9/02/2014

Choosing A Ghost Writer For Hire

By Harriet Porter


Ghostwriting is the act of writing for someone else. A ghost writer for hire is most commonly associated with writing books but there are many other areas where the skills of such a person may be used today. Great amounts of content writing are being produced in fields like social media and public relations. These writers can be used for many situations from writing speeches to keeping blogs up to date, helping to make the process of writing less intimidating or simply stepping in for those too busy to produce content themselves.

Celebrities and other public figures like politicians are often too busy to write their own books and this is where these writers come in. They can help them turn their stories and ideas into the written word. Cookbooks, memoirs and self-help books are just some of the types of books that are written in this way.

There are ghostwriting firms that exist and working through them does offer certain advantages. They handle any contracts and fee negotiations and arbitrate any conflicts. The advantage of working with a freelancer is that it usually costs less. There are so many freelancers looking for work and they bid fiercely against one another.

Budget plays a part in the hiring process but just selecting the individual who charges the least amount can be a dangerous mistake. Well established writers obviously charge more but the extra cost ensures a quality end product. Another factor that affects costs is the complexity of a particular project. Ghostwriting a whole book may take months whereas writing a speech may have to be done in a few days.

Ghostwriters are usually able to give references and show samples of work they have already done. They can also be given a small task to identify whether they have a suitable style and tone for the work they will be required to do. Asking the person to write two or three pages about a specific memory that is to be included in a book will give a good idea of ability.

The process of ghostwriting is highly collaborative. This is why a personal interview with the person is necessary. A good rapport is essential so that communication is open, expectations are manageable and boundaries are clear. The person has to understand exactly what has to be conveyed and translate this into words.

A contract should be drawn up addressing all the issues involved such as time frames, fees and when and how payment has to be made. Every project is different and some are driven by strict deadlines. The clearer the contract, the less chance there is for problems to occur. Once both parties have signed, work can begin.

Ghostwriters are most commonly not given any acknowledgement for the work they do. They understand this when they choose this career and realize that their work is done in the background. This does not mean that they are any less committed to what they do. Well established, professional ghostwriters make it their business to assist their clients to the best of their ability to put their ideas and stories into written form.




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