Looking for a professional ghostwriter?

What is ghostwriting?

Ghostwriting is the practice of writing content that is officially credited to another person. For centuries, ghostwriters have quietly penned bestselling memoirs, biographies, and business books, as well as fiction, short-form articles, speeches, scripts, and even blog posts. 

Often, people turn to ghostwriters when they've got something worth sharing, but not the time, energy, or skills to put it in writing. The arrangement from then on is straightforward: you bring the ideas, vision, and voice; the ghostwriter supplies the craft to bring them to life.

What does a ghostwriter do?

Whether you’re sharing your personal story, your subject matter expertise, or a world of your imagination, your ghostwriter will start by interviewing you extensively. They’ll ask the right questions about your vision and sit with you for hours to learn your story. Then they'll draw on years of experience to match your cadence and turn anecdotes into scenes. They'll make a stranger care about your grandmother, or make a complicated idea simple. They'll identify the throughline of your narrative, weave in the research without slowing the pace, and give your book the structure it needs. In the end, they'll vanish completely into your voice until the only person on the page is you.

Throughout the entire process, you’ll stay in control: after multiple rounds of recorded interviews, you’ll approve your ghostwriter’s outline, and you’ll read and shape every draft until it’s the right one.

Hire a professional

Browse more profiles on Reedsy

Available

Seth M.

I have extensive experience finding new and creative ways to tell a story, especially when using humor to engage with young readers.

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Available

Jane R.

I'm a children's book specialist with nearly 30 years' experience of writing and editing everything from Winnie-the-Pooh to Minecraft.

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Available

Doug W.

Simply put, I connect authors and audiences. Nothing's more important than the emotional connection that makes a story unforgettable.

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Here’s what working with a ghostwriter looks like in practice. David Wichman, a sex worker with a history of addiction, hired a ghostwriter on Reedsy to help him tell his story. His ghostwriter became an important collaborator and ally: “Two to three times a week for the next two months, Heather would interview me on the phone for hours on end. If a story detail or sequence didn’t add up or make sense, she kept coming back to it, asking me to clarify. If I lost sight of the project’s purpose, Heather kept me on track, empowering me to share this story with full confidence.”

David credits his ghostwriter for the book’s success and recognition. “She created the framework for the story and made it flow. Without her, my book would have been an emotional spider web of disconnected stories.”

You can read more about David’s experience here.

Not every author is open to discussing the role of their ghostwriter. Historically, almost all ghostwriters were subject to non-disclosure agreements. In recent years, more and more authors have publicly acknowledged their ghostwriter — think Prince Harry, Pamela Anderson, and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. However, there is no expectation to do so and the decision will always remain in your hands.

Find out more

The Secret Lives of Ghostwriters: An Interview with Sandra Cain and Toni Robino
7 Books You Never Knew Were Ghostwritten

How much does book ghostwriting cost?

Ghostwriting costs vary significantly depending on your book's genre, target word count, and research needs. Reedsy allows professionals to set their own fees, so when you request ghostwriting quotes, you can expect to see a range of rates.

On our marketplace, the average cost for ghostwriting an 80,000-word book is $32,800. However, you can expect top ghostwriters to ask for $50k–$100k to write a full-length manuscript from scratch.

Find out more

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Ghostwriter?
How Much Does It Cost to Publish a Book in 2026?

How to find the right ghostwriter

When you hire a ghostwriter on Reedsy, you can rest assured about quality: we vet all of our freelancers manually and only accept the top 3% of applicants. Our ghostwriters are veteran professionals with established reputations; they’ve written bestselling and prize-winning books for Olympians, entrepreneurs, and celebrities.

That said, no two ghostwriters work the same way, and ghostwriting is a uniquely personal collaboration. We recommend following these tips to find a ghostwriter who's right for you on our marketplace:

1. Search for ghostwriters who specialize in your genre. On Reedsy, you can filter ghostwriters by genre and narrow your search using KWs. Browse professionals’ portfolios to see if they’ve worked on books like yours. A highly successful memoir ghostwriter might not be the best person to tackle your children’s book series.
2. Read examples of their previous work. Even though ghostwriters do adapt their writing style to the author’s voice, they’ll still bring some of their own idiosyncrasies to each project. Read some of potential ghostwriters’ past work or writing samples and look for a communication style that speaks to you.
3. Chat to shortlisted ghostwriters to get a feel for their personality. After you receive a quote from a ghostwriter, spend some time getting to know them, ideally via video call. Are they enthusiastic about working with you? Do you feel comfortable being completely honest with them? Your collaboration may be an intense experience and it’s best if you and your ghostwriter have a strong professional relationship.
4. Double-check their terms and availability. Before signing a contract, make sure you and your ghostwriter are on the same page about deadlines, communication methods, and boundaries to avoid misunderstandings later.

Find out more

Reedsy Selection Criteria

Tips for working with a ghostwriter

Now's the exciting part: when you can begin working with your ghostwriter.

To get the most out of your collaboration, keep these tips in mind:

1. Be prepared to put in the time. A ghostwriter can write a book, but they can’t come up with the source material. Expect to commit several hours a week to interviews, follow-up questions, and reviewing drafts.
2. Be open. Your ghostwriter can only work with what you give them. If you’re creating a memoir, it’s best to be completely truthful about your experiences, even when they’re hard to talk about. Your vulnerability may be exactly what makes your memoir so powerful. 
3. Provide honest feedback, but trust the expert. Your ghostwriter will welcome constructive criticism to help them fulfill your vision, particularly when it comes to nailing your voice. However, there may be some decisions that your ghostwriter makes for a good reason. Discuss disagreements with an open mind and remember that they’re the expert on structure, pacing, and prose.

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