When should I hire a ghostwriter?

If you’re thinking about writing a book, the timeframe has probably begun to play on your mind.

How long does it take to write a book? Should I be trying to do it myself? What happens if I can’t finish it or it isn’t any good, even after years of trying? When should I decide to turn to a ghostwriter? How long does a ghostwriter need to write a book?

I can answer all of those questions for you, right here.

How long does it take to write a book?

This is a little bit like asking, how long is a piece of string? Every book is different, and every writer is different.

Personally, when I sit down to write one of my own books, I can get it done within about a month. But I have well over a decade of experience and have written more than 100 books, so it’s fair to say that I have the benefit of practice on my side.

Some authors spend years, or even decades, writing one single book. Just ask George R. R. Martin! Others prefer to just sit down at their desk and work relentlessly until it is done, managing the output in a matter of a few months.

But if you can’t afford to take a few months off work while you write, and you don’t want to wait years to see any results, you might want to try an alternative method.

Should I be trying to write a book myself?

Absolutely! There’s no reason why you shouldn’t. Even though I’m a ghostwriter, I’m not the type to insist that everyone should hire me. In fact, for some people, the writing of the book itself is the part that will bring them the most satisfaction. Having that achievement under your belt can really feel amazing. For others, it’s either not practical, not important, or not doable – and that’s where I prefer to come in.

If you’re determined to write the book yourself, and you just need a helping hand with some parts of the process, get in touch and ask about my writing coach services.

What happens if I can’t finish writing my book?

If you don’t take action, nothing will happen. You’ll simply join the ranks of the thousands, or more likely millions, of people throughout time who have tried to write a book and found themselves stalled out. There’s nothing wrong with that, and you can certainly be proud of yourself even just for trying.

On the other hand, if you want to do something to resolve the situation, you can come to me. There are a few options for how we might work together. I can coach you through the hard part so that you finish the book on your own. I can edit what you already have and motivate you to finish the rest. Or, I can take over and write the project for you.

One common misconception is that it should cost less to hire a ghostwriter when you’ve written half the book already, because it’s already halfway there. The truth is, I often find I have to rewrite the first section fully in order to bring it in line with the style and quality of the rest of the book. At the very least, you will need to pay robust editing fees for the part you’ve already done – and if it’s good enough to leave intact, I would really encourage you to keep going and finish it yourself, since you’ve come so far already.

When should I bring in a ghostwriter?

If you really, definitely want to have a book out there, but you’re going nowhere fast, then it’s time to bring in a ghostwriter. I would only recommend having someone else write the book for you if you’re sure that’s what you want. Otherwise, a writing coach would be a better way to go.

But, if you just want a book no matter what, and…

• • You can’t figure out the structure of the book

• • You’ve written one part but can’t figure out where to go next

• • You’re not confident in the style of your writing so far

• • You find you have no time to write it yourself

• • Or, you’ve realised it’s more effort than you want to take on

… Then I would recommend hiring a ghostwriter.

How long does it take a ghostwriter to write a book?

This, again, can vary based on the professional that you choose. In my own case, I usually recommend six months for a standard-length manuscript, and up to 12 months for anything more than 60,000 words long. If you don’t yet know how many words your book should contain, that’s okay – we can work it out together.

If you’re in a real hurry and can make yourself available for the correct number of meetings within a shorter space of time, as well as setting aside time for edits, then I am able to offer rush jobs of as little as three months. Because I will have to ignore any other work or incoming queries to focus solely on getting it done during this time, I charge more for a rush service.

Bear in mind, however, that these timeframes only apply if I have room available in my schedule immediately. It also takes an average of two weeks to a month to agree on a structure and package options, set a start date, and begin moving forward. This means that if you come to me three months before you need the project to go live, you may be in a really tight spot! I would recommend getting in touch with a ghostwriter as soon as you realise you want or need to work with one – and not a moment later than that. Get yourself booked in before the opportunity is gone – don’t wait until the last minute. High-tier ghostwriters like myself are often booked in advance, and as you can imagine, the work is very consuming – so I might not be able to book you in for six months or even longer.

If you’re reading this and worrying that you’ve missed the boat, get in touch. You never know: a cancellation or a fallow period may have just sprung up, giving you the opportunity you’ve been needing.