Hire a non-fiction ghostwriter.

By- Michael McKown
Co-founder & president, Ghostwriters Central, Inc.

What Would Your Life Be Like Without Stories?

You’d be bored stiff. Literally everybody loves — and needs — stories, and often real life is more interesting than fiction. Let’s honestly discuss turning your story into a non-fiction book. Maybe it’s a memoir, a business guide, a how-to book, spiritual, or a deep dive into a niche topic you’re obsessed with. But the thought of actually writing it? Yikes! That’s where a non-fiction ghostwriter comes in.

They’re the behind-the-scenes pros who can turn your ideas into polished prose without you sweating over every sentence. To get your story told as a book, it must flow from your fingers onto the page. But most people aren’t skilled writers, and that first blank page can be intimidating. Perhaps you’ve felt that empty page taunting you: “Write something, damn it!” A professional ghostwriter can taunt that page right back: “Try to keep up!” You supply the idea and it flows from their fingers onto the page.
Takeaway: A writer was born to pound a keyboard.

What’s a Non-Fiction Ghostwriter, Anyway?

A ghostwriter is someone you hire to write your book for you, but they don’t get their name on the cover. You get the credit, you get the royalties, and the writer gets paid. And everyone’s happy. Non-fiction ghostwriters specialize in true stories or factual content, working closely with you to capture your voice and vision. Whether you’re a busy CEO, a public figure, or just someone with a story to tell, they’re your secret weapon.
Fact: A ghostwriter anonymously works on your behalf.

What is the Difference Between a Ghostwriter and a Co-Author?

A co-author is one who writes or co-writes a book with a client, and that writer’s name appears on the book and probably takes a share of the receipts. The co-author shares credit for the work. A ghostwriter does the writing on your behalf and in your voice. The ghostwriter does not take author credit, and is usually signed to a non-disclosure agreement which assures their silence on book projects and clients.
Insight: One who claims to have ghostwritten best sellers has an ethics problem if they identify the books or clients, as they are very likely to have been signed to an NDA. If they served as a co-author, meaning they shared credit, then their claim of having “ghostwritten” those books is false. Be cautious with those who claim to have ghostwritten best sellers.

The Advantages of Hiring a Ghostwriter

Hiring a ghostwriter can feel like hiring a personal assistant for your book. They do the heavy lifting while you enjoy the results. Here’s why it’s a giant advantage:

• • Saves Time: Writing a book is a time suck. A ghostwriter lets you focus on your day job while they handle the wordcraft.
  • Professional Polish: These folks are pros at structuring ideas, making complex topics clear, and keeping readers hooked.
  • Your Voice, Amplified: A good ghostwriter nails your tone, so the book sounds like you wrote it, not some stranger.
  • No Writing Skills Needed: Got a great story but hate writing? No problem. Ghostwriters translate your ideas into compelling prose.
  • If you’ve been stalling, they get the project moving.

A ghostwriter is like a translator for your brain. They turn your thoughts into a book without stealing your spotlight.

The Disadvantages to a Ghostwriter

Of course, it’s not all sunshine and royalties. Hiring a ghostwriter has its downsides, and you’ll want to weigh them carefully:

• • Cost: Quality ghostwriters aren’t cheap. Depending on experience, you could pay anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000+ for a full manuscript.
  • Loss of Control: You’re trusting someone else to shape your story. If they don’t get you, the book might feel off.
  • Finding the Right Fit: Not every ghostwriter is a match. You’ll need to vet them to ensure they understand your vision and genre.
  • Ethical Questions: Some folks feel weird about putting their name on a book they didn’t write. It’s worth thinking about how you’ll handle the “who wrote it?” question.

Takeaway: Be ready to invest both money and time in finding a ghostwriter who is perfect for your project.

What Kinds of Topics Are Non-Fiction?

Non-fiction is a massive playground, covering anything that’s true (or at least based on reality). Ghostwriters can tackle a wide range of topics, so your book idea probably fits. Here are some popular non-fiction genres:

• • Memoirs and Autobiographies: Your life story, from overcoming challenges to wild adventures.
  • Business and Leadership: Think guides on entrepreneurship, management tips, or industry insights.
  • Self-Help and Personal Development: Books on mindfulness, productivity, or life hacks.
  • History and True Crime: Deep dives into historical events or gripping crime stories.
  • Science and Technology: Explaining complex topics like A.I., climate change, or medical breakthroughs.
  • How-To and Instructional: From cooking to coding, these are practical guides for specific skills.
  • Travel and Culture: Stories about exploring the world or diving into cultural trends.

Fact: Non-fiction is anything real—your life, your expertise, or your passions can all become a book.

An Example of Actually True Historical Fiction

Schindler’s List (originally Schindler’s Ark) is the real-life memoir of Holocaust survivor Poldek Pfefferberg, authored by Thomas Keneally. It’s considered historical fiction because Pfefferberg could not have been privy to conversations and events that contributed to his experience. To a great extent, the author needed to infer probable situations, events and conversations to flesh out the story.

What is the Process of Working With a Non-Fiction Ghostwriter?

Find an excellent ghostwriter. A simple search for “ghostwriters” will turn up freelancer websites, discussion forums, videos, individual writer websites, and ghostwriting companies, such as Ghostwriters Central. Call around, get some ballpark estimates on price and turnaround time, and find out about the experience of the writers.

