Ghostwriting
Ghostwriting is when a person is hired to write something, like a book or speech, but someone else gets credit as the author. Businesses often hire ghostwriters for several strategic reasons:
- Save time.
- Get professional-level writing.
- Leverage specialized knowledge.
So, is it legal for someone else to take the credit for another person’s work? Ghostwriting is generally legal when you have these three agreements in place:
- There’s a contract between the ghostwriter and the credited author outlining payment, content ownership, and confidentiality
- The ghostwriter produces original, non-plagiarized content
- The contract states penalties if either party violates the terms
The cost of ghostwriting services explained
When determining the cost for their services, ghostwriters strive for a balance between the level of their skills and the value they deliver to clients. Rates can vary broadly, but the cost to hire ghostwriters on Upwork is from $20 to $45 an hour on average.
A ghostwriter may charge by the hour or a flat fee for the project. Projects that take longer to complete, such as writing a book, are usually charged a flat fee with milestones. A few reasons why a professional ghostwriter’s rate may vary include:
- Expertise and experience
- Project length and complexity
- Revisions and rewrites
- Credits and royalties
- Location
Is it OK to hire a ghostwriter?
Hiring a ghostwriter is completely OK as long as all parties agree to an ethical contract and aren’t trying to deceive anyone. Ethical ghostwriting arrangements have the following characteristics:
- Transparency. Before writing begins, have clear agreements that outline the ghostwriter's role and the client's responsibilities.
- Confidentiality. Ghostwriters often have access to sensitive information and are asked to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to protect people’s privacy.
- Integrity. A ghostwriter’s name may not be mentioned, but the person taking credit for content should disclose what was written by a ghostwriter. Ghostwriters should never be used in situations considered unethical or illegal, such as in writing a term paper.
The ghostwriting process unveiled
The process of working with a ghostwriter is similar to that of most content writers. Whether you’re working with them on an article or autobiography, you’ll generally go through these steps:
- Have an initial meeting. You and the ghostwriter connect in person or remotely to discuss the project. The writer will craft a project proposal and fee to complete the work based on the project’s scope, deadlines, and deliverables.
- Prepare and review a project outline. Once you and the writer agree to a contract, you’ll send the ghostwriter all information and documents related to the project. The writer may also interview you for more data to create a project outline.
- Conduct in-depth interviews. After you approve the outline, the writer gathers more information, if needed. This may not be necessary for some articles. If you’re writing a book, the writer may follow you around for months or conduct several interviews
- Review project draft. The ghostwriter writes a full draft, which can take months for more complex projects. You review the draft by making edits, clarifying ideas, and adding stories if appropriate.
- Edit and publish. The draft goes through a final editing process before it’s prepared for publication.
Identifying your ghostwriting needs
Identifying your ghostwriting needs involves looking at your overall content needs, internal resources, and budget. Start by looking at all of the content your team is expected to create. Then decide which projects are best done by your core writing team based on deadlines and your team’s knowledge and skills.
For instance, some teams offer search engine optimization (SEO) articles to ghostwriters so that internal writers are freed to work on high-value projects that require a deep understanding of the business. When workloads spike, some companies use ghostwriters to shoulder some of the output and protect their internal teams from burning out.
However you utilize ghostwriters, be sure to set aside enough budget to hire a realistic amount of talent to complete projects on time. It may be unrealistic to expect one writer to churn out 15 quality blog posts in a month. However, dividing the workload among six or seven ghostwriters may be doable.
Legal and ethical considerations
Working with a professional ghostwriter is usually a straightforward and smooth process. However, it’s good practice to establish a detailed contract that protects you and the writer. The contract should clearly outline:
- Scope of work
- Compensation
- Ownership of intellectual property rights
- Confidentiality
- Penalties for violating the agreement
- Original, plagiarism-free work
Ghostwriting is a respected profession. However, there are situations when you should not hire a ghostwriter. The most common are:
- Ghostwriting for students' academic assignments. Having a ghostwriter pen a thesis, dissertation, or term paper is considered academic dishonesty and fraud.
- Ghostwriting for pharmaceutical companies. Having a ghostwriter craft scientific papers that are then published under the name of a doctor or scientist is seen as deceptive and unethical.
Types of projects suitable for ghostwriters
No matter what your organization, you likely have many types of projects that can be done by ghostwriters. Since they’re skilled at sounding like someone else, they’re great at:
Content creation. Hire ghostwriters to scale production, save time, and access niche skills for blog posts, articles, and social media content that maintain the brand’s voice.
Memoirs and autobiographies. Ghostwriters can help business leaders write their life stories and memoirs in appealing and inspiring ways.
Speeches and presentations. Instead of spending days writing a presentation, offer the work to a specialist who will craft an engaging one while you focus on other work.
Thought leadership. Many executives use ghostwriters to produce white papers, research reports, and other expert content to position themselves as thought leaders in their field.
Who retains credit? Navigating copyright and ownership
Generally, the person or organization that hires the ghostwriter owns the copyright and all rights to the ghostwritten content. You may want to review these standard practices to ensure a successful collaboration and a smooth transfer of rights.
Copyright and ownership
A ghostwriter is considered a work-for-hire under U.S. copyright law. The understanding is the writer is producing content on behalf of the client, who is the true author. That said, your contract should clearly state that the client owns the copyright and all associated rights and that the ghostwriter relinquishes any claims to the content. If you’re offering the writer coauthor credit, explicitly state what copyright or royalty rights they hold, if any.
Transfer of rights
Ensure a smooth transfer of rights by having a detailed contract stating the scope of work and rights. Avoid any future disputes over ownership by including an intellectual property clause that transfers all rights from the ghostwriter to the client.
You may want to consult an attorney, especially one experienced in intellectual property, to ensure your contract is legally sound and protects your rights.
Termination provisions
Outline the conditions and consequences of terminating the agreement, ensuring a clean break in terms of rights and ownership.
Ensuring a fruitful collaboration
The key to maintaining a productive and positive working relationship centers around open communication and a willingness to collaborate. These tips help foster a fruitful collaboration that produces the quality content you desire.
Establish clear communication and expectations
- During the initial meeting, discuss the project scope, timeline, and responsibilities of both parties in detail
- Agree on communication methods—such as phone and email, frequency, and deadlines—upfront to avoid misunderstandings
- Provide a detailed project brief and be open to feedback and adjustments as the project progresses
Foster a collaborative atmosphere
- Treat the professional ghostwriter as a valued partner and collaborator
- Be respectful of their time and expertise and be open to their suggestions and ideas
- Provide clear and constructive feedback and be willing to make adjustments to the project scope if necessary
- Show appreciation for the ghostwriter's hard work and contributions
Maintain transparency and confidentiality
- Ensure there is a clear, written agreement that the ghostwriter keeps all processes and information confidential and private
- Do not share the ghostwriter's work without permission
Adhere to deadlines and contract details
- Pay the ghostwriter promptly according to the payment agreement
- Complete your tasks by agreed-upon deadlines to avoid disrupting the workflow and straining the relationship
This article is intended for educational purposes and should not be viewed as legal or tax advice. Please consult a professional to find the solution that best fits your situation.