How do you work with a ghostwriter?

Image courtesy of Sebastien Millon. http://www.sebastienmillon.com/

I have seen a huge surge in ghost writing requests recently. It's something I love to do. It involves polishing and producing copy for some fascinating people.

The ghostwriter and client relationship is different for every business or individual I serve. Some clients just need me to proofread and edit their blog posts. Or turn their dictated notes into an engaging article. Others want me to produce books, brochures, media outreach articles, press releases and other such materials.

One question I get asked time and time again is - how does the ghostwriter and client relationship work? Well, it works really well. The client gets the professional copy they need, I get to work with some brilliant minds and businesses. Here are a few questions I regularly get asked by those interested in hiring a ghostwriter:

1.  Who owns the content?

The client. It is your content. You have 100% ownership. You can use the content whenever and wherever you wish. 

​2. What content do you produce?

Anything. I have produced books, ebooks, feature articles, news items, blog posts, website copy, event write-ups, brochures, competition entries, media outreach articles and press releases during my time as a ghostwriter.

If you need words, the format does not matter.

3. How does the relationship work?

It really depends on the specific work a client needs. The majority of my ghostwriting work seems to revolve around blog posts, so let me give an example.

You, the client, want a blog that is updated on a weekly basis with interesting posts to expand the reach of your brand and improve your site's SEO. You hire me as a ghostwriter to write posts, based on your notes and suggestions.

We have an initial conversation and I do a heap of research. I will open up a shared folder, usually on Google Drive, where we can work together. Each blog post is produced in a standalone Word document, where you can suggest a title and a few bullet points on the topics you would like the post to cover. I fill in the blanks and produce a post, based on your ideas and input. We then go through an editing process where you can change the copy and make further suggestions until we have the perfect post.

That's just a typical example. I have worked with clients who are happy for me to suggest, research and write posts without their input - and those that just want me to proofread their almost-ready posts. I have worked with clients that prefer to dictate notes and for me to write them up. I've worked in a range of scenarios, mediums and with a range of businesses - I will do what works for you.

4. How much do you charge?

Drop me a line at [email protected] and I will send you my pricing options and current rates. I can charge on an hourly or project-by-project basis, depending on how you prefer to work.

Finally, there's one other aspect of the ghostwriter and client relationship. It's great fun. I love meeting new clients, bouncing around ideas with them and getting an insight into their work. It's a huge honour to be your business's voice. 

To find out more, drop me a line at [email protected].

Special thanks to Sebastien Millon for letting me use his awesome "ghost bear" image.
www.sebastienmillon.com