Hire a Ghostwriter with the Ghostwriters Agency
Picture The Ghostwriting Agency as premium literary matchmakers – we help aspiring authors like you to hire ghostwriters by connecting you with the most talented names in the industry.
We have dozens of ghostwriters on our books based all over the world, from the US to Canada to Greece to the UK. This allows us to help you hire the perfect ghostwriter for your genre, voice and vision.
The purpose of our ghostwriting services is always to find the perfect pairing – matching your unique story with a writer who can bring it to life.
How do I hire a ghostwriter with The Ghostwriters Agency?
The Ghostwriting Agency has invested a lot of time and effort into crafting a unique process that ensures you are matched with the perfect ghostwriter. Here’s how it works:
Fill in our form: Tell us a bit about your idea, why a book is the best way to tell your story and which existing titles you could see yourself competing with.
We’ll be in touch: Once we receive your completed form, we’ll aim to get back to you within 48 hours. We may need to ask a few more questions to make sure we understand what you want to achieve.
We’ll contact our ghostwriters: We’ll put together a brief and send it out to all of the ghostwriters on our books. We’ll let them know your deadline and budget, including any other key details. The ghostwriters are then given up to a week to respond.
Ghostwriters send their pitches: Interested ghostwriters will then put together proposals to pitch why they are the best person for your project. This might include:
Their relevant experience in your genre.
What approach they would take to bring your story to life.
Rates and payment terms for their ghostwriting services.
Approximate turnaround times.
Testimonials.
On average, authors receive 6-12 pitches from ghostwriters, however, this number can vary depending on factors like deadlines, availability and genre.
Review process: Once you receive the proposals, you will need to review each one and create a shortlist of your favourite ghostwriters. We recommend narrowing the list down to 3-5 ghostwriters.
Interview stage: The next step is setting up introductory calls with your shortlisted ghostwriters. This is an important part of the process as it gives you the chance to get a better sense of the ghostwriter’s personality to figure out if you would enjoy working with them.
Decision time: Once you have chosen which ghostwriter you would like to work with, we take a step back and the ghostwriter will share their contract and terms of business.
Exchange of contracts and payment: Once the fine details have been ironed out and you both sign the contract, you will be required to pay a deposit. The ghostwriter will then get to work. The rest of the fee will be made incrementally depending on what both parties agree in the contract.
How much does it cost to hire a ghostwriter with The Ghostwriters Agency?
You will not be charged for using our ghostwriting services. Instead, when you actually hire a ghostwriter through our agency, we take a commission from the ghostwriter.
Unlike other agencies, which charge ghostwriters 15-20% of their total fee, we only take 10% for books with a fee of up to £12,000 and 15% for books with a fee over £12,000. The amount is payable by the ghostwriter after you have signed your contract and delivered your first payment.
Will The Ghostwriters Agency help me get my book published?
Many clients who’ve used our ghostwriting services have successfully published and sold their books in stores like Waterstones and WHSmith. Some have even gone on to become Amazon bestsellers.
Our team at The Ghostwriting Agency wants to see your book become a success and so we would love to use our hundreds of contacts within traditional, hybrid and self-publishing to help you get the book deal your story deserves. All of our ghostwriters are well connected within the publishing industry. If you are interested in hearing more about how to hire a ghostwriter with the GWA, please get in touch today.
Do you have any tips for choosing the right ghostwriter?
When you hire a ghostwriter, you need to consider more than just their experience and back catalogue.
Remember, you are probably going to be spending 20 hours with this person, quite possibly opening up about very personal and intense memories. So choosing the right ghostwriter can almost be like choosing a therapist.
We recommend hiring a ghostwriter who makes you feel relaxed, you can speak openly with, and whose company you genuinely enjoy.
How long does it take a ghostwriter to write a book?
We have published best-selling celebrity autobiographies in as little as three weeks.
But typically, it takes a ghostwriter who is working full-time between three and six months to research and complete a book.
What is the average cost of a ghostwriter in the UK?
The average cost of a ghostwriter in the UK will vary according to the genre and complexity of the book, as well as the amount of interview time required. It will also depend upon the experience and seniority of the ghostwriter, although each of the ghosts on our books have worked on high profile bestsellers. Once we know more about the project, we will be able to quote a range of fees and then it is up to authors to negotiate with their chosen ghost.
Your payment details will be confirmed in your contract. Usually, you will be required to pay some kind of upfront fee when you hire a ghostwriter but the exact amount can vary from a third of the total to a sixth to half. This will very much depend on the individual ghostwriter. The rest of the cost will be spread across the time it takes to write your book.
How quickly can you pair me with a ghostwriter?
If you decide to hire a ghostwriter with the Ghostwriters Agency, you could potentially be paired with your perfect ghostwriter within a week.
Timings can vary but if you are on a deadline that is super urgent, we understand that and will try our best to accommodate your needs.
Once the Ghostwriters Agency pairs me with a ghostwriter, when will they start work on my book?
The beauty of hiring a ghostwriter with us is that you will only receive proposals from ghosts who are immediately available, or able to meet your deadline. This means there is no chance you will be paired with your dream ghostwriter, only to learn you have to wait six months until they have capacity to take on your project.
When you fill in our form, please outline any time constraints to us and we will work around your schedule. Once we have paired you with your perfect ghostwriter, they will start work immediately after you sign the contract.
Do your ghostwriters get credits?
Whether you want to credit your ghostwriter is a decision you need to agree on when you hire a ghostwriter.
Some publishers hate the idea of giving any credit to ghostwriters. Others are happy to give credit but don’t want the ghostwriter’s name on the front cover.
From our experience, most ghostwriters do not mind either way, but again, this is an agreement that will need to be made between you and your ghostwriter.
What if it’s not working with my assigned ghostwriter?
It’s pretty rare that something like this ever happens, but if it does, please get in touch with us at The Ghostwriting Agency. Your happiness is our priority.
Do ghostwriters get royalties?
Ghostwriters from The Ghostwriting Agency only accept flat fees. Royalties are almost never in the interest of a ghostwriter unless it is an extremely high-profile book with one of the big five publishers – for example, like Prince Harry’s book, Spare.
Typically, ghostwriters do not get royalties.
If I hire a ghostwriter with the Ghostwriters Agency, will it be kept confidential?
Yes, all of our ghostwriting services are 100% confidential.
Why should I speak with potential ghostwriters before starting?
This is a crucial step in our matchmaking process to ensure we can deliver the best ghostwriting services possible.
Ghostwriting is very much about chemistry and so we highly recommend vetting your potential matches to make sure you both click. You need a ghostwriter who understands you, and it’s imperative that you’re both on the same page to make the project a success.
You might think one particular ghostwriter is your clear perfect match, but let’s face it, sometimes, opposites attract. Your perfect ghostwriter is not always the obvious choice, so it’s crucial to speak with all the names on your shortlist first.
What does a ghostwriter do?
Once you’ve agreed to the terms and conditions, signed your contract and paid the deposit, the real work begins.
Your ghostwriter will be in touch to:
Review all the materials you provide – such as diaries, notes, texts, and so on.
Conduct background research so that they can add more colour to your story.
Schedule personal, in-depth interviews so that they can really understand your journey.
Identify the structure of your story, its narrative arc and key themes.
Write each chapter in your unique voice.
Regularly send you drafts of chapters to make sure you’re happy.
Work with you on any changes you think will better tell your story.
Remember this is a collaborative effort. You and your ghostwriter will be working very closely together, which is why using our ghostwriting services to find the perfect ghostwriter is such an important decision.