What Does a Ghostwriter Do? Roles, Process, and What Authors Should Expect
Who is a Ghostwriter?
A ghostwriter writes content under the name of another person. Ghostwriters can create books, memoirs, biographies, business think-leadership content, speeches, articles, screenplays, and more.
The person who hires the ghostwriter is the one who is credited for the work. The author and the writer establish a professional relationship based on the author’s expertise, ideas, experience, memories, and thoughts, as well as the ghostwriter’s listening skills, asking questions, research, organization, and expression.
Reedsy notes that while the author brings “ideas, vision, and voice,” the ghostwriter brings their “craft” to make the ideas sing or “turn thoughts, opinions, and memories into fully realized books.”
In short, a ghostwriter is not a typist for his employer. A competent ghostwriter helps his employer develop an idea, knowledge, or experience into a format that the reader can follow from beginning to end.
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Table of Contents
What Does a Ghostwriter Do?
A ghostwriter’s work goes beyond what meets the eye at first glance.
The word “ghostwriting” can be both a noun and a verb: “She is availing ghostwriting service,” or “she ghostwrote a book for her agent.”
However, there are certain skills that a ghostwriter typically employs when writing a book-length manuscript. First of all, a ghostwriter does not simply put words on a page; they do most of the writing before the writing begins.
This entails the following:
1. Understanding the author’s idea and objective
The ghostwriter learns what the author wants to achieve with the book. The author might want to record a family history, describe his methodology, establish authority in a field, describe a personal experience, or reach a particular audience. Based on the author’s objective, the requirements for the book, such as tone, research, and other details will vary. The ghostwriter may help the author form his idea if it is too vague. “I want to write about leadership” is a good beginning for a book, but it needs much more explanation. What precisely do you want to say? Who are you saying it to? What promises do you want to keep? What anecdotes will you use to illustrate your points?
2. Interviewing the author
Interviewing is one of the most critical skills for a book ghostwriter. They ask the author clarifying questions and listen to the answers. The writer may record the conversation with the author’s permission and ask even more questions until they have obtained all the information they need for the book. The ghostwriter looks for stories, examples, insights, or life experiences the author will share in the book to make it more interesting and engaging.
This is particularly essential when the author has a wealth of knowledge or expertise that has not been documented. A competent interviewer can take the necessary information from the author so that the book reflects their voice and contains all of the practical experience, anecdotes, and lessons related to the subject. Good interviewing builds on conversation rather than just a set of predetermined questions. Interviewing can also help the author remember or share their knowledge in formats suitable for a book.
3. Capturing the author’s voice
Voice is the quality that makes writing appealing and engaging. It usually involves the rhythm of sentences, choice of words, use of white space, humor, tone, range of emotion, clichés, unique phrases, and author’s communication style. A ghostwriter captures the author’s voice by researching, listening to the author, reading samples of the author’s previous works, speeches, emails, presentations, and other materials. The objective is to make the writing read natural to the reader rather than make it sound like the author. The writer strives to make the text appealing and readable, as if it were written by the credited author, while also meeting the conventions of the publishing industry.
4. Researching and fact-checking
A ghostwriter conducts research to help the author develop ideas, document key points, provide clarification on specific issues, organize the material, offer guidance, or add additional information initially not considered by the author. Depending on the needs of the project, the research can be extensive or minimal. A memoir, for instance, may require chronological research to ensure having the correct order of events. However, a business book may require studies, reviews, or other resources. Research for practical guides can be particularly time-consuming and involved.
When the manuscript requires scientific accuracy or regulatory expertise, the author must seek additional professional development beyond their current skillset. The manuscript’s research component rarely replaces the author’s expertise; instead, it highlights it, making their credentials more accessible, understandable, and captivating to the reader.
5. Outlining the book or manuscript
A ghostwriter takes all of the information and turns it into coherent writing that flows logically from one point to the next or as the book demands. They may need to group ideas, identify the most intriguing aspects, develop a narrative structure, determine what to delete or add, and establish an outline with chapter objectives. The outline serves as the author’s guide throughout the writing process; thus, it is essential to invest time in its creation. The outline gives the author a bird’s-eye view of the book’s structure. It may also contain chapter-level instructions, such as the chapter’s objective, supporting arguments, stories, research, and transitions to the following chapter. The author reviews and approves the outline before the writer proceeds to the next stage. It is during this process that vague ideas about a book begin to take shape and transform into something concrete.
6. Writing, revising, and editing the manuscript
The ghostwriter uses the outline and the author’s input to create the manuscript. They prepare the first draft of the chapter, scene, or section, incorporating all of the information the author provided. The writer ensures that the material flows logically from one section to the next, including all of the required details, descriptions, transitions, dialogue, and other elements based on the project’s requirements. The first draft is revised and edited based on the author’s suggestions. The writer considers the author’s feedback regarding accuracy, tone, emphasis, structure, stories, and conclusions when revising the draft. At any point during the project, the ghostwriter can offer add-on services like developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, or publication formatting services based on the specific needs. However, the author should request them separately.
