” was ghostwritten by Robert Lindsey.
Nearly all presidential memoirs are written in collaboration with professional sages, and numerous examples of business bestsellers illustrate this model: “Winning” by Jack Welch (with Suzy Welch), “Good to Great” by Jim Collins (a team of researchers/writers), and “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg (with Nell Scovell). The formula, in each instance, is the same. The recognized author provides the know-how and perspective for the content while professional writers structure the story.
Reasons Why People Use Ghostwriters (this is not what you might think)
Reason #1 Time Constraints (Most Common.)
What is really the case?The average CEO of a $50M company creates $500–1,000+/hr. of value.An average book takes 400+ hours to write. Opportunity cost = $200,000–400,000.
The Numbers:
Hire a ghostwriter $20,000–50,000
Hours saved 400 hours
Value generated $200,000–400,000
Net value +$150,000–350,000
This is not due to laziness; it is about using available resources more effectively.
Reason #2 Lack of Ability to Write Well
The reality is that a skilled profession does not train one to be an author. A gifted surgeon may have considerable difficulty creating narratives. A prosperous entrepreneur could write using terms that only select individuals would know. A visionary leader may not be aware of how to construct an appropriate pace for a book that consists of three hundred pages. Ghostwriters help convert your intellectual proficiency into easily readable, enjoyable narrative formats.
Language Barriers: The reality is that many accomplished experts speak English as a second language. Even though they may be able to speak fluently, creating high-quality written materials is generally predicated upon having attained a native level of language fluency. Ghostwriters assist you in sharing your knowledge without language being an impediment.
Focus on your Strengths: The philosophy behind this principle is simple: “do only what you can do.” You have the ability to provide intellectual expertise/insights, etc. (and no other people can do this). Other persons have the ability to record these ideas into high-quality written formats (and these persons can do this better than you). In essence, you should play to your strengths and allow other persons to play to their individual strengths.
Professional Assurances: The reality is that publishing is a highly competitive activity; therefore, poorly written books will not be considered. Even if you have the ability to write, can you write at a level that is considered to be of professional publishing quality? Ghostwriting will support you in proving the professional quality of your writing and provide you with an appropriate structural framework within which to publish your book (i.e., pacing, editing, and polishing of your manuscript).
Common Ghostwriting Myths – Debunked
Myth 1: “Ghostwriters write whatever they want.”
Reality: Ghostwriters produce their work using client interview data.
Myth 2: “If you employ a ghostwriter, you aren’t really an author.”
Reality: You’re very much the author. Your ideas and expertise are your own. The ghostwriter is the tool to help you create your book, much the way that a composer uses a piano to compose music.
Myth 3: “Using a ghostwriter is a secret shame.”
Reality: Ghostwriting is very much accepted throughout many industries, including politics, business, and even the film industry. The majority of people know that most politicians, CEOs, and celebrities work with ghostwriters.
Myth 4: “Books by ghostwriters are not high-quality.”
Reality: Most of the best-selling and award-winning books have been ghostwritten. Regardless of credit structure, quality is determined by the individual writer.
Myth 5: “You need to conceal that you have been using a ghostwriter.”
Reality: You can choose to acknowledge a ghostwriter if you would like (“with Jane Smith”). Many authors choose not to make such an acknowledgment because it does not need to be done rather than because they are ashamed of using a ghostwriter.
Myth 6: “Ghostwriters take your ideas.”
Reality: Every ghostwriter enters into a contract with their client that includes confidentiality and work-for-hire clauses stating that the ghostwriter cannot use any part of the client-provided content in another way.
Myth 7: “Ghostwriting is only for those who have an unlimited amount of money.”
Reality: Ghostwriting exists at all price points. Depending upon the scope of the project and the experience of the ghostwriter, costs can vary.
Is Ghostwriting Legal?
Yes, the practice of ghostwriting is completely legal.
The Legal Framework:
Work-for-Hire Agreement
An agreement that states the writer will create a writing as an independent contractor and that all rights to the writing will pass to the client upon receipt of payment.
Copyright Ownership
The client owns 100% of the copyright to the work that is created by the ghostwriter. This means that they can publish, sell, distribute, and/or modify it at their discretion.
Non-Disclosure Agreement
The NDA is meant to protect both the author and the client:
A ghostwriter who has signed a non-disclosure agreement cannot disclose that they wrote the book. A client who has signed a non-disclosure agreement cannot claim that the ghostwriter has stolen their ideas.
