Are you looking to hire a ghostwriter? As you know, there are a large number of individuals and service providers offering such services, and businesses are increasingly hiring them to write business eBooks or blogs to serve their marketing purposes. However, the question remains: how do you hire a ghostwriter? A recent post by Vorongo posted by Cameron on what do you need to look for when hiring a ghostwriter inspired us a lot and we thought we can share our experience on this subject to better help webmasters in hiring authors for their blogs.Check out these five must-have qualities your ghostwriter should have.
1. They Must Have Industry Knowledge
Your ghostwriter should understand the genre or industry you need them to write for. Having a firm understanding of the in’s and out’s will make your manuscript, blog post, or article stand out.
An exceptional ghostwriter is one who intentionally follows up on industry news and current trends. Your ghostwriter should not have to do a vast amount of research to take on your project. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, so it will not make them a bad person if they do not meet your qualifications. It just means they are not meant to work on your project.
2. They Must Sign and Respect the Confidentiality Agreement
You are hiring this person to be your writer and make your publication stand out. You, however, don’t want the masses to know that it was not you doing the writing. So signing a confidentiality agreement is a must and may not be a complication for them to do so. However, just because they have signed one, does not mean they are adhering to it.
Conduct a thorough interview with the potential writer. Remember, your ghostwriter must not only sign a non-disclosure agreement with you, but must adhere to prior ones they have signed as well. So in asking for their published articles, if you find they are showing you pieces of work they’ve completed for others, it means they would turn around and do the same to you. This is not ethical practices, and they are not the ghostwriter for you.
3. They Must Show Proof of Publishing
Now, although it’s been stated that they should not show off their ghostwriting work, they can, however, show you their own publications and other writing pieces. A ghostwriter does not become one overnight. In fact, they may have had a terrible time writing as a career for themselves so turned to ghostwriting. Ask to see their portfolio of which should include:
- Their current publications
- Articles, blogs, novels, and other literature pieces clients have given permission to use
- A list of references
You want to see proof they can write better than you can. Check for organization of their writing and if they have ideas to help you shine.
4. They Are Flexible and Able to Meet Your Needs
Flexibility is key in the writing industry. You have deadlines to meet and need your ghostwriter to help you maintain them. The ghostwriter that you choose should understand and be capable of showing you that your time is valuable. They should:
- Coordinate with you for interviews, transcription, and idea creation
- Work around your schedule
- Show patience with revision requests you may have
5. They Represent You Well
Finally, your ghostwriter should match your voice and represent you well. When someone reads your work, it should accurately reflect you to the point where a close friend or family member believes you wrote the piece. In the samples they show you of their work using their name, it should reflect one particular style. If they show you ghostwritten pieces, keep in mind it’s meant for that particular client, so the style of writing will change.
Remember, the purpose of your hiring a ghostwriter is to reflect your story on your timetable. Choose one that will compliment your unique style and respect the relationship you two must build to create the perfect story.
Questions and feedback is warmly welcomed! Do share your precious views on ghostwriting buddies!
