Maybe your book is currently spread across three notebooks, a folder full of voice memos, and a document called “New_Beginning.” Perhaps you already know the story inside out, but after a day at work, there is barely any time left to write it. Or you may have a manuscript already and simply know that it is not yet working the way you imagined.
A ghostwriter can take on the writing and help develop your book. The right kind of support depends on what you already have and which parts of the work you want to hand over. Before you ask for quotes, that is a useful place to start.
I’m Renel Ashmoor, an author, ghostwriter, editor, and book designer. At pagewild, I support book projects at different stages. These seven questions will help you work out what you need and prepare for a collaboration that suits your book.
1. What work do you want someone else to take on?
“I need help with my book” is a good way to start a conversation. To receive a useful proposal, though, you will need to be more specific. Does the text still need to be written? Is the structure missing? Or have you written a manuscript and want to understand why a character feels flat or the narrative loses its focus?
| Your starting point | A possible next step |
|---|---|
| An idea and scattered notes | Develop the concept and structure, followed by ghostwriting if needed. |
| A developed plot or a solid outline | Have the agreed chapters or manuscript written. |
| A rough draft with unresolved questions about content or language | Arrange a manuscript assessment, editing, or a clearly defined revision. |
| A text whose content is largely settled | Plan proofreading, typesetting, and cover design, depending on how much editing has already been done. |
Making these distinctions can save you unnecessary work. If you enjoy writing and mainly need feedback, an edit with comments and guidance for your own revisions may be useful. If particular scenes need to be rewritten, that can be defined as a separate task. A full ghostwriting commission is not the right solution for every project.
I explain the differences between these stages in Proofreading, Editing, or Rewriting (article in German).
2. Is the ghostwriter a good fit for your book?
A convincing passage of nonfiction tells you little about whether someone can make a slowly developing relationship between two fictional characters feel believable. Equally, a compelling romance novel does not show how well a writer can organize complex specialist knowledge. Look for work samples that tell you something relevant to your particular project.
For a novel, you might consider whether characters have distinct voices in dialogue, whether their decisions make sense, and whether each scene moves something forward. For nonfiction, look at how new terms are introduced, examples are used, and ideas connect.
If you are looking for help with a novel, describe the genre, point of view, and emotional effect you want to achieve. For an existing series, established character traits and events form part of the foundation. With nonfiction, the key questions are what expertise and material you bring and what additional research would be needed.
The questions a ghostwriter asks can also be revealing. Do they clarify who the book is for? Do they identify decisions that still need to be made? Can they explain the support they offer? If a sample written specifically for your project would be useful, agree on its scope and payment beforehand. Confidential client manuscripts are not a portfolio that can be shared freely.
3. How will you know the writing sounds like you?
“Please write in my style” is understandable, but it leaves a lot open to interpretation. You might mean short sentences and dry humor. Perhaps you want your nonfiction book to avoid a lecturing tone. Or you may want a novel in which emotions are conveyed mainly through actions.
Excerpts from your own writing can help, especially with a brief explanation: what should be preserved, and what are you still unhappy with? If you have written very little so far, describe the effect you want to create. Comparable books can help you discuss qualities such as pacing or narrative distance, but another writer’s wording should not be copied.
Here is a fictional example: two clients ask for a “strong heroine.” One means a woman who addresses conflict openly. The other imagines a reserved character who acts despite deep uncertainty. Both descriptions can lead to a strong character, but to very different scenes.
Write down what is already decided and where the ghostwriter has room to develop their own solutions. Starting with a short section of the manuscript can help you test those decisions in practice before much of the book is written.
4. Do you have time for your part in the project?
If you do not have time to write an entire book yourself, ghostwriting can ease the workload. You will still need time to provide material, answer questions, and read the agreed sections. Before you begin, consider how that work will fit into your daily life.
Your involvement is especially important in nonfiction: you know your method, can put examples in context, and need to check that your ideas have been represented accurately. With a novel, you help decide whether the story is developing in the way you envisioned.
