How to Find a Ghostwriter

By Judy Katz - Dec 28 , 2007

What’s a would-be author to do? Does he or she just Google “ghostwriter” or “book collaborator?”

A personal intro is best, as in all things. But just as the family or friends intro or blind date has gone the way of the dinosaur and match.com, eharmony.com, and jdate.com now fill the breach, more people are entrusting their precious inner book to strangers and hoping for the best.

Let me caution you—Not all ghostwriters are created equal. And no, it’s not just a matter of talent-no talent. Lots of writers can ace their own projects, but getting inside another person, being able to write in that voice, and being able to express those ideas rather than one’s own–Well, let’s face it, you’ve got to be a combo of Ellen Burstyn in “Resurrection” and Whoopi Goldberg in “Ghost.” You want that writer to feel your pain, get under your skin, and help you tell your story to the world.

So what’s a body to do?

Well, what do you do when you go online, trolling for a soul mate? Date! Talk to the potential scribe, tell them what you’re up to, and see how he or she feeds it back to you. Have them send you their books, or buy and actually read them. Meet the person – that’s a must. And then ask for a list of references and call them, every last one. Ask penetrating question, such as did your writer bring your project in on time and within budget? Where there any surprises, good or bad? How was he or she to work with? How did your book do for you?

Here are few tips for managing your relationship with your ghostwriter:

Set definite timelines, and be the squeaky wheel. Writers – I am one – can be, shall we say, distracted? They may have multiple projects, of which yours is just one. Nobody wants to have to be a pest, but wouldn’t you rather be a little annoying and get your manuscript done on time?

Play an active role in the process, with homework assignments to complete, chapters to read and approve of or correct, etc. Make sure you’re batting the ball back over the net with full consideration for your writer and for the timeliness you both set up. Get it?

Be specific with your objections. If you don’t like something the writer shows you, don’t just say, “Ugh, I hate it,” say why! The more specific your feedback, the better your ghost will be able to come back to you with a new, improved version of that chapter or the entire MS. I know, because very often my first draft falls short and with feedback my “master edit” carries the day and the client is enthralled with the end result. There’s a reason it’s called a “rough” draft.

Cut your losses. If your ghostwriter is Ms. or Mr. Wrong, to hell with the first check. Just move on to another collaborator. And as with dating, you don’t always know who’s absolutely right until you’ve gone a ways down the road with them. Don’t throw good money – or time – after bad.

So, you’ve found a good ghostwriter. She or he shares your vision for your book, the references checked out, and you’re ready to begin. What should you expect to pay them? I get anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 a book. That rules out a lot of potential clients, and – guess what? – this year, I hope to be able to raise my rates. I want to find one or two well-heeled, serious clients who want a good ghostwritten book, so that I don’t have to do as many books as I do. As a national publicist for many years, I have discovered that people who pay you $2,500 a month want and expect the same high quality results as those who pay $10,000 a month. Ditto with books. Life isn’t always fair.

That said, there are extraordinarily talented writers living in pockets of the nation who simply are unwilling or unable to properly market themselves and will ghostwrite a book for a relatively modest fee. I sure hope I’m right, since that is the basis of my budding new business, Bookinis™ (when you get there, click on Bookinis on the menu bar), which will connect ghostwriters with would-be authors, with me as matchmaker and mother hen.

Let’s recap: to find a ghostwriter, look online, ask around, call a literary agent (if you know one) for recommendations. Ask anyone you know who may have worked with a ghostwriter or book collaborator or editor (though creative writing and editing are different functions). You can also pick up a book you love and look at the acknowledgements. If you don’t catch my drift on that one, call me to discuss. I don’t want to say it out loud.

Here’s the very good news: Just as there’s a pot for every cover, and someone for everyone romantically, if you understand that it’s a numbers game and stay enthusiastic as you search any and everywhere for your perfect match, there is a ghostwriter out there who’s right for you, with the right fit, the right price, the right uncanny ability to help you birth your book.

Then you have to find the right publicist to market your book so that it accomplishes what you set out to do: tell your story to the right people, establish your expertise, and build your brand. But that, as they say, is another story.

‘Till next time, Adieu and Happy Holidays.
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Judy welcomes comments and questions from readers. Her company is Katz Creative, Inc. You can contact her by email at jkatzcreative@aol.com or call 212-580-8833.