Hiring a ghostwriter is a little like inviting someone into your mental attic. They’ll sort through memories, ideas, and half-finished chapters of your life or business…and they’ll be there for months. If you want the project to succeed, you will be getting very vulnerable with them. (Yes, even if you’re writing a business book because you’re going to have to show the world what you went through to get where you are now.)
The right partner makes that experience energizing. The wrong one makes it feel like an alien abduction.
If you’re looking for a ghostwriter, here’s how to choose someone who will bring out your best story and make the process enjoyable.
1. Look for someone you genuinely enjoy talking to
You’re going to spend hours in conversation with this person. Real, vulnerable, story-heavy conversations. You want someone who listens well, asks questions that make you think, and feels like a partner you’d willingly grab coffee with. Chemistry isn’t an optional extra. It drives the entire creative process.
Plain talk: if you wouldn’t want to tell them about the moment your life changed, they probably shouldn’t be the one writing your book.
2. Don’t rely too heavily on portfolios
Seeing someone’s published work can be helpful, but it’s rarely the full picture. Most ghostwriters don’t own the copyright to what they create, and many aren’t credited. In some cases, the pieces they show you may not even represent their strongest work or their true range. Every ghostwriter is confined by the client’s story and voice.
Instead, look for signals you can trust: testimonials, client experiences, referrals, and how clearly they explain their process. And if you know someone who’s worked with a ghostwriter? Ask them everything. Word-of-mouth is a strong endorsement.
3. Make sure they understand your field — at least at a basic level
You’re the expert, but if your ghostwriter has zero context for your industry or the ideas you’re trying to express, you’ll end up doing a lot of heavy lifting. Not because they’re incapable — because you’ll constantly need to translate. A writer who already understands the landscape can make your life easier and your message sharper. They’ll also know the right questions to ask.
A ghostwriter who understands your industry or background will have a better grasp of your ideal audience too. That’s incredibly important because not only are they telling your story or expressing your knowledge as a thought leader, they’re writing to that audience. If they don’t know who that audience is, the pivotal connection of what makes your story resonate with them will be lost.
You shouldn’t have to spoon-feed every concept. A shared foundation makes the storytelling smoother.
Real talk: “everyone” is not your ideal audience. If the ghostwriter thinks “everyone” is a good fit for your book, they obviously don’t know who your audience is. Even Taylor Swift isn’t for everyone.
4. Ask about their process and make sure it fits how you want to work
Ghostwriting is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Some writers do long-form interviews. Some collaborate in documents. Some disappear for three months and return with a manuscript. Knowing how they work tells you everything about what the next several months will feel like.
A good process creates clarity, momentum, and trust. If their structure energizes you, that’s your sign.
5. Pay attention to how they talk about story — not just writing
Great ghostwriters don’t fixate on word count. They focus on why your story matters, what it could become, and how to shape it so readers feel something. If a writer talks about story in a way that clicks with you, that’s a strong indicator they’ll handle yours with care.
Look for someone who can translate your ideas into meaning, not just chapters.
6. Notice how they listen
This one’s subtle, but it might be the most important. Do they interrupt? Do they jump straight into solutions? Or do they give you space to tell the story in your own way first? Ghostwriting is built on trust, and trust is built on the quality of the listening.
A good ghostwriter is part writer, part editor, part marketer and story strategist, part journalist, part translator, and part problem solver. They have many hats to wear but the main thing you want to feel after that first call or meeting is understood.
Choosing a ghostwriter isn’t about finding the person with the longest résumé. It’s about finding the person who can help you unlock the story you’ve been carrying, someone who can turn your lived experience into something lasting.
If you choose well, the book becomes more than a project. It becomes a partnership.
If something in this piece nudged you — a memory, an idea, a story you’ve been carrying — let’s talk. Every book partnership begins with a simple conversation.