What should you look for in a ghostwriter?

The right balance of qualities in a ghost writer really is a matter of personal choice and finances. Let’s take a look at the essentials and the options and see what you’ll be choosing from.

• Quality Writing. This is obviously an essential, and you will probably find that not all ghosts produce what you consider quality. (See page on Guarantees.) No matter what someone’s background, if their writing is bad, no publisher will want to produce the book. If it’s good, you have a chance.

• Tone/Style. This varies from writer to writer, and you have to find the kind that fits with you. Even good writing might not suit your taste. Some writers can vary their tone/style based on conversations with you, and can revise any initial work into something you like better.

• Personality. Writing is a lonely art, and not all writers are necessarily "people persons." A book is a big undertaking, and a personal one. You should find someone you click with before investing your time and money into this kind of project.

• Knowledge. Depending on the topic of your book, some writers will be better suited to help you than others. A business book is very different from a romance. Some writers have the flexibility to do both; others may really need to focus, based on how they think about the world. Get familiar with a ghost’s background and capability with your topic.

• Experience. No question about it, an experienced ghost will have run into a lot of things that another ghost hasn’t. This may mean a better sense of timing on a book, a better sense of cost (if a flat rate isn’t provided), and this ghost may even be able to give you a hand with the publishing process. But with experience probably also comes a higher rate.

• Contacts. There probably aren’t a lot of ghosts with agent or publishing contacts. The ones who have these contacts MAY offer you a big advantage. (Find out how they will use their contacts SPECIFICALLY for you.) If they are offering you this substantial advantage, they may also charge a much higher rate. But wouldn’t that be worth it?