If you troll the web, you will find that lots of people offer ghostwriting services—help for authors in structuring, writing, and editing their books. That’s one of my roles, and I enjoy talking with prospective authors about their book plans. Who doesn’t like to get in on the ground floor of a project that leads to a book rich in new insight?

As with most professionals, however, I’m not always the best match as a partner. It depends on what prospective authors are looking for—and they’re often not sure themselves. To help in the matchmaking decision, I offer a few tips:

• Knowledge: A great writer alone will not produce insightful text. Best to hire a ghost that knows your subject and audience.
• Writing style: Writers come from all backgrounds, and their style reflects it. They will try to echo your style, but they cannot entirely escape their own. Make sure you like what you read.
• Publishing network. Do you need more than writing help? Ask if the ghost has contacts with agents and editors who sell books in your genre. Selling a book proposal may be your biggest hurdle.
• Ability to “deliver”: Make sure your ghost has a track record of delivering on time. Ask him/her about earlier projects. Ask his/her former clients. Ask to talk to the ghost’s editor.
• Controllable process. Inquire about the ghostwriter’s process for each phase of book development. Like any good consultant, he or she should have a practical predictable set of steps to manage the process.
• Writing quality: Get writing samples. Look at the ghost’s books, but more important, get their raw text. Ask for a draft of work they have worked on before an editor got ahold of it.
• Total cost: Remember that you’re hiring a person who will be working for you for months.  Match costs to your budget. Hiring ghosts who mainly bring writing skill to the table may cost $50/hour. Hiring ghosts with high-end skills in storytelling, researching in your specialty, and facilitating fresh insights that require intellectual heft will cost well more than $100/hr.
• Consulting ability: Do you want a writer who is also a consultant or advisor in handling your subject, publishing program, and marketing plans? Make sure your ghost has this ability.
• The fine print: Ghostwriters work in different ways. Details can be spelled out in a written contract: copyright, bylines, work-for-hire provisions, royalties, nondisclosure provisions, and so on.
• Due diligence: As with any professional, check out the ghost’s credentials and references. They should freely offer contact information from former clients.

Many people look good on paper, of course. But when faced with a new subject and fixed deadline, can they deliver the goods? Do they comprehend the subject? Are they able to develop new insights? Can they write smooth prose? Can they finish on time?

When I used to edit a magazine, I had three “must haves” in prospective writers: They needed to convince me they could “deliver”—come through with professional work on time. They needed to be resourceful researchers—able to dig for information, interview good people, and develop new insights. And they needed to be able to write—compose compelling text. Notice the order of priority.

Of course, I cared about other things, too. But make sure you fulfill your most important criteria—whether you’re looking for excellence in three dimensions or a dozen.

[Revised January 2020. Originally published May 14, 2012]