Hope Writes

How To Effectively Work With A Ghostwriter

Posted by Hope

Some new clients approach me tentatively, having never worked with a ghostwriter before. I’ve even had a few tell me that they almost didn’t contact me to hire me because they were too unsure about the whole process of working with a ghostwriter.

If you’re here looking for a skilled ghostwriter, but are so unsure that you’re thinking of clicking away, STOP! Today’s post is just for you. :)Here is a list of the things that every client needs to know when ready to hire me to write for them.

1. Provide a clear, concise idea of what you want the finished product to be. If you need to hire me to write a non-fiction book for you, you should be able to give me the overall theme and summary in a few short paragraphs (preferrably in one paragraph). Providing me with a tentative title, complete chapter outline, research material, notes, etc. ensures it will stay in line with your ideas.
2. Provide your tentative titles, keywords (I do not write keyword-stuffed articles, but I will use keywords as a starting point for article ideas.), outlines, general article ideas, etc. This is very important. I’ve had a few clients in the past who wanted to just leave it up to me. In the end, they didn’t all like the finished product, simply because it was all my idea, not theirs. It’s always best if you provide your ghostwriter with as many details as possible.
3. Respond to phone calls or emails as timely as possible. I don’t think I’ve ever worked with a client that didn’t do this, but I do know other writers who have. When you hire a ghostwriter, you should be able to provide answers to any questions or additonal information, if needed. Sometimes the ghostwriter might hit a snag and need to run something by you before she writes it out. Or she might need to ask you important questions about the project that would affect the overal finished piece. Because of this, it’s always a smart thing to be as prompt in responding to your ghostwriter as possible.
4. If your project is a large one and is set up on a payment plan, be prompt with your payments. When working on a large project, like a full-length non-fiction book, there is usually a payment plan agreed upon. I’ve heard of writers who had clients that were more than happy to pay the retainer fee, but when it came time to finish out the payments they flaked on the writer. Some ghostwriters won’t even consider anything less than full payment in advance. So if you land a ghostwriter that is willing to work with you on a payment plan, do your best to meet your end of the deal.
5. Be flexible. If you are working with an established ghostwriter, keep in mind that you most likely aren’t the only client she’s working with right now. At any given moment, I could be juggling five or six clients at once. I don’t like to take on that many at once, but there are times when that does happen. If your ghostwriter requests a time extension or needs more research for your project, try to be understanding. Remember to communicate often and be sure your ghostwriter knows your plans as well.
6. I work with anyone, anywhere. Lots of people are under the mistaken impression that I only write for clients in the United States. That simply isn’t true. I have clients all over the world, and it has been a joy working with each of them. My own stipulation is that I receive payment in U.S. dollars, not in any other currency. So if you do use a different currency, check my rates then convert it to the currency you use.

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