1. 1. Ghostwriting is a secretive process. The normal practice is to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), which guarantees the writer will remain silent about their client and the book. Writers can claim to have written best sellers, but if they actually ghostwrote those and name those books, they are probably violating the NDA, which is a major ethics breach. If they co-wrote the book and their name is on the cover, that’s a different story. The NDA doesn’t apply.
   2. References. You’re not going to get references from their clients when the book and author’s identity are covered by an NDA. But not everything a ghostwriter produces is covered, so ask to see examples of their work and information on the client. Or, such as in the case with us, our ghostwriters are evaluated before being put under contract, which means you don’t need to be concerned about their capabilities and honesty.
   3. A free consultation. You should be able to talk with your writer in an extended conversation. In that conversation, you’ll talk about your story idea, the characters, the arc of the story and characters, target length of the manuscript, pricing and payment terms. If you agree to move forward….
   4. The contract. To avoid misunderstandings and surprises, a detailed contract for the work must be prepared. It includes the name of the work, length, payment terms, ownership and delivery date. At Ghostwriters Central. Here is a video about ghostwriting contracts.
   5. Access back and forth. You should have direct access to your writer by phone, Zoom, email or text. And that writer needs to have direct access to you. Freelance websites often require all communications go through their own in-house messaging system, and that is no way to work with a writer. Brainstorming by email is a pain, at best. At our company, you and the writer get direct access.
   6. Collaboration and staged approval. After your consultation, depending on the agreement you reach with the writer, they may create an outline for your novel, to be followed by the first draft. Revisions will usually be required, then the final draft is prepared. Limited revisions are allowed after the final draft is delivered. You will be approving the work in stages to minimize rewriting at the end.

Survival tip: Run from high-pressure sales practices.

How do we screen our ghostwriters?

Ghostwriters Central is well known in this industry. We are regularly approached by writers who wish to sign on with us, and sometimes we advertise. The first step in the screening process is to determine the writer’s experience. I want to assess their client service attitude. Next, I review the quality of their work. Providing me with examples of defective work results in rejection. Phone conversations follow, and I make it clear that excellence, responsiveness (to me and the client) and dependability are mandatory. I point out that I expect them to be proactive with clients, which means to use their knowledge to guide the client to success. Then I send a contract to them for signature. The writers I have under contract are the survivors of this process.

Is Hiring a Non-Fiction Ghostwriter Right for You?

Hiring a non-fiction ghostwriter is a big decision. If you’ve got a story or expertise to share but lack the time, skill, or patience to write, a ghostwriter can make your dream book a reality. Just be ready to invest financially and emotionally, and take the time to find someone who gets you. Cost may seem to be the prime consideration, but that’s not the case. You need to find a writer who will listen, understand your story, adapt to your “voice,” and write it engagingly and correctly. Then deliver the manuscript on time.
Fact: A professional writer will get your book moving.

Is Ghostwriting Ethical — or Cheating?

Can I Trust a Ghostwriter?

I can tell you that I trust the writers Ghostwriters Central has under contract. I know what they can do and they’re all client-centric. In the unlikely event there is a problem, I can step in to resolve it. That level of oversight isn’t available with freelance writers. If something goes south, there is no effective recourse. Imagine a dispute with an individual you’ve at least partially paid and that person decides to quit talking to you. Where does that leave you? I co-founded this company in 2002. Literally nobody has accused us of being untrustworthy.
Tip: Recourse for a problem is a good thing.

Where Can I Find a Non-Fiction Ghostwriter?

Start by calling or writing to me. You can find freelancers on sites like Fiverr, Reedsy and Upwork. An internet search will turn up many writer and agency websites. You can also ask for recommendations in your network. With the right ghostwriter, your non-fiction book could be the next big thing on the shelves.

What Does It Cost to Hire a Non-Fiction Ghostwriter?

At Ghostwriters Central, as of this writing, our fee for non-fiction manuscript writing is $60 per double-spaced manuscript page. Our pricing appears on our ghostwriting rates page. A 250-page manuscript will probably cost $15,400, including some hourly billing. We can work out payments. Our writers do have the freedom to set their own prices, or they can even offer a flat rate for the entire work. Your first consultation with a writer is free, and pricing and the payment schedule will be discussed at that time. Watch our video on pricing.

You can easily find super-cheap ghostwriters elsewhere but be cautious. Scammers usually offer huge discounts to lure in their victims. Legitimate writers who work super-cheap are notorious for delivering poor quality and missing deadlines. For those who want a writer who will work for free, watch this video to discover your options. If you’re seeking a famous ghostwriter, expect to pay famous prices.
Pro tip: Find a great writer who is not (yet) famous.

Why Shouldn’t I Save a Lot of Money With A.I. Writing?

Publishers are flooded with A.I.-written manuscripts. The “authors” hope to make a fortune by getting a hundred quickie manuscripts published. Sharp-eyed editors quickly toss them into the reject pile. Even if your A.I.-written non-fiction manuscript survives a reading by a literary agent, the odds are it will be stabbed to death on an editor’s desk. A.I. writing typically has readability problems, story problems, and is usually boring.
Pro tip: A skilled writer wants you to succeed and will not bore readers.

What Can I Expect in Terms of a Delivery Date?

Turnaround time is something to discuss with the writer. In our case, the deadline will depends on factors such as the writer’s workload and the nature and complexity of your project. The turnaround time will be included in the contract for the work. At Ghostwriters Central, in most cases, for most books, four months is common. Rush service is available but the price will double.

Will There Be Any Unfortunate Surprises or Hidden Fees?

Never with us. Every detail is spelled out in our ghostwriting contract. You won’t be hit with hidden fees. Your work will be delivered on time. Changes to the terms of the contract must be authorized by the client. Do bear in mind that super-cheap writers often slap the client with added fees.
Tip: Get everything in writing.

Resources

• • Take a few minutes to view our video on non-fiction ghostwriting services.
  • Here is an article on how a ghostwriter constructs the non-fiction manuscript.
  • This is an article on ghostwriting services for autobiographies and memoirs. 
  • This article is about how to write a book with a ghostwriter.

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