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People often ask me for the steps involved with working with a ghostwriter. I always say that each job is different, each writing relationship is unique, but there are common aspects that I can share.

You need to settle on a ghostwriter, sign a contract and pay them about 25% of the total fee to start.

Interview ghostwriters until you find the perfect match, someone with whom you can really communicate well, someone who is excited about the project. Look for someone with experience in your genre.

Now you don’t need a gardener to write a gardening book, but you do want someone with experience in nonfiction writing.

Never pay a ghostwriter the entire fee upfront. It’s a recipe for disaster. The writer will have no motivation to complete the book.

However your ghostwriter will need to be paid ahead of the writing. The first segment is always the most time consuming because it includes the outlining and research phase, which is why it often requires the largest payment.

You need to get all the research information to the ghostwriter.

When you realize that you will be working with a ghostwriter, you should begin gathering all your research information and notes together. Think about what your writer will need in order to tell your story or prepare your nonfiction manual.

“But why should I do this work? Aren’t I hiring the ghostwriter to do this for me?”

Sure, you can pay the writer to do all the research, but remember you are the best source for information on your book! Also, the cost for your ghostwriter will increase substantially if the writer needs to research from scratch. In the long run it will save you money and time if you can do the bulk of the research for your writer.

You need to review all the material your ghostwriter sends you in a timely manner.

Your ghostwriter will email you segments of the book on a regular basis. Make sure to read the pieces and provide the writer with detailed feedback. If it is good, tell your ghostwriter why it works. If it isn’t, tell him or her why.

I always allow one revision per segment. You don’t want to get into a ton of back and forth at this phase, but you do want to guide the project. Remember the outline has been hammered out by this time, so now you’re just settling on the details and voice of the book.

It is a bad idea to wait until the entire rough draft is written to tell your writer what you think of the book. By then it may be difficult to change things.

By the time you get through this process, chances are you’ll have a very nearly completed manuscript. Personally, I will work and rework the first draft, making minor changes (mostly for flow and consistency) and then request one more set of revisions once I’m satisfied. Often I get a thumbs up.

Again, no two writing relationships are the same. Each client has different needs and each story is unique, but there are commonalities that you can expect when working with a ghostwriter!