hiring a ghostwriter
What is the Association of Ghostwriters?
At the inaugural Gathering of the Ghosts convention in NYC in early 2024, I was surprised by how few attendees had heard of the Association of Ghostwriters (AOG). Granted, a solid percentage of those in attendance were already AOG members, but the rest generally had not heard of the professional association for the industry. After…
Always Go to the Original Source for Verification
Most writers understand the importance of finding the original source of information before using it in a book, article, blog post, report, speech, infographic, or anywhere else it may be cited. Those who attended journalism school likely had it drilled into them, while others learned through other methods, such as books or workshops. The core…
The Art of the Initial Client Interview: 11 Questions Every Ghostwriter Should Ask
When issues arise between a ghostwriter and their author-client, on reflection, the ghostwriter almost always admits that there were red flags during early conversations that they ignored. Sometimes, those red flags are as minor as a questionable comment or off-hand remark that the ghost chose to ignore. Other times, the red flags emerge as the…
Building a Ghostwriting Portfolio When You Can’t Share Most of Your Work
Ghostwriters face a marketing conundrum unique to the industry: How do you market your services when you can’t talk about previous clients? Many authors demand that their ghostwriters sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and/or confidentiality clause that prevents them from talking about their work together. This means that some of the most capable and qualified…
4 Ghostwriting Industry Predictions for 2025
As we kick off a new year, now is a good time to reflect on changes within the ghostwriting industry that we witnessed or got a glimpse of in 2024 as a clue to what may come. Which trends are taking hold and which are just starting to emerge? Which ones will impact demand for…
Guest Post: Working with a ghostwriter is shameful … or is it?
By Tracy Hume I’ve got a secret to share: my secret is that I believe in hiring professionals for complex tasks rather than trying to tackle those tasks by myself. For example: I’ve tried the DIY route: 24/7 access to Google and YouTube creates the illusion that you can Google your way to expertise in…
Guest Post: How Much Time Should a Ghostwriter Invest in a Prospective Client?
By Thomas Hauck If you’re like me, you’re a sole proprietor who serves a revolving set of clients throughout the year. A new client comes on board, you write their book, and then you say goodbye and move on to the next author. I ghostwrite five or six books a year, both fiction and non-fiction,…
Why the Association of Ghostwriters Does Not Accept Outside Guest Blog Posts
Every week we receive at least one request from someone who is not currently part of the Association of Ghostwriters (AOG) community asking to submit a guest blog post. That number has been increasing lately, perhaps because the website has been attracting more traffic. This week alone I’ve been offered posts by John, who has…
Guest Post: How I Ghostwrite Business Books…And Bumble Messages
By Megan Okonsky When I meet new people, I hesitate before sharing what I do for work. My official title shifted from “copywriter” to “ghostwriter” in 2019 and I began fielding quite a few questions about my job. Nervous to take up too much time talking about my 9-5, I avoided bringing up work woes…
Guest Post: What You Should Know Before Hiring a Ghostwriter to Pen Your Memoir
By Rob Swystun First off, let me just say that you have absolutely lived a fascinating life. Your accomplishments deserve to be hailed and your trials and tribulations deserve to be recognized. With that out of the way, it pains me to inform you that regardless of how interesting your life is, your chances of…
The Right Way to Think About What You’re Worth…
By Robert Bruce Woodcox Talking about oneself is generally not the way to begin an article that enlightens others, but it is necessary to talk about why you should listen to me carefully as you read this. Most of you ghostwriters are not charging enough for your talents, time, education, experience and the results of…
Tips for Hiring a Ghostwriter
By Erick Mertz Finding the right professional service provider for your needs is often tricky. This can be especially true when it comes to hiring a ghostwriter for your writing project. What makes hiring a ghostwriter so tricky? One reason is this: published rates are difficult to find. Then on the off chance you are…