Think about the last time you did not know how to do something. Chances are, you grabbed your phone and typed it into the search bar. From fixing a leaking tap to starting a small business, the internet has become the first place most of us go for advice, and we trust it to point us in the right direction.

However, what many people fail to see is that some questions are too big for a quick search. Rather than giving one clear answer, the internet throws thousands of results at you, and you end up more confused than before. A lot of people with a story to tell hit this wall when they decide to turn it into a book, because they have the idea but not the time or the writing skills to finish it.

Similar worries come up again and again among busy professionals, retired people, and first-time authors. The option they hear about most often is hiring a ghostwriter, which is a writer who creates the book for you. So is it really easy to find a good one?

The answer is yes, but you need to know where to look. Just like finding a good doctor or a good mechanic, you have to do a little homework first. Therefore, a random pick will not do. That’s how people end up typing “how do I find a ghostwriter” into a search bar and scrolling through pages of results without knowing what to trust. Let’s see how to make that search a lot simpler.

Where to Look for a Ghostwriter

As mentioned above, finding the right writer takes a little effort. But is Google the only place to start? If not, then where else should you look, or, more correctly put, where are the good ones actually found?

Well, there are plenty of places to start, and each one has its own good and bad sides. But then you need to pick the one that suits your budget and your book. Some of these places are given below:

Your own network:

Ask around. If you know other authors, ask whether they have worked with a ghostwriter and whether they would recommend them. A personal referral is usually the safest start, though you should still check the writer’s work yourself, because what suits one person may not suit another.

Freelance marketplaces:

Sites like Fiverr and Upwork have plenty of ghostwriters. They are easy to browse, but the quality varies a lot, so you will need to screen people carefully.

Ghostwriting agencies:

Agencies can match you with a writer who works in your genre, and some can help with the publishing side as well. Once again, check their past work before you commit.

Social media and Google:

You can search on LinkedIn or Facebook, join ghostwriting groups, or search Google with specifics like your genre or topic. Be careful here, though. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.

How to Check If a Writer Is the Right Fit

Now, finding names is only half the job. The next step is figuring out who will actually do justice to your book. Here are a few things to look at:

Samples:

Ask to see previous work. Many ghostwriters sign confidentiality agreements and cannot share everything, but they can usually show a few pieces so you can judge their style.

Genre and voice:

Make sure they have experience in your topic and can write in a voice that sounds like yours. A great business writer may not be the right person for your memoir.

Chemistry:

You will be sharing personal stories and spending months working together, so pick someone you click with. A short call before signing is a good way to find out.

Contract and payment:

Get a full project bid in writing, and avoid paying the whole fee up front. Large projects are usually paid in a few installments.

To wrap it

We can sit and search all day for the answer to “how do I find a ghostwriter,” but one thing we know for sure is that the right match comes from a bit of research. We cannot say how the market will change in the future, but for now, a little patience goes a long way in finding the writer who can bring your story to life!