What’s it like to work with a ghostwriter on your first book?

If you’ve never worked with a ghostwriter, it can be hard to picture what you’d actually do together. Would you have to dictate the whole book? Would you hand over your notes and wait for a manuscript to appear? And how would you know whether the person writing it had understood what you meant?

In my nonfiction ghostwriting work, we start with a conversation. You bring your knowledge, experience and point of view. I ask questions, help you work out what belongs in the book and write the manuscript. You see the work as it develops and have a say in how it takes shape. You don’t need to know how to write a book to be part of that process.

What happens in the first conversation?

I’ll ask what you have in mind, why you want to write the book and who you hope will read it. You don’t have to arrive with a synopsis, a chapter outline or even a title. If you’ve given a talk that captures the idea, written a few pages or made a series of voice notes, tell me about them. If you’ve never put any of it on paper, we can talk it through.

This is also your chance to find out whether you’d feel comfortable working with me. Ask how often we’d speak, when you’d see the writing and what I’d need from you between conversations. If we decide there’s a good fit, I set out what’s included, the fee, the proposed schedule and the points at which you’ll review the work. You’ll know what you’re agreeing to before we begin.

Do I have to tell you the whole book?

No. An interview isn’t a rehearsal for a chapter. You can follow a thought, change your mind or tell a story that seems beside the point. My job is to notice when something deserves a second question.

Say you’re writing about leadership and tell me that a team needs more autonomy. I might ask you about a time when you gave someone more room to make a decision. What did you stop doing? What did they do differently? Your answer might reveal that you didn’t simply step back. You made it clear which decisions were theirs and which still needed your input. That’s a distinction a reader can use, and it might never have made it into a set of notes.

I draw on those conversations, any existing material we agree to use and research where it’s needed. From that, I develop an outline for us to discuss. The outline lets us see where the argument is going and whether anything important is missing before we’re deep into the writing.

When do I get to read what you’ve written?

We agree on review stages at the outset. The idea is to give you a chance to respond while the manuscript is taking shape, rather than asking you to react to an entire book at the end. I want to know whether the ideas are coming through as you intended, whether I’ve got the details right and whether the voice feels like yours.

You don’t need to edit the prose yourself. ‘I wouldn’t say it that way’ is useful feedback, especially if you can tell me why. Maybe a passage sounds more certain than you are. Maybe it leaves out an exception you always mention when you teach the subject. Those details help me write a book you’ll recognise as yours, not just one that covers the right topics.

How much of my time will it take?

I do the drafting, but I’ll need time with you for interviews and time from you for reading and feedback. How much depends on the length of the book, the material you already have and the research involved. It’s worth talking about your availability at the start. If you know you’ll be travelling for a month or can only review chapters on Fridays, we can take that into account when agreeing the schedule.

Whose name goes on the book?

Yours. You’re the author and receive the authorship credit. We agree the rights and payment terms in writing, and I work under a non-disclosure agreement. When we reach the end of the agreed revisions, you’ll have a finished manuscript. If you want help with what comes next, we can discuss publishing support separately so you know what’s included.

If you’d like to see what’s covered, you can read about my ghostwriting services and ghostwriting fees. Or tell me a little about the book you have in mind. You don’t have to explain it perfectly. That’s what the conversation is for.

If you’re weighing up the budget, my guide to how much ghostwriters charge explains what a quote can include and how to compare proposals.

Wondering what to look for on an introductory call? Here’s my guide to choosing the right ghostwriter for your book.

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