Authors call me up all confused about this stuff. They want to write a book but don’t know who to hire. Some think they need someone to write the whole thing for them. Others heard about coaches who help you write it yourself. I’ve been around this business long enough to see both sides work. But man, the results are totally different depending on which route you pick. Let me tell you what I’ve learned from watching hundreds of authors make this choice. It’s way more important than most people realize when they’re starting out. Looking to hire the best ghostwriters near you? Let’s chat!
Should I Pay Someone Else to Write My Entire Book?
That’s basically what happens when you’re hiring a ghostwriter. You sit down with them and dump all your ideas. Tell them your stories, share your business knowledge, whatever you want the book to cover. Then they disappear for months and come back with a finished manuscript. Your name goes on the front cover and nobody ever knows they wrote it. Pretty wild when you think about it, right?
I know this CEO who hired a ghostwriter because he was swamped running his company. Guy had amazing insights about leadership but couldn’t find time to write. The ghostwriter interviewed him for weeks, recorded everything, then crafted a bestselling business book. Most readers have no clue the CEO never touched a keyboard during the writing process. That’s how hiring a ghostwriter works when it goes well.
But here’s what bugs me about this approach. You miss out on the whole writing journey. No late nights wrestling with how to explain complex ideas. No breakthrough moments when you figure out the perfect way to tell a story. The ghostwriter gets all those experiences while you just wait for updates.
How Much Say Do I Get When Hiring a Ghostwriter?
Depends on who you hire and how you set things up. Some ghostwriters want you to stay out of their way once they understand your vision. They prefer working alone without constant input. Others want your feedback on every chapter before moving forward. You better hash this out before hiring a ghostwriter or you’ll both get frustrated.
Most pros will show you detailed outlines first. They want to make sure they’re headed where you want to go. Smart move, because changing direction after they’ve written half the book gets expensive fast. You’ll see chunks of the manuscript as they finish sections. Maybe three chapters at a time for your review. You can request changes if something feels off or doesn’t match what you had in mind.
The weird part about hiring a ghostwriter is how disconnected you become from your own book. Sure, the ideas are yours, but every sentence came from someone else’s brain. Some authors love this setup because they get a professional result without the work. Others feel like frauds because they didn’t actually write their book themselves. Which camp would you fall into?
What’s a Writing Coach Really Do for Me?
A totally different animal from a ghostwriter. Writing coaches don’t write your book. They teach you how to write it yourself. Think of a personal trainer versus someone who works out for you. The trainer pushes you and corrects your form, but you still gotta do the pushups.
I worked with this writing coach years ago on my first book. She never wrote a single sentence for me. Instead, she helped me organize my messy ideas into something readable. Caught plot holes I couldn’t see. Pushed me to dig deeper when my explanations got lazy. Best part was watching my writing get better with each chapter. By the end, I actually knew how to write a book instead of just having one with my name on it.
Writing coaches spot problems you’ll never catch yourself. Been staring at the same chapters for months? Your brain stops seeing obvious issues. Fresh eyes from an experienced coach save you from publishing embarrassing mistakes. They also keep you moving when you want to quit. Writing books is lonely work and having someone in your corner makes a huge difference.
The coolest thing about working with a writing coach is how much you learn. Every fix they suggest teaches you something new. Every problem you solve together builds your skills. Second book becomes way easier because you remember what the coach taught you the first time around.
Which One Gets My Book Done Faster?
Hiring a ghostwriter wins this race every time. These people write for a living. They crank out pages way faster than someone learning as they go. A professional ghostwriter might finish your book in four months. You spend that time doing other stuff while they handle the writing grind.
Working with a writing coach takes forever by comparison. First-time authors usually need at least a year to finish their books. Writing is tough work and most people can only squeeze in a few hours here and there. Plus you’re figuring out how to write while actually writing. Naturally slows things down compared to someone who already knows what they’re doing.
But think about what happens after your first book. If you hired a ghostwriter, you’re back to square one for book number two. Still can’t write, still need to hire someone else. Working with a writing coach means book two goes much faster because you actually learned how to write during book one.
How Much Cash Are We Talking Here?
Hiring a ghostwriter costs serious money. Good ones charge twenty grand minimum for a full book. Famous ghostwriters with big-name clients charge way more than that. I know one ghostwriter who gets six figures per project because he’s worked with celebrities. That’s real money we’re talking about.
Writing coaches cost way less because they’re not doing the heavy lifting. Maybe five grand to work with a coach through your whole book project. Some charge by the hour if you just need occasional help. Others offer packages with a set number of coaching sessions included.
Here’s where the math gets interesting though. Planning to write more than one book? Hiring a ghostwriter for each one adds up fast. Learning to write with a coach pays off big time on future projects. You might barely need help by book three or four.
So Which Route Should I Take?
Comes down to what you really want out of this whole book thing. You dream about being known as a writer? Or do you just need to get specific information published? Big difference between those two goals and it should drive your decision.
Some people have zero interest in becoming writers. They just want their business expertise or life story turned into a book. Hiring a ghostwriter makes perfect sense for them. Why waste months learning skills you’ll never use again? Let a professional handle it while you focus on what you do best.
But if writing more books is part of your long-term plan, working with a writing coach gives you way better value. You’ll actually understand how books get made from start to finish. Plus readers respect authors who write their own stuff. Might matter for your credibility down the road.
Neither option is right or wrong. Both can produce books that readers love and buy. Question is which one fits your situation and goals. Take some time to think honestly about where you want this book journey to take you.
