Do You Need to Hire a Ghostwriter to Write Your Book?

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 RealityFor 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 FreeThe 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 and think that maybe their book isn't worth it. 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!