A Ghostwriter is the master of the writing craft. They are the go-to guys for homework assistance, ebook or novel writing when you don’t have the skills or time required to create an engaging piece. However, to avoid costly mistakes, time wasting and ending up with a bad fit for the job, here are five important things that you should know before hiring one.

Different Factors To Consider Before Selecting A Ghost Writer 

1. Experience and writing style:

There is more to hiring a ghostwriter than going through their profiles or reviews.  You need to know what the writer is bringing to the table. Else, the purpose of getting the service of the writer will be defeated. Once you found someone that fits the bill, schedule an interview with them to get to know their personality and years of experience, and if they have ghosted a similar project.

It is equally important to ask for a customized sample written according to your specifications. This is because you can’t take the pre-written examples ghostwriters offer for it. Moreover, the ideal writing styles vary based on the content types. For instance, how I’ll craft the words for a fiction book will be different from how I will do if I am writing my essay. So get a personalized sample to make sure that the ghostwriter’s style suits your project, there is no better way to find out.

2. The cost:

Different ghostwriters charge different amounts. Sought-after “A-list” ghostwriters with a proven track record of producing bestsellers command about a million dollars or more per book. On the other hand, newbies or lower-end writers, especially those sourced from freelancing sites charge between $ 5,000 to 25,000 to pen a book. You can also get it done for less but get ready to hire a copyeditor to help you cut out the fluff and errors and bring the content to life.

If you can afford it, it’s better to hire an experienced ghostwriter with many bestsellers under their belt.  Though this does not mean that the book you’ll get will also be a bestseller, it will surely be up to standard and meet publisher’s expectations. The reason is that such writers are highly skilled in plot writing, and know how to hook readers right from the very first page.

Other things that can influence the price include word count – the more it is, the higher the cost – and the time you want the job delivered (be ready to pay more if you expect the book within a short time frame).

3. Expected delivery time:

How soon the job will be completed depends on you, the ghostwriter and the word count. If you have already done the background research on the topic and have prepared an outline, the writer can get straight into writing. However, if you have not, the ghostwriter will have to do it themselves, so it will take more time to finish the job.

A seasoned, fast writer should be able to churn out about 2000 words per hour. It can take more though, if the task is a bit complex or if the topic requires a lot of creativity and imagination. At this rate, you should expect to get the delivery of a 20000-word eBook or novel within 7 to 10 days tops. So ask the ghostwriter when they can complete the task without rushing or sacrificing quality.

4. Word Count:

Another important thing you will want to know before hiring a ghostwriter is the number of words that you want the book to be. The mode of publishing and your budget are two things that should shape your decision. There are specific word limits that the book must meet whether you plan to use a publisher or take the self-publishing route. You don’t want your book rejected after the ghostwriter has completed the job just because it is below the limits.

Also, you should choose your book’s word count according to your budget. If you can’t afford more than $200, then your word count should be on the lower side. You’ll need to hire a ghostwriter whose rate is $0.01 per word to get a 20000-word book.

5. Words per page:

The number of words that should be on a page is an important thing that most people who hire ghostwriters don’t always give thought to. Though the ballpark figure is 500 words per page[1], it can change based on the font you want to use, the line spacing, and page size. If you intend to include pictures to make the book an attractive read, then this number will be lower. The number of words that should be on a page also depends on the type of the book (whether it is more of dialogue or exposition-heavy).

Conclusion:

Lack of skills or time should not be the stumbling block to your dream of bringing out the book in you. Whether you need homework assistance, report or novel writing, ghostwriters can get the job done. However, for successful collaboration, you need to know things such as the cost, expected delivery time, word count and so on before hiring a ghostwriter.

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