What is a ghostwriter? (And why should you care?)

What is a ghostwriter? It’s a simple definition, but when you have one you could really be giving yourself (and your business) a leg up!

Ghostwriter has a pretty simple definition. It’s just ‘a person whose job it is to write material for someone else who is the named author.’

In other words, any time you have a copywriter, social media expert or even web designer write words for you (which are assumed to be your words) they’re acting as a ghostwriter.

But surely there’s more to it than that? And why should you – as a business owner – work with a ghostwriter?

What is a ghostwriter?

A ghostwriter is a professional writer. They can be hired to write literary or journalistic works, speeches, websites, blogs editorials or any other texts that are officially credited to another person.

In most cases a ghostwriter will be paid for their work, but they don’t receive official credit for what they’ve produced.

I have been asked if this makes me mad, or feels bad. But I explain that in many cases I am writing the expertise of someone else. For example, no one wants to read a book about financial health written by me – Kristen Lowrey, mom, taco lover, former lawyer and copywriter. They want to read a book about financial health from a financial advisor, with experience and expertise in that industry.

So while I can write the book, the expertise and thought leadership is still (and always was) the authors. And the credit should remain with them as well.

The role of a ghostwriter

Because we write on a variety of subjects and for a variety of authors, ghostwriters must be versatile and flexible writers. We need to be able to understand and capture the client’s expertise, thought leadership, voice and tone.

To do that we have to work closely with our authors to firstly understand the nature of the subject being written, and secondly to make sure that the final product accurately reflects the client’s ideas, perspectives and style.

The process often involves extensive research, writing and rewriting and, of course, collaboration. This is the only way to create a piece that reads as though it were written by the client themselves.

Ghostwriting projects

Ghostwriters can work on a large variety of different writing projects. But some that I have worked on in the past include:

• Books: From memoirs and autobiographies to fiction and non-fiction, including thought leadership, books.
• Advertising. Scripts for radio ads as well as content for print ads.
• Articles and blog posts: Businesses and influencers sometimes hire ghostwriters for their online content.
• Websites: Website content is often written from the perspective of the business or organisation.
• Newsletters: EDMs are some of the most personal outreach an organisation can do. It’s important that this sounds professional but also like the author.
• Editorials: PR work often includes editorials in magazines and newspapers. Ghostwriters can help add the necessary professional edge.
• Social media: Social media is very personal marketing. It’s important to sound on brand while being approachable and professional.
• Speeches and keynotes: Getting help to conceptualise a keynote or speech is a great idea.

What to look for in a ghostwriter

Now that we’ve answered the question, ‘what is a ghostwriter’, you’ll likely want to know what to look for when seeking out a ghostwriter to work with.

1. Alignment: First and foremost you want to make sure you get along with the ghostwriter – that they ‘get’ you. If you are too mismatched they’ll never be able to tell your message in a way that sounds right to you.
2. Adaptability: Second, they need the ability to match your style and voice.
3. Research: Third, ghostwriters must be highly proficient at research. This is one of the reasons I was able to get clients when I was just new to the industry. As a former lawyer I had a proven track record of thorough research and could understand complex topics and difficult subject matter and distil it into interesting and accessible writing.
4. Writing talent: Fourth, and perhaps obviously, ghostwriters must have exceptional writing skills.
5. Discretion: Fifth, your ghostwriter must be able to provide you with a contract that protects the work for your benefit and always maintain confidentiality and professionalism.

Why hire a ghostwriter

There are loads of reasons that a person might hire a ghostwriter, but some of the most common are:

• They’re experts in their fields, but not expert writers.
• They simply don’t have the time.
• They’re stuck and need some help getting unstuck.
• Their style needs some zhushing up.

The ethics of ghostwriting

There are some ethical considerations when it comes to ghostwriting. In most cases, no one would bat an eye if you said you had a copywriter work on your copy. In fact, in most industries this is a considered best practice (outsourcing work that keeps you in your genius). However, in some fields, such as academic writing, it can be considered unethical. The key is to know the industry.

Get started working with a ghostwriter

If you’re ready to work with a ghostwriter get in touch. I’d love to help you get your project off the ground in a way that showcases your expertise in all its brilliance.