This document outlines 7 key things to look for when hiring a business ghostwriter: 1) Compatibility between you and the ghostwriter is important since writing a book takes months. 2) Reliability is important since a ghostwriter needs to keep the book on track and work within your schedule. 3) Business expertise is valuable for a ghostwriter of business books to have relevant background. 4) The ability to ask clarifying questions is important so the ghostwriter can explain complex topics clearly. 5) Structure is important for the ghostwriter to organize the book's argument and flow. 6) The ghostwriter must discover your authentic voice. 7) Trust takes time to develop but the ghostwriter should provide writing samples.

1. 7
Things
To Look
For
When Hiring a
Business Ghostwriter

2. Compatibility
1

3. You and your
ghostwriter
should be a
good fit.
C o m p a t i b i l i t y i s k e y
b e c a u s e w r i t i n g a b o o k
t a k e s m o n t h s t o
c o m p l e t e , e v e n f o r t h e
p r o s .

4. You’re the expert
Your ghostwriter’s job
is to showcase
your expertise,
not his.

5. If you and your ghostwriter
are a good fit,
you will often start to think about
old things in new ways.

6. When readers are absorbed
in a story, their
intellectual resistance
drops

7. Reliability
2

8. It’s easy to
get
sidetracked
when writing
a book.
To keep your book on track,
your ghostwriter must be
dependable, organized and
deadline-driven.

9. Your time is precious
A reliable ghostwriter understands this fact,
and works within and around your schedule.

10. Business expertise
3

11. Ghostwriters of
business books
tend to have (or
should have)
business
backgrounds.
It makes the process much
smoother and easier, and adds
value, quality and depth to the
material being produced.

12. Ability to ask
the right questions
4

13. Jargon and
complexity is an
inevitable by-
product of being
an expert in your
field.
A good ghostwriter takes complexity
and turns it into plain English so it is
accessible to a wider audience.

14. When the expert says something
that sounds intelligent but appears opaque,
the ghostwriter must keep at it,
asking the “dumb” questions (back to ‘fit” again)
until another, better way is found to
express those thoughts so that
every reader will understand.

15. Structure
5

16. At their core, most
business books
are simply an
extended
argument.
Ultimately, a business book’s value
is defined by how
persuasively the author
Is able to make his or her case.

17. Structure is about developing
a consistent and coherent theme.
Your ghostwriter should have the ability to
organize and structure your book’s contents
so your argument builds and flows
in a convincing way.

18. Ideally, a business book works
on multiple levels:
Inspirational
Emotional
Intellectual
Visceral

19. Voice
6

20. Your ‘voice’ is as
unique to you as
your thumbprint.
An experienced ghostwriter knows
how to put creative ego aside and
quickly discover your authentic
written voice.

21. However, your voice on the page
is likely to differ
from your spoken voice.
Why?

22. Because even the most articulate speaker
will appear a little less polished
when his or her (transcribed) words
are seen on the page,
so a certain amount of polishing
is always necessary.

23. Trust
7

24. You and your
ghostwriter must
rely on each
other.
Trust is mutual belief.
Trust sometimes takes time to fully
develop. That said, there doesn't
have to be love at first sight or even
at last sight.

25. If you are committed to going ahead
with your book, but have a concern
about your ghostwriter's ability
to capture your voice…

26. … your prospective ghostwriter
should be willing to show you
written samples from published books
they have either co-authored or ghosted.
(Or possibly even write
a sample page or two for you.)

27. To learn more
To l e a r n m o r e a b o u t m e
a n d /o r t h e b o o k c o l l a b o ra t i o n p ro c e s s ,
s i m p l y c l i c k o n t h e l i n k b e l o w :
Jonathan Verney