Does a Ghostwriter Agreement Matter?

A Ghostwriter Agreement is a contract that outlines the working relationship between an independent writer and a client. Ghostwriting refers to a professional writer creating content without being named as an author or receiving credit and is a service that is typically compensated monetarily. 

As with any industry, it is vital to curate a solid contract prior to the project’s start that spells out the important details—this allows little to no room for deviation once the job is underway. Think about the ghostwriting agreement as insurance against misunderstandings between you and the writer. If you are preparing to embark on a ghostwriting project, the following are some components of the agreement that you may want to consider adding.

What Is Included in a Ghostwriting Agreement?

The exact wording of the agreement is not especially important; it matters more that each critical element is present. First and perhaps most crucial—the ghostwriting agreement should be in writing. This might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how verbal agreements can seem like a good idea in the moment. Although you might feel tempted to keep it casual, prioritize the protection of your work! You are your own best advocate. 

Included in a typical and effective ghostwriting agreement should be the following:

• Dates – It’s a good idea to include the effective date of the contract in the introduction of the agreement, as well as dates for the completion of major milestones for the book. For example, you might want to ask for predicted dates of the completion of the outline, the first half of the first draft, the completion of the first draft, and the final manuscript.

• Price – If you use milestones, you and the writer can break down the pricing according to each section of work. You can enact a policy of paying prior to the beginning of each milestone or after—whatever works best for you and the ghostwriter. You might want to offer an initial cost of the entire project in addition to the breakdown for each milestone, keeping in mind that revisions may be an additional cost to you. 

• Book Length – Most ghostwriters charge on a per-word basis, so the contract should specify how many words you expect to receive in total. Most clients think in terms of pages, but words are a much more precise measurement of the work required. You can always ask the writer to include a rough page estimate with the word count for clarity, keeping in mind that one page typically has 250 words.

• Ghostwriting Services – You should get as specific as possible about the services that will be provided by the ghostwriter.  For example, if you are paying for copyediting and not developmental editing, that should be made clear in the agreement. If the author won’t provide illustrations or cover art design, include that too. It’s also always a good idea to include the fact that the publishing of the book cannot be guaranteed by the ghostwriter. 

• Confidentiality and Copyrights – Make it clear in the contract that you, the client, will own all rights to the final product. You are the author, not the ghostwriter, and this gives you the right to publish the manuscript in any form you desire without naming the ghostwriter in any capacity. If the project is particularly cutting-edge or innovative and you don’t want anyone to know its subject matter prior to publication, you can include a confidentiality clause in your agreement. This is also relevant if you don’t want anyone to know that you hired a ghostwriter for your project.

• Revisions – It is expected that some revisions will be necessary once the ghostwriter has completed the manuscript. If, however, the acceptable number of revisions isn’t specified in the agreement, the process can be never-ending. As a client, you can outline your expectations for revision and work with the ghostwriter to come to a reasonable agreement. The standard is one complimentary round of revisions per milestone, with additional changes optional and at an added cost to you. 

Don’t let the idea of a ghostwriting agreement intimidate you—it is a basic and expected part of any writing project. The ghostwriter should welcome the idea as well, as it protects their place in the project and makes everyone’s expectations crystal clear.  

Find Your Ghostwriter at Making A Way

Editing, ghostwriting, article writing, storytelling—if you have an idea that needs to be put on paper, we are ready to help. Contact us at Making A Way Writing Services today at info@makingawaywriting.com to begin your journey toward publication with our team.