Table of contents:
- Only you can write your book
- Ask for a non-disclosure agreement (NDA)
- Consider a confidentiality agreement
- Research your ghostwriter
One of the most common concerns I hear from aspiring authors has to do with ghostwriters stealing their ideas or stories. Authors worry that once they share their expertise or perspective — their intellectual property (IP) — with a ghostwriter, the ghost can then take that information and write the book the author had planned.
Their fear of losing control of their IP can get in the way of them making progress on their manuscript. But it shouldn’t, and there are protections available.
Only you can write your book
First, however, you should understand that ghostwriters are professional writers, many of whom can and have written their own books. They don’t need you or your ideas to write a manuscript of their own.
Conversely, they can’t write the book that you want to write without you. You are an essential piece of the writing and publishing process for your book.
Can they decide to write their own book on your general topic? Of course. In fact, they may already have. For example, I’ve written and ghostwritten several books on starting a business. They are each different with different facts and perspectives because the focus and authors are different.
Don’t worry about a ghostwriter stealing your idea because it is virtually unheard of within the industry. Granted, there are scammers and unscrupulous people out there, but it would be extremely rare for a legitimate ghostwriter to take all of your ideas, notes, and materials, write your book, and put their name on it. It may have happened at some point, but I’ve never come across it.
Ask for a non-disclosure agreement (NDA)
If you’re scared of your sensitive or valuable information being shared by your ghostwriter, you might consider asking them to sign an NDA. Keep in mind that I am not an attorney and this is not legal advice, just common sense.
Signed NDAs bar anyone you’re talking with from sharing the information you reveal for a period of time. Usually, that term is somewhere between 3-5 years.
That means they can’t tell anyone what you’ve told them unless the information becomes public through another source, such as if you publish an article on the topic or a research report comes out confirming data you had gathered on your own.
Generally, it’s a way to reinforce that the ghostwriter can’t do anything with the information you share with them.
Consider a confidentiality agreement
A similar document that is often one clause or term in a ghostwriter agreement is that the ghostwriter agrees to keep confidential any information you share with them, as well as the fact that they helped you with your book.
If you’re nervous about word leaking out that you worked with a ghostwriter, you’ll want to include this. It also typically prevents your ghostwriter from using information they receive from you for their own purposes.
Other steps you can take to prove that certain ideas originated from you would include recording any meetings you have, to document that you were the source of the content.
You can also monitor what is happening in the industry with respect to your topic by setting up a Google Alert with keywords related to your book. That way, you’ll get an email anytime a new article is published that may relate to your book or subject.
But perhaps more important than these protective measures are to only work with a ghostwriter you’ve vetted and trust.
Research your ghostwriter
Only hire reputable ghostwriters. This is especially important if you’ve found the ghostwriter through an agency or online directory.
With fake social media accounts fairly common, you’ll want to be sure you’re really dealing with who you think you’re dealing with.
Some ways to do some background checks on your ghost include:
- Visiting their website and reviewing what they say about themselves there. Does it match what you’ve seen elsewhere?
- Checking out their LinkedIn profile. Do you have any mutual connections you can reach out to as a backdoor reference (meaning, casually, without alerting the ghostwriter first)?
- Seeking out online reviews, if there are any, of the business they are associated with or of them as a professional. Reedsy, for example, invites reviews from past clients, although they don’t always leave them (I think I still have zero despite having finished three successful projects on the platform).
- Looking for TV and podcast interviews they may have done, to verify their identity.
- Watching video recordings they’ve done, such as on YouTube or as part of a conference.
- Searching for evidence of books they’ve assisted with, such as by skimming the Acknowledgments section of any books they claim to have worked on.
- Skimming the writing samples they provide to confirm they have the level of skill they have indicated.
- Asking to schedule a quick Zoom chat — with video on — about your project, to confirm their identity and gauge their level of interest in your topic.
Granted, not everyone will have all of these data points, but even with evidence from two or three, you should be able to determine if you are dealing with a real person who has the expertise they claim to have. That’s really what you need to know.
Based on those face-to-face discussions, via video or in person, you can then assess whether you are willing to trust the ghostwriter.
Finding someone who is trustworthy is the easiest way to protect yourself.
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