Table of contents:
- Academic Ghostwriting is Frequently Illegal
- Book Ghostwriting is Legal
- Fiction Ghostwriting is Also Legal
- Is a Ghostwriter Right for You?
Due to misconceptions about what ghostwriting is and how it works, some authors are under the impression that using a ghostwriter to help write a book is illegal. Or at least they are scared that they may get in trouble for using a ghostwriter.
That is not true.
Ghostwriting books is completely legal, as is almost any other kind of ghostwriting.
You can hire professional help with article-writing, blogging, speechwriting, white paper writing, annual report writing — you name it, really.
Academic Ghostwriting is Frequently Illegal
The main exception is academic ghostwriting. In many countries and in some U.S. states, hiring someone to ghostwrite papers for school, whether high school or college, is illegal.
You are not permitted to lie by submitting work claiming ownership when someone else has done all the thinking, writing, and editing. It is frequently a violation of the school’s honor code if not downright illegal, which can result in expulsion at a minimum.
Teachers and professors want to assess your comprehension of the material, which is impossible to do if you’ve hired someone else to do all your work. It would be like hiring someone to take a test for you. I suspect we’d all agree that is unethical and illegal.
However, that is not what book ghostwriting is.
Ghostwriting books is the equivalent of tutoring in the academic world.
Book Ghostwriting is Legal
In school, if you are struggling with a class or need help completing an assignment, it is perfectly acceptable and legal to hire a tutor — in fact, it’s encouraged!
As an expert in the subject, the tutor’s role is to assess what you know, what the assignment requires, and then help you bridge the knowledge gap to be able to master the material.
They lead you in learning but they don’t do the thinking for you.
That’s what a nonfiction book ghostwriter does.
They assess what it is you want to write about, advise you in how to address the topic (helping to design an outline), interview you to understand your thoughts and ideas about the topic, and then, relying on the material you’ve provided, they package it up in book form.
The ghostwriter is not an expert in your field so they are not qualified to write a book on the topic you know inside and out. You have to provide details of your expertise, led by questions from your ghostwriter. They gather all the information and then organize it in such a way to effectively share your message, inform your readers, teach a concept, make others aware of a situation, or retell a history that only you know.
They are not making material up as they go or putting words in your mouth. If they misunderstand or misconstrue anything, it’s up to you to correct it. After all, it’s your knowledge and your book. You have the final say about what is included and what is not.
Your ghostwriter is a therapist/coach/publishing consultant/writer all in one and the best ones help clarify your message and make it more interesting to read.
Fiction Ghostwriting is Also Legal
While ghostwriting fiction is also completely legal, the process for gathering input from the author may be different. (I’m not a fiction ghostwriter so I am sharing my understanding of a typical writing process here.)
A fiction author may provide their idea for a story in broad strokes. They may share a plot and the main characters but then leave it up to their ghostwriter to fill in the details as they see fit.
In this case, the ghostwriter has much more say in what is shared and how it is presented. The difference here is that the material is all made up. It’s fiction, whether a romance novel, story of suspense, sci-fi tale, or something else. The author has an idea and the ghostwriter is hired to expand on it or bring it to life.
So, while the author may have less involvement in the development of the book, the idea originated with them.
Is a Ghostwriter Right for You?
Now that you know that hiring a ghostwriter is legal and that most business clients consider it a smart use of their time and money, should you hire one?
That depends.
It depends on a number of factors, including but not limited to:
- Why you want to write a book
- How you intend to leverage your book once it is published
- Whether you want input and guidance and are open to feedback
- Whether you have the time to invest in writing your book yourself
- What your time is worth
- Whether you have the financial means to afford expert help
- Whether quality of writing matters to you
Ultimately, a professional ghostwriter will save you considerable time in the writing of your book, as well as helping to connect you with publishing professionals, help shape the focus of your book, save you money on editing on the back end, improve the odds that you’ll receive solid ratings and reviews, and work with you to achieve whatever your original goal was for your book.
Let me know if you would like a copy of my guide to finding, hiring, and working with a ghostwriter by requesting it at marcia at marcialaytonturner.com. [/vc_column_text]Button Text