What is Ghostwriting? Meaning and Examples

• Aug 18, 2025
• 5 min read

• Tags: Academic Writing, Book Writing, Fiction Writing, Writers, Writing Tips

Do you want to become a writer, but are not quite sure where to get started?

Are you brimming with the urge to produce books, but struggle with finding the right plotline or topic?

Never fear—we have the perfect career for you that will provide you with all the guidelines and pointers you need, and still help you write.

Who are ghostwriters?

Have you ever read a hugely popular series with a seemingly bottomless list of titles (eg, Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys), and wondered how one author had the time to write over 50 titles in a seemingly short span of time?

Did you, at any point, come across books written by celebrities and CEOs who seem to lead super busy, jet-setting lives, and wonder how, in addition to their work and public appearances, they had the time to write?

This is where ghostwriters come in.

A ghostwriter is essentially a paid employee hired by a publishing firm or an individual to write books that will not be published under their own name. The books would either be published under the name of a fictional author (eg. Carolyn Keene of the Nancy Drew series, or Franklin W. Dixon of The Hardy Boys), or under the name of a famous celebrity or CEO who may not have the time to sit down and write themselves (eg. Spare by Prince Harry, or Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobby Brown). 

The process of ghostwriting

The former category is fairly straightforward—books in a series are churned out by an army of ghostwriters, and all the plotlines adhere to a certain tried-and-tested formula that works with the audience. These books are then published by the parent company under the name of the fictional writer and shipped to bookstores. Many popular TV series and movies catering to teenagers also write spin-offs from the main series in this manner. 

In the case of the latter, there are more steps to the process:

1. The ghostwriter and the client sit down for several interviews where the client provides the ghostwriter with all the information that needs to go in the book. 
2. The client may provide photographs, recordings, documents, and anything else that would help the ghostwriter understand their background and the purpose of the book
3. The ghostwriter, in turn, makes keen observations of the client in order to get their tone and message right. 
4. The ghostwriter then creates an outline of the book, which is approved by the client.
5. There is often a lot of back-and-forth, with sample chapters by the ghostwriter being vetted by the client before going further. 
6. Then, once the project is complete, the client gives their final approval, and the manuscript is submitted to the publisher.

Types of ghostwriting

Contrary to popular belief, ghostwriting is not limited to writing books. Here are some different types of ghostwriting options that you can explore:

1. Websites/blogs

Many organisations require ghostwriters to produce content on pre-approved topics for their websites or blogs, usually as crisp, readable pieces of text organised in bullet points or as an essay for their target audience. 

2. Social media content 

Many celebrities hire ghostwriters to write posts and captions for their social media to ensure they sound coherent and politically correct.

3. Press releases/speeches

Politicians and other figures often need ghostwriters to help write their press releases and speeches based on pre-approved points. This is also important when the politician has to speak in an unfamiliar language.

4. Branding 

Many companies hire ghostwriters to help work on their branding content.

5. TV/film 

Ghostwriters are often enlisted to write scripts for television and film by various production houses.

6. Music

Bands and singers often hire ghostwriters to help brainstorm ideas and write songs that fit their image.

Ghostwriting beyond books

Interestingly, it is not just books that are ghostwritten these days. In addition to CEOs, actors, athletes, etc., companies, politicians, and thought leaders also hire ghostwriters to do the following:

1. Write press releases based on their brief
2. Help draft speeches and policy papers
3. Assist in articulating ideas effectively
4. Create content for branding and marketing

In addition to a lack of time, the client may also simply lack the writing skills to articulate their points effectively and put them across with polish, and so hire a ghostwriter or ghostwriting services to do it for them.

How does ghostwriting work (Payments and credits)

When it comes to ghostwriting, credits and transparency can be something of a gray area—the terms of the work need to be extremely clear between the client and the ghostwriter, put down in a written contract and signed, to avoid any possible exploitation later.

If you plan to become a ghostwriter, it would be wise to draw up a contract for your future clients to sign that hashes out all the details regarding timelines, submission deadlines, credits, and charges for rewriting, if any. This will help you have an open discussion with your potential clients before committing to a project and having disagreements due to differing expectations later.

It is also very important to have your charges sorted before you begin the project. Some important points to consider are:

1. Are you charging per word?
2. How much will you charge for the overall project?
3. The client’s budget
4. Payment timelines—will you receive an advance before beginning the project, or smaller payments at regular intervals, say, after every five chapters are submitted?
5. Do you expect the client to make the final payment before the complete manuscript is submitted? (Tip: It is advisable to do this to avoid the client defaulting on payments once they have received the finished manuscript.)

Benefits of ghostwriting

The benefits of ghostwriting are fourfold:

For the client: It’s a great way to get their idea written down in a coherent and professional manner when they are running short of time or do not have the necessary writing skills themselves.

For the ghostwriter: It is excellent practice for the future (if they plan to write books under their own name someday) and helps sharpen their writing skills.

For the publisher: It helps them access well-written content from credible and well-known names that will boost their sales numbers.

For the reader: It gives them access to insights and stories from celebrities they follow and helps them gain perspective into the celebrities’ professional and personal lives.

Ethical considerations and controversies

When it comes to the ethics of ghostwriting, a lot depends on consent and agreement between the client and the ghostwriter. Here are some important points to keep in mind before beginning a project to avoid legal hassles later:

1. Transparency 

Whether or not the ghostwriter should be credited depends entirely on the mutual agreement between the ghostwriter and the client. Some choose not to credit the ghostwriter at all, others credit their ghostwriter as a co-author, and still more credit the ghostwriter in small print within the book, while the client’s name appears on the cover. Clearly agree upon whichever approach you and your client choose to take in your contract before the project begins.

2. Authenticity

If a client (usually a celebrity) claims to be providing authentic, personally written anecdotes to their readers through their book, it is preferable not to use a ghostwriter so as to avoid duping the reader. If a ghostwriter absolutely must be used, then giving credit is important to avoid giving the readers the wrong impression.

3. Academic ghostwriting

Ghostwriting in the academic field is an absolute no-no. Research papers to be published in academic journals, theses, and other forms of academic writing absolutely must be written by the original author, as it is based on their research, and their credibility hinges on how effectively they can communicate their research findings. While it is fine for academic authors to employ the services of an editor to polish their work, they cannot hire a ghostwriter, as this would lead them into the murky world of plagiarism, where they claim someone else’s writing as their own original work.

4. Recognition 

If you feel that you are likely to want recognition for your writing and would feel resentful when you see your client’s name on a book you actually wrote, then ghostwriting is not the career for you. It is very important to remember that ghostwriters usually work in the background, and it is the client who gets the recognition for the work, so if that does not work for you, it would be best to author original books under your own name.

To sum it up, ghostwriting is a highly nuanced business that requires not just writing prowess but also tact, diplomacy, and sensitivity when dealing with different kinds of clients and projects. If you feel that you embody these qualities, get in touch with a publishing house or advertise your ghostwriting services online today!

PaperTrue offers expert, hassle-free book self-publishing services that allow you to get your manuscript edited and published by professionals. Check them out!

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Tanvi

With a foundation in Life Sciences, Tanvi enjoys curating technical writing tips tailored for ESL students. When she's not translating complex concepts into bite-sized nuggets, she can be found playing with dogs or painting landscapes.