Should You Hire A Local Ghostwriter?
You may be wondering if you should hire a ghostwriter who lives nearby. It is a valid question. While there is no pat answer, it would be a rare situation that would make hiring locally mandatory.
None of my clients are local. They live all over the U.S. We correspond via email and talk regularly on the phone. Sometimes, we Skype. It is rare that I meet a client face to face and it has never been an issue for me.
There are internet articles that warn people that you should always hire someone local. I’m not sure why the authors suggest this, but some people hold onto that idea religiously. I’ve had people refuse to talk to me because I wasn’t in their area.
I think this concept of only hiring someone near you severely limits your choices, which could easily hinder a project.
Here are qualities I would suggest you focus on when hiring a ghostwriter:
- Great writing ability (writes books that others want to read)
- Excellent communication skills (make sure that YOU can be comfortable talking with him or her)
- Professional (there are many ways to spot this attribute)
- Reliable (make sure they keep their appointments with you and answer your emails promptly)
Finding the right ghostwriter might take time. It’s a very personal choice, one you shouldn’t feel pressured into making. Remember that you’ll be with your writer for months, so make sure that you really like him or her.
If you feel you need to meet them in person (and Skype will not do), you can always fly out to them or fly them to you. It will cost extra, but it is a viable possibility.
If you feel they need to walk where you’ve walked, through the towns or buildings where your story takes place, know that it usually isn’t necessary. Locations can always be researched. Photographs and descriptions work well also.
If trust is an issue, there are other ways to spot a con man or woman. If they have a published book, a website and a strong internet presence, they are likely on the up and up. However it doesn’t hurt to ask to talk to the writer’s prior clients. Look over their resume as well and of course check out their writing samples.
Another trick is that you can always type any name into a search engine with the word “scam” or “complaint” and find out if there have been problems with that person. Of course, there might be numerous people by the same name, but it is pretty easy to spot if your prospective writer is the person in question. Their location and occupation are good hints. I used this technique with a potential publisher before going into business with him. It saved me a heap of trouble!
So, what do you think – should you hire a local ghostwriter? Let me know your thoughts! I want to know!
Additional articles you might find helpful:
How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Ghostwriter?
Working with a Ghostwriter – What steps should you take?
There is no “standard” ghostwriting deal
Laura Sherman, a.k.a. “Laura the Friendly Ghostwriter,” is a professional ghostwriter and author. She enjoys writing fiction and nonfiction and is happiest when juggling multiple projects. She recently authored “Chess Is Child’s Play” to introduce the next generation to the game of kings and queens. As a parent of three, and one of the top 50 women chess players in the United States, Laura wrote this book to teach any parent to teach any child, of any age, to play chess.
Is there any way to acquire a ghost writer’s assistant, who is eager to get their feet wet for a smaller fee?
Belinda, feel free to write to me and we can discuss ideas. I have a few thoughts on this line.
Hi Laura,my name is Hala,I have a story to tell that I want to be published…I don’t know where to start…
Hi, Hala! It was good to talk to you. I hope you pursue your book. Let me know if I can be of further help!
Hi I want to write a book about my life but I’m overwhelmed by it all as its been an unbelievable life and people wouldn’t believe it, can you give me any advice please. S.May.
Hi! I’d be happy to offer you a free 20-minute consultation. Please email me privately your phone number so that we can talk. Thanks!
I have people everday pushing me to write my story about why i am still alive and how I have overcome the most agressive Triple Negative Stage IV breast cancer. Even my oncologist says I should write it. He can’t believe what happened.
I have kept a journal of events the past 4 years and have been giving it a lot of thought. I can talk a mile a minute but writing a book is a lot different. I read a lot of Dr Wayne Dyer and have all Suzanne Sommers books and many others on “How to Heal Cancer. My story is still, I believe, very different and could help so many patients and family members—- and that’s what I want to do—-is help others. Now I get phone calls all the time to talk to a patient and I have given my testimonial many times. I would like to reach a lot of people and aye a book could do that but I think I need help—-my writing confidence is not there.
I will tell you that my favorite books are non-fiction. I have always been drawn to true stories and I love learning.
I have been at deaths door several times but I don’t look like it. There were strong southern women in my life of growin up in a very small town in Georgia. I am 69 years of age and people tell me I look like I am 10 to 18 years younger without a facelift. I exercise regularly (not extreme) and stay positive. But writing a book is totally different and I think I need help. I like what I have read on your site. I research all the time and that’s why I have found a lot of tools I have applied and it worked. I would love your opinion on this subject. My friends call me the Steel Magnolia. Thanks much
Dear Sherra, Thank you for writing! I will write to you privately to discuss the details of your very inspirational story.
I want to have a ghost writer write a book for me, it’s a little nonfiction and a little fiction. It’s a gift for my boyfriend about how we met and it would elude to our future together. Do you know what a ghost writer would charge for something like that, I doubt imagine it being over 50 pages.
Hi! I just wrote you a private email. Thanks for writing!
If I want to use a ghostwriter to help rewrite my book, do you have a link for that topic already or would the same rules apply in regards to cost, and timeline?
Hi! Thanks for your email! I also wrote to you privately, but wanted to reply to your comment here as well. If you’re hiring someone to completely rewrite your book, the price would probably be about the same. However, if you just need an editor, the cost would be substantially less. Hope that helps!
Hi, I want to write someone else’s life story, a life full of struggle and betrayel, could you possibly recommend some books I can read to help me start and give me inspiration? Thank you!
It is always a good idea to read books that are similar in content and style to the books you’d like to write. If you go to the library, you can ask the reference desk to help you locate these books. Good luck!
Laura…… I’m very interested in writing a book I’m 76 years old and never went past eight grade in school I made millions of dollars in operating nightclubs… Then I went into politics and then I went to jail …..For the past 40 years everyone’s been telling me I should write a book just by listening to my interesting stories my name is john Schultz and I live in Atlantic City New Jersey please google me… John
Hi! Well, you certainly sound like you have an intriguing story to tell! I wrote you privately and look forward to learning more. Thanks for reaching out to me!