A man referred by a current client called the other day. He wanted to write a book that combines both his professional expertise and personal life experiences. I’m seeing more and more of that these days. The professional angle imparts valuable information while the personal twist brings the topic to life and adds that personal dimension and transparency that buyers are looking for these days.

The man was on to something. Authoring a book cements your credibility no matter what your business. That doesn’t mean you actually have to write it. You can hire someone else to do the job. But to find a ghostwriter who will work out you have to know what to look for.

My prospective new client discovered that the hard way, having hired not one but two ghostwriters who hadn’t worked out. The first ghostwriter’s style was too formal—the content was downright technical instead of being approachable. The second ghostwriter’s style was too cutesy and didn’t sound a bit like him.

The problem? Neither ghostwriter had bothered to interview him, let alone use interview transcripts to write the draft.

Yes, there’s an art to ghostwriting, one that I refined when ghostwriting national bestseller The Legacy of Luna. So when you don’t have the time or the inclination to write your own content—even with the help of a writing coach—here are ten tips to make sure you find a ghostwriter who can deliver:

1. Chemistry

The ghostwriting process is the same as a collaboration. The only difference is that the ghostwriter’s name doesn’t appear in the byline (or web copy). That means you’ll be spending a lot of time together during the course of the writing, so make sure you respond to the person who will be ghostwriting your book.

2. The Process

When you’re looking to find a ghostwriter, make sure he or she really understands the ghostwriting process before you finalize the deal. There’s no way the content is going to sound like you if the ghostwriter doesn’t interview you and work from transcripts. I always liken the job of ghostwriting to that of a weaver once I have the material.

3. Interviewing Skills

You need to find a ghostwriter who knows how to interview. You’ve got a ton of information and stories tucked away in your brain. The ghostwriter’s initial job is to interview you in a way that will help unlock all that content.

4.  Structure

After the initial interview(s), the ghostwriter should be able to create a working outline that the two of you can then review and modify as necessary. Even once you’ve tinkered, the outline will almost certainly change as the work progresses. Chapters will be split in two. Chapters will be moved. Chapters will be eliminated. Still, having an initial structure to help guide the process is critical.

5. Tone

Make sure you discuss the tone you want. A book that reads like a suspense thriller requires a different tone than one that is more contemplative or integrates humor.

6. Voice

“This actually sounds like me!” exclaimed the late Vidal Sassoon when I shared the sample chapter I’d written for him.

“Of course it does,” I replied. “Those are your words. I just cleaned them up, re-ordered them as necessary and wrote the bridges that get us from one idea to the next.”

7. Narrative flow

Every book is a collection of themes that add up to one central theme or argument.  Find a ghostwriter who knows how to organize material so that it flows logically and seamlessly.

8. Editing process

Once the rough draft has been completed you need to find a ghostwriter who can make sure the final structure works (that’s developmental editing) and then incorporate  your comments and changes before doing a line edit and polish. To my mind you don’t want to find a ghostwriter who’s a yes-man or yes-woman. You want someone who’s going to debate your notions when he or she doesn’t agree.  In the end, of course, you’re the boss. But someone with an outsider’s perspective, especially then you’re dealing with the topic of your life and your business, often brings clarity that you don’t even realize is lacking.

9. Publishing

Once your book has been finalized, you need to get it out there. Before that, however, you’ll need to have your book copy edited, designed (both cover and interior) and formatted. Only then will your book be ready to go to print. Find a ghostwriter you can help line up the various professionals you’ll need and then guide you through the publishing process.

10. Marketing

There’s nothing worse than having a book you’ve published go nowhere. Ironically, that happens all too often with traditional publishing. Luckily, you’re in control of your own marketing when you self-publish. If that’s not your field, find a ghostwriter who can either help with that or steer you to someone else with book marketing experience.

Having a book with your byline has become a critical component of marketing your business. When you don’t have the time or the inclination to write your own content—even with the help of a writing coach—make sure you hire a ghostwriter who can deliver a book that sounds like you only better. That’s what I do. So if you’ve been thinking about that book that you have inside you, by all means let’s talk.  

– By Linden Gross