When a person with little or no writing experience decides they want to write a book, their first instinct is often to find someone with writing skills to do it for them. It sounds easy enough, right? You can’t write, so you just get someone who can. However, a lot more goes into finding and working with a ghostwriter than most people think. It’s not just a matter of finding a writer who needs something to do.

So if you’re considering hiring a ghostwriter to write your book, here are the basics of what you need to know.

A Ghostwriter Can Make Your Book a Reality

For some, the only way to really get their book done, and done well, is to hire someone to do it. They either don’t have the time, they don’t have the talent and skills, or for whatever reason, they just can’t do it on their own. In this case, hiring someone to do the actual writing for you is a great solution.

If you’ve tried writing your book on your own and either got stuck or were unhappy with it, a ghostwriter can help. And sometimes you need an objective professional to help you see what your book is really about. For example, some of my ghostwriting clients have felt they had an important story inside them, but they weren’t sure how to get it out in a way that would also entertain and educate others. I was able to help them see connections, get to the heart of what they wanted to say, and put everything together in a more meaningful way than they could do on their own.

Ghostwriters Don’t Work for Free

The biggest hurdle to working with a ghostwriter is the cost involved. Most people think getting a ghostwriter sounds like the perfect solution, until they see the price tag. Ghostwriting services aren’t cheap—depending on the project, anywhere from $10,000 for a beginner to $30,000 (or much more) for someone with experience.

Why does it cost so much? Because writing a book is a huge job that takes months of research, writing, and revising. And professional writers need to make a living. One alternative to paying for ghostwriting yourself would be finding a publishing company willing to pay the bill, which is how many books are ghostwritten. But unless you have a publishing contract, most ghostwriters won’t be willing to work on your book in exchange for a cut of future profits.

Is Hiring a Ghostwriter Right for You?

Even though I’m a ghostwriter, I’m going to say no; in most cases hiring a ghostwriter is probably not for you. I’ve talked to hundreds of people over the years about this, and for 99 percent of them, it just didn’t make sense. Why? Well, first, most don’t believe they can afford it—or perhaps realize that paying for it means it’s not such an easy solution after all. And second, most people, I think, are better served writing their own book themselves.

Writing a book is a process of discovery and discipline that yields great rewards. I like to tell people that if they have even the slightest inkling to write it themselves, they should definitely do it. If they need help with the process, they can work with a coach or editor. And if they need help improving their writing skills, they can take a class. But writing is a craft that will serve you well; not only for your first book, but for all the books you can write after that. So go ahead, get writing!

Comments?

About the Author: Melinda Copp helps aspiring self-help, business, and nonfiction authors write and publish books that establish expertise, achieve their goals, and share their message in a meaningful way. Get a free copy of her Write Your Book Quick-Start Mini E-course when you sign up for her weekly e-zine.

Tweet This Post

If sitting in front of a computer, plugging away at your book, sounds more like a miserable chore than a satisfying means of creative expression, you’re not alone. I hear it from people all the time: “I just don’t like to write.” Well, all hope of publishing a business or self-help nonfiction book is not lost.

Here are three ways to get your book done, with as little writing as possible.

1. Transcribe a Speech

If you’re a speaker, then recording a talk and then having it transcribed is a great way to get your book started. I will caution you, though, that this isn’t quite as easy as it sounds. I’ve worked with some of the most eloquent folks in the business, and even their transcripts need edited to make their words work on the page. If you’re not a trained professional speaker, chances are your transcripts will need some serious work. But if you prefer talking to writing, this is a great way to start.

Another option is using a speech to text software and talking through your book. I’ve never used software like this, but I’ve heard great things about Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Keep in mind–you’ll either need to edit the text or hire someone to do it for you because words don’t come out of our mouths in good, complete, readable sentences.

2. Recycle Past Writing

If you have a body of content, maybe from articles or blog posts, this is a great way to avoid much of the drafting process. Look at what content you already have–anything, including ebooks, blog posts, articles, and reports, is fair game. And see how you can make it fit into the book you want to write. I’ve had clients who only had to write an introduction and conclusion for their book. Granted, this approach requires having written before, because you have to have the material to recycle, but it’s a big time- and effort-saver.

3. Hire a Ghostwriter

When you really don’t want to write your book, you can always hire someone to do it for you. When you enter into a contract with a ghost, you will (in most arrangements) pay the writer for their services and then you’ll keep all the rights to the book. Your name will appear on the cover, and you can choose whether or not to reveal the fact that you didn’t actually sit at your computer and write the book. In other situations, you may share rights and profits from sales, but the specifics depend on your arrangement with the writer.

Is this cheating? No, and many people wouldn’t be able to author a book any other way. Plus, a skilled ghostwriter will be able to interview the author about the material, organize everything into an effective book, and capture the author’s unique voice on the page–often much better than the author could do on their own.

Writing Your Book, Without Actually Writing It

If your dream is to see your name on the cover of a book, but you hate to write, then fear not! When you use one of these methods (or a combination of the three) you can author your business/self-help book without ever typing a word.

Comments? Have any other non-writing ways to write a book? I’d love to hear them.

About the Author: Melinda Copp helps self-employed professionals, coaches, consultants, and speakers write and publish to establish expertise, attract a following of ideal readers and clients, and make more money. Get a free copy of her Write Your Book Quick-Start Mini E-course when you sign up for her weekly e-zine.

Tweet This Post