During the one summer I participated in Cowboy Action Shooting with my parents, my alias was “Ghostwriter.” It was a play on the old song Ghost Riders in the Sky and my love of writing. Dad even joked that one day he’d bring a portable CD player to play my “theme song” while I was shooting. More than once I had to emphasize the t in writer because people assumed my alias was Ghost Rider instead.
At the time, I knew almost nothing about actual ghostwriters. I just knew they were writers who stayed invisible while someone else got the credit. Years later, after working as a freelance writer myself, I realized ghostwriting is far more common—and more interesting—than I first imagined.
Ghostwriting has changed considerably over the past decade. Today, ghostwriters don’t just help celebrities publish memoirs. They write blog posts, newsletters, LinkedIn articles, speeches, books, podcasts, and even online courses for busy professionals and business owners. If you’ve ever wondered how executives seem to publish thoughtful content every week while running companies, there’s a good chance a ghostwriter is involved.
What is a Ghostwriter?
A ghostwriter creates content that is published under someone else’s name, with that person’s knowledge and permission. Sometimes they’re writing from scratch after interviewing a client. Other times they’re organizing rough notes, polishing a draft, or turning recordings into finished articles or books.
The client’s ideas, experiences, or expertise form the foundation of the work, while the ghostwriter contributes the writing craft, organization, and structure that turn those ideas into a polished manuscript.
Many memoirs, business books, and books by public figures are created with the help of ghostwriters. Sometimes the collaboration is openly acknowledged with a “with” credit on the cover, while other times the ghostwriter remains anonymous under a confidentiality agreement. One of my favourite authors, Angela Hunt, has ghostwritten numerous books, which she lists on her website as “collaborations.”
Ghostwriters are hired to write many types of documents, from autobiographies for famous personalities to e-books for internet marketing gurus, and even letters for politicians. They also write fiction. Sometimes a series of books is written by several ghostwriters under one name, as with the stories of Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys.
Ghostwriters work on far more than books. Depending on the client, they may write:
- memoirs and autobiographies
- business books
- blog posts and newsletters
- LinkedIn articles and thought leadership content
- speeches
- podcast scripts
- online course materials
- website copy
- fiction series written under a shared pen name
Whether the project is a book, an article, or a speech, the goal is the same: communicate the client’s ideas in the client’s voice.
Is Ghostwriting Ethical?
Some people assume ghostwriting is dishonest because the writer doesn’t receive public credit. In reality, ghostwriting is a professional service, much like hiring an editor, photographer, or designer. The client hires someone with specialized skills to help communicate their own ideas.
The ethical questions usually arise when the named author hasn’t actually contributed the ideas or approved the finished work. Most professional ghostwriters work closely with clients to capture their voice and accurately represent their experiences. For example, in the foreword to Virginia Roberts Guiffre’s memoir Nobody’s Girl, which was published posthumously at her request, her ghostwriter Amy Wallace talks about the process of interviewing Virginia and checking details with her in order to tell her story.
Artificial intelligence has also complicated the conversation. Some people now use AI to generate rough drafts before hiring an editor or ghostwriter. Others hire ghostwriters who use AI as one of many research or drafting tools. Regardless of the technology involved, readers generally expect that the named author stands behind the ideas and has reviewed the final work.
What Skills does a Ghostwriter Need?
Strong writing skills are only the beginning. A successful ghostwriter also needs to:
- ask thoughtful interview question
- research unfamiliar topics
- organize large amounts of information
- adapt to another person’s writing voice
- edit carefully and fact-check details
- respect confidentiality agreements
- collaborate well with clients throughout the writing process
How is a Ghostwriter Paid?
Ghostwriters may charge a flat project fee, an hourly consulting rate, or a monthly retainer for ongoing content creation. While some book projects include royalty arrangements, many professional ghostwriters prefer fixed pricing so they know exactly what they’ll earn regardless of how well the finished work sells.
Every agreement is different, so it’s important for both the client and the ghostwriter to discuss ownership, confidentiality, revisions, and payment before the project begins.
Some ghostwriters receive no public credit at all because of confidentiality agreements. Others are acknowledged in the book’s acknowledgements or appear on the cover as a co-author or with wording such as “with Jane Smith” or “as told to John Doe.”
Are You Thinking of Becoming a Ghostwriter?
Ghostwriting isn’t for everyone. Some writers dream of seeing their own name on a book cover, while others genuinely enjoy helping someone else’s story come to life.
Having worked as a freelance writer myself, I can appreciate the skill involved. Capturing another person’s voice, organizing their ideas, and producing polished writing takes far more than simply putting words on a page.
Whether or not you’d ever become a ghostwriter, it’s interesting to realize just how much of what we read every day may have been written behind the scenes.
Would you hire a ghostwriter? Or would you rather write your own story? Let me know in the comments.
If you’re interested in becoming a ghostwriter, these books may help you get started:
- The Definitive Guide to Ghostwriting
- The Art & Business of Ghostwriting: How To Make $10,000+ Per Month Writing For Other People Online
- BEHIND THE SHEETS: Turn Your Passion for Writing into a Six-Figure Ghostwriting Career
If you enjoy writing, you may also want to consider other writing careers.
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