Should You Hire a Ghostwriter?

Have you heard the term 'ghostwriter' and wondered what they do or who they work with? Although it sounds mysterious, ghostwriting is actually a very simple agreement where an individual or company hires a writer to create a work that will be owned outright by the buyer. The buyer is not required to give credit to the writer and is even allowed to claim authorship.

Many people who are looking to put their knowledge, experience or stories into print find that using a ghostwriter eases the process. The ghostwriter uses his or her talents to put your information or research into an engaging and informative publication. Ghostwriters are frequently used for business writing as well as for the creation of books for publication or for personal use.

Is ghostwriting legal?

Ghostwriting has been around a long time. Some of the most influential leaders have used others to write their speeches or even autobiographies. Ghostwriters do not hold any copyrights to the finished work. This is also known as a 'work-for-hire' arrangement.

Some individuals will list the ghostwriter in the credits or even indicate clearly that the written piece is "by So-and-So as told to So-and-So". This gives credit to the talents of the writer while still giving prominence to the source or creator of the piece. However, this constitutes a very small number of instances and is not required for legal purposes unless agreed to in the contract.

As a special note, ghostwriters are often illegal for use in preparing school papers (in the same manner as plagiarism is an offence). It is also a concern when a legal or medical professional assigns his or her name to a document without having a significant role in its creation or content.

Do YOU need a ghostwriter?

Many small business owners find that time restraints and lack of writing ability eventually lead them to considering the assistance of a ghostwriter. With the development of business on the internet even more individuals need ghostwriting services from time to time.

The internet is based on written information. Special talent is needed to convey your information clearly or to create readable books (or ebooks) for your customers or visitors. By passing this job to a qualified ghostwriter you may save time and increase profits or customer satisfaction by providing your information in a professional and engaging manner.

How much does ghostwriting cost?

Ghostwriting fees can vary dramatically depending on your source. There are several freelance websites where you can post your projects to be bid on by the writers. Users of this service hold differing opinions on the quality of work that can be purchased from these sites. Some individuals will warn you that paying low costs may result in low quality work or service.

That does not mean that you cannot find a ghostwriter for a reasonable fee. Many aspiring writers offer their talents for hire and you may find an excellent writer for a decent price if you shop around. On the other hand, if you are working with a specialized topic you may need to pay more for the services of a writer who has experience in that field.

Many ghostwriters follow similar pricing guidelines as used for hiring an author in the traditional sense. You will find it beneficial to check out several sites for an idea of the cost of your project.

How do you find a ghostwriter?

There are many sources online for finding ghostwriters. Whether you attempt to hire a freelance writer from a bidding site (like elance.com), from a personal website or from a ghostwriting service site, references may be hard to come by because of the nature of the work. You may also find it difficult to view samples for obvious reasons.

The best way to determine if a ghostwriter can fulfill your needs is to read some self-published works by the writer. Examples of style and credibility may be obtained from other published works without the need of testimony from the ghostwriter's clients. If you are working on a large project it is wise to spend some time in correspondence with the writer to discern if you communicate well together.

If you plan on using a ghostwriter on a regular basis you may wish to develop a relationship with a freelancer as opposed to using a ghostwriting service from a company who manages the relationship for you. What you choose to do is ultimately based on your needs and preferences.

You are hiring talent, just as you would when hiring an interior decorator or event planner. Taking the time to find the writer that can fulfill your visions and put help put your thoughts into writing is worth the extra effort.

Shannon Emmanuel is an Author and freelance writer (ghostwriter). She helps businesses like yours. Find out more at http://assistant-for-hire.com.