What a Ghostwriter Does Not Do
A ghostwriter cannot replace the author’s expertise, lived experience, and opinions. While the ghostwriter can organize and present the material, it is the author’s responsibility to provide the content, make decisions about the manuscript, answer questions honestly, and approve the final version.
A ghostwriter cannot promise that the book will become a bestseller, get picked up by traditional publishers, or help them achieve particular business objectives. A competent ghostwriter knows that writing is only one aspect of the process; the author’s input takes precedence. In addition, a ghostwriter has no hand in the marketing and distribution of the book, so it is best to keep expectations limited to writing.
Furthermore, a ghostwriter should not take a prompt from the author and make AI write the book. It is helpful to remember that ghostwriting as a service is a thoughtful, collaborative process rather than an oversimplified task.
Ghostwriting Process
Many ghostwriters follow a similar process when writing a book-length manuscript. While the details can vary depending on the project, the following book-writing process is suggested by Jane Friedman:
• The initial meeting and proposal
• Outline
• Interviews
• Expanded outline
• First draft of the manuscript
• Revisions
• Editing or publishing
A competent ghostwriter adapts the outlined steps to the specific project and sets realistic expectations while considering the author’s requirements and scope of the project.
Stage 1: Discovery and fit
The author and ghostwriter discuss the idea, audience, goal, genre, length, timeline, source material, and working preferences. The conversation is also about establishing their collaboration. Ghostwriting is a collaborative service that requires open communication for the writer to fully understand the expectations.
Stage 2: Scope, proposal, and agreement
The ghostwriter creates a scope of work that will define the deliverables within an agreed-upon timeline. The document will state what is excluded, how the author and writer will communicate, how many rounds of revisions are allowed, payment structure, confidentiality, credits for the ghostwritten content, and other details. At this point, the author should ask clarifying questions before signing the agreement.
Stage 3: Interviews, source material collection
The author can provide recordings, notes, presentations, previous writings, research, documents, photos, timelines, or other relevant materials. The ghostwriter conducts interviews and collects the necessary source material for the book. It is the author’s responsibility to respond to any follow-up requests from the ghostwriter, which is critical to the project’s success. The ghostwriter will work directly with the information provided, so the accuracy and completeness of the details will affect the manuscript’s quality.
Stage 4: Outline approval
The ghostwriter submits an outline based on the scope of work, and the author reviews it to ensure that it reflects the content, emphasis, and overall direction of the book. After that, both of them should have reached a general agreement on the manuscript’s content and the ability to guide the reader from the first page to the last.
Stage 5: Drafting and feedback
Once the draft is ready, the author can provide feedback. It is essential to give feedback so the ghostwriter will make the necessary edits. If a specific section or chapter needs improvement, the feedback should be specific. It is always better to provide direct input in the current section than to wait until the end to change some parts of the manuscript.
Stage 6: Revision and handover
Depending on the terms of the contract, this phase may involve substantive revisions, line edits, proofreading, fact-checking, copyediting, and other services to prepare and polish the manuscript for publication. Handover involves delivering the manuscript and other relevant documents and, if necessary, securing a publishing deal. It is also when the author decides what to do next with the work—either go for self-publishing, hybrid publishing, or traditional publishing (agented).
What The Author Brings To The Table
The author’s hiring of a ghostwriter does not relieve them from being a contributor to the manuscript. An author should bring at least five things to the table: subject matter or experience, judgment, availability for interviews, feedback, and manuscript approvals. According to Reedsy’s data, authors who give feedback or have interview availability enable the writing process. Authors should also schedule the hours of interviews, follow-ups, and manuscript reviews in addition to the ghostwriter’s working hours.
The author should also bring transparency to the collaboration. The ghostwriter cannot deliver the author’s voice if the latter holds themselves back. They should give the writer enough information to make educated choices about what makes it into the book.
Ghostwriter vs. co-author, editor, and AI writing tool
The terms ghostwriting, co-authoring, editing, and using an AI writing tool shouldn’t be confused with each other. The simplest way to distinguish amongst these services is to understand what each brings to the table and whether the writer should receive public credit.
The table below summarizes the differences between a ghostwriter, co-author, editor, book coach, and AI writing tool and highlights the best use cases for each option.
Ghostwriter
What they contribute: Writes it for the credited author, helping them realize their vision through the medium of writing.
Credit/visibility: Doesn’t appear on the cover if their contract doesn’t include that they have “with” or “as told to” listed alongside the name of the credited author.
Best for: An author who has a message they wish to share as a book, but needs someone skilled in writing to execute it.
Co-Author
What they contribute: Helps write the work and shares credit for the work as an author.
Credit/visibility: Gets credit for writing the book on the cover of the book.
Best for: An author who wishes to share the responsibility or credit for the work.
Editor
What they contribute: Helps the writing process by editing and improving the text for style, structure, clarity, and grammar.
Credit/visibility: Doesn’t get public credit for the work unless included in the contract.
Best for: An author with a nearly complete manuscript that they wish to improve upon for the final version of the book.
Book Coach
What they contribute: Helps and guides the author in getting their book written and published; serves as an accountability partner to get the writing done.
Credit/visibility: Doesn’t typically get public credit for the work unless stated otherwise in the contract.