Where possible, set aside specific times to give feedback. A note such as “At this point, I find out too soon why he left” is more useful during revision than “It needs more tension.” If several people are involved in decisions, they should consolidate their comments before passing them on.
At pagewild, we communicate about your project in writing. You can take time to put your thoughts into words and refer back to recorded decisions later; a video call is not required. For a more detailed look at the stages involved, see Writing a Book with a Ghostwriter (article in German).
5. What does ghostwriting cost, and what does the proposal include?
You can only assess a price meaningfully when you know what work it covers. Two proposals for the same word count may include very different services. Will the writing follow an approved concept, or do the structure and content still need to be developed? Is the source material organized, or do conflicting drafts need to be brought together?
Ask for a description of the deliverables and the steps included. These questions are particularly useful when comparing proposals:
- What concept development and research are included?
- Which sections will be written from scratch, and which existing texts will be revised?
- How many rounds of feedback and revision are included?
- Which files will you receive at the end?
- How will additional chapters or later changes of direction be handled?
- Which editing, design, or publishing services might need to be commissioned separately?
At pagewild, we agree on the scope, timeline, and price individually, based on your project. If you have a budget in mind, sharing it helps us define a useful first stage of work. That might mean beginning with concept development if you are still unsure what kind of book your material could become.
A promise of a bestseller or an unsupported sales forecast is not evidence of good writing. Judge the proposal by whether it makes clear what will be produced and how you will be able to review the work.
6. What should be agreed in writing before you begin?
Alongside the scope of work, a collaboration needs a shared understanding of how the project will run. This includes points of contact, milestones and deadlines, payment terms, and how feedback will be collected. Confidentiality, the agreed rights to use the text, and any author or ghostwriter credit should also be clarified.
Raise any confidentiality requirements for particular materials, along with any requirements you have regarding the use of AI or other tools. Ask how your files will be handled and document the agreed approach. These decisions belong at the beginning of the project.
Clear distinctions are helpful when discussing revisions. Pointing out that a character acts in a way that contradicts the approved concept is different from deciding later that you want to replace the main character. Both can be discussed, but a new creative direction may change the scope of work and require a revised schedule.
For sequels and series, a shared reference document covering character facts, the timeline, and unresolved plot threads is also useful. It can record which requirements are fixed, so that important decisions do not have to be pieced together repeatedly from individual messages.
7. What happens after the manuscript is finished?
If your eventual goal is to publish a book, it is worth considering the later stages before ghostwriting begins. Depending on how much editing has already been done, a completed draft may need further work before design begins. Then come decisions about the book’s format, cover, interior layout, and the files needed for each edition.
Even a carefully managed collaboration depends on reading and revision. Tone, pacing, and emotional impact are easier to assess in the actual writing than in a brief. Allow time for this and clarify which rounds of editing or revision are included in your project.
A workbook raises additional questions: is the exercise clear? Is there enough writing space for the expected response? Does the sequence guide readers through the subject in a logical way? These requirements connect writing and design. They should be considered during project planning, even if the services are delivered in separate stages.
Alongside ghostwriting, you can ask pagewild for editing, book design, typesetting, and support with publication preparation. Your proposal will specify which stages I will handle for your project. You can find an overview on my book services page.
Your checklist for a first inquiry
You do not need a fully developed brief to get in touch. The following details help me understand where your project stands. If something is still undecided, you are welcome to say so.
- What kind of book are you planning, and who is it for?
- What do you already have, such as notes, a plot, or a manuscript?
- What would you like to do yourself, and where do you need help?
- Roughly how long do you expect the book to be, if you have an estimate?
- Which qualities, content, or stylistic choices matter most to you?
- What timeline and, if relevant, budget range do you have in mind?
- What would you like to have at the end of the project, and how do you plan to publish?
Perhaps you need someone to turn an existing plot into chapters. Or a thoughtful assessment of your manuscript may be enough for a first step. Tell me where you are now and what you want to achieve. From there, we can define the right scope of work.
Renel Ashmoor develops and publishes her own books and supports other book projects as a ghostwriter, editor, and book designer.