Intellectual Property Rights
Original Work Requirement
The ghostwriter is required to create an original piece of work. Plagiarism is illegal regardless of whether the writing is done through ghostwriting or any other means.
No Misrepresentation
The ghostwriter cannot misrepresent themselves.
Clear Contractual Agreements
The legal contract should state:
The scope of work to be completed
The payment structure
Who owns the copyright
Confidentiality
How revisions will be handled
When the work will be delivered to the client
If you properly contract the ghostwriter, the arrangement is legal.
How to Work with a Ghostwriter
If you decide to hire a ghostwriter, consider these guidelines.
1. Be Actively Involved.
Don’t: Tell the ghostwriter, “Do your thing. I’ll be back in 6 months.”
Do: Have multiple conversations with the ghostwriter, review each chapter as it’s written, provide thorough constructive feedback to the ghostwriter, and ensure that the finished product accurately reflects your thoughts and ideas.
2. Share Your True Ideas.
Don’t: Tell the ghostwriter to create a business advice book not based on your experiences.
Do: Provide your actual knowledge, experience, frameworks, and perspective to the ghostwriter so that they can use this information to write the content of the book for you.
3. Ensure all facts are verified regardless of how good a piece sounds on the surface.
Don’t: Allow inaccuracies to go unchecked because it sounds good.
Do: Double-check facts; alternate wording may be necessary to correct the misstatement and support the fact based on actual truth.
4. Be fair in payment
Don’t: Pay a wage lower than the minimum wage to a ghostwriter for your project.
Do: Ghostwriters should receive at least a professional rate for their work. Respect the expertise that has created the product.
5. Be respectful of this business relationship.
Don’t: Treat ghostwriters as people who will complete all revisions at no charge and be grateful for any future work received from you.
Do: Ghostwriters are professionals who have formed a business partnership with you. The essence of being a good partner is communication, mutual respect, and agreement to all terms of service.
Next Step: Write Your Book Following Guidelines
At this point, you should have:
An understanding of what ghostwriting actually is
An appreciation of the ethical nature of the relationship
Knowledge of how ghostwriting functions
An understanding of when to hire a ghostwriter
Knowledge of how to get the ghostwriter to perform correctly
The question remains: will you create your book? You have value to share. Your knowledge has value to others. Your life has value and deserves to be documented.
You just happen to be a busy individual. You have to work in your business, lead your team, and create something great.
You can make two choices:
First Option: Write It Yourself
A minimum of 400 hours that you probably don’t have.
You’ll struggle with figuring out the structure, pacing, and writing style of your book.
You will likely take 2–3 years (if you finish at all).
You risk writing something that is mediocre and not representative of your thoughts.
Second Option: Work with a Professional Ghostwriter
You will spend 10-20 hours being interviewed and providing feedback during the writing process.
You work with an experienced writer to develop your ideas into a completed book.
You will have a manuscript that is ready for publication within 4-6 months.
You will ensure your experience is published and reaches as many readers as possible in a professional manner.
Both of these options will result in the same outcome—YOUR name, YOUR ideas, YOUR expertise, etc. However, with one option, it will actually happen!
Why Consider Rolling Authors?
At Rolling Authors, we focus on ethical, collaborative ghostwriting of books.
Our process includes:
Deep Discovery →Several hours of in-depth interviews with you to clarify your expertise and vision for the book.
Voice Capture → Analyzing how you think and speak in order to write in your own unique style.
Collaborative Writing → You will always be involved through the writing process, as this is your book.
Professional Quality → A final manuscript that is ready for publication.
Complete Ownership → You own 100% of the copyright for your finished product.
Confidentiality → Full NDAs will protect our working relationship.
Our Commitment Is:
Professional Standards: Only those who possess real skills and knowledge work for us.
Your Voice: The book will have the same voice you use every day because it will be written in your style.
Your Ideas: We will never fabricate ideas. We will take what you have already done and put it into a manageable format.
Professional Results: Hundreds of experts have achieved success as published writers due to our services.
Is it wrong to seek out a company that specializes in the process to help you share what you know?
No.
We invite you to go to our web page and set up a complimentary appointment with us to discuss how we can assist you in publishing your book ethically and professionally.
The world can benefit from your expertise. Don’t allow your inability to write to stand between you and your destiny.
Hire a ghostwriter. Share your expertise. Change the world.
Rolling Authors specializes in assisting entrepreneurs, experts, and other industry leaders to become published authors of books that establish them as trusted authorities and positively impact the lives of others. We believe that ethical ghostwriting is a significant way to share knowledge, and we want to assist you in utilizing this process.
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