Best for: An author who wishes to write their book themselves but needs professional advice or guidance in doing so.
AI Writing Tool
What it contributes: Assists in writing the text based on prompts and cues from the human.
Credit/visibility: Varies from one AI tool to another. Likely to differ from publisher to publisher.
Best for: A first draft of the manuscript or assistance with specific parts of the writing.
Most ghostwriters will finalize publication or editing arrangements in the contract with the author, but it is crucial to recognize that a ghostwriting contract does not always include editing, publishing, copyright advice, unlimited revisions, or other services. It is always a good idea to speak with a publishing attorney or someone knowledgeable about the industry to understand the ghostwriting contract and publishing details.
Who Should Hire a Ghostwriter?
A ghostwriter is ideal for a founder, executive, professional, or parent with a story to tell but little time or desire to write the book themselves. Ghostwriters also benefit individuals with existing notes or a manuscript that needs rewriting, restructuring, and expansion.
The credited author recognizes that their time and resources are better invested elsewhere, and that they’re serious about bringing the story or message to the public. It is also entirely reasonable for an author to choose to hire a ghostwriter if they intend to complete the project within a shorter span.
While it is true that some authors do not have the luxury of spending months or years perfecting their book, a book coach or an experienced editor could be their guide. However, a ghostwriter would be a better option for an author who has spent much time contemplating their thoughts, defining the value of the book and the target audience, and is only looking for writing expertise to actualize their vision within a short period.
Rolling Authors offers a collaborative book development service where ghostwriting experts will help transform a prospect’s ideas into a book keeping the voice intact. As such, the company knows the importance of collaboration, expertise, listening, scope of work, and transparency, as outlined by the prospects.
Things to Ask Before Hiring a Ghostwriter
Before hiring a ghostwriter, authors must ask how the professional conducts interviews, develops outlines, does research, shapes the narrative and voice, revises the manuscript, maintains confidentiality, allocates credits, sets timelines, and manages other aspects of the written project. Asking for samples is a good idea, but it is essential to keep in mind that a ghostwriter’s flexibility is a better indicator of their suitability for a project than the samples.
Other questions to ask include who will work on the manuscript, how the feedback will be integrated, what will happen if the scope changes, what services are excluded, and when the payments are due.
A competent ghostwriter should answer these questions with a written response. As such, it is always better to enter the professional relationship with clear expectations for both parties, especially when working with independent contractors. For instance, the contract should mention word count, deliverables, review stages, and approval levels to ensure that there are no misunderstandings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do ghostwriters write the whole manuscript?
Depending on the contract terms, ghostwriters write the entire manuscript or select parts of the book. However, it is essential to keep in mind that their work is not independent of the credited author. They will write the book based on the author’s ideas, expertise, and input, conduct research, and edit the content.
Do ghostwriters get credit for the book?
In some cases, a ghostwriter’s contribution can receive public recognition as per contract; it is up to the author who hired them. The credit for a ghostwritten book typically goes to the person who paid for the service and whose ideas form the basis of the written work. According to Reedsy, public credit to ghostwriters has become increasingly common over the years. However, there are no strict rules about such credit; it depends on the author.
Does the author have the final say regarding the manuscript?
Yes, the author should always give the final approval for the manuscript since it is their work. They should review the manuscript before its publication to add or remove any parts if needed. As such, the author can ask the ghostwriter for revisions or rewrites at any time during the project.
The contract should state how the author and ghostwriter should proceed in such situations. For instance, the author should have the final say in the manuscript’s claims, narratives, stories, names, and disclosures before publication.
How long does a ghostwriter take to finish a manuscript?
The answer depends on the complexity of the manuscript, depth of the research, availability of the interviewee, speed of feedback, and writer’s productivity. According to Jane Friedman’s article, most book-length ghostwriting projects take about ten to twelve months from the initial idea to final proofreading, although many individual cases can take significantly less time. In any case, a responsible ghostwriter will provide you with a personalized offer that will indicate the exact timing for your future project.
Is ghostwriting only about books?
No, ghostwriting services cover various assignments, such as speeches, articles, social media posts, screenplays, thought-leadership content, memoirs, biographies, business books, and others. Most of these require extensive research, interviewing, and editing, which may vary depending on the chosen length and complexity.
My draft is already written, so what can a ghostwriter do?
In principle, a person who wants to work with a ghostwriter can bring the project to any stage, from rough outlines to already written chapters. However, rewriting and optimizing the manuscript can be as complex and time-consuming as writing it from scratch. Such conditions should be discussed at the initial stage, looking at the already available draft.
Final thoughts
Based on the discussion, what does a ghostwriter do? First, a professional ghostwriter listens to the client, asks the right questions, finds the key theme, and organizes the manuscript structure. Then the ghostwriter proceeds to research and write the paper in the author’s voice. A competent ghostwriter knows that their job is not done until the manuscript is fully refined and optimized for the target audience. In other words, the ghostwriter provides the client with a manuscript that reflects the individual style and contains all the necessary changes and edits.
Have an idea, a rough draft, or a life story you want to turn into a book? WhatsApp Rolling Authors to discuss your project and explore the right next step.
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