You’ve been thinking about writing a book for months. Maybe years.
You’ve got the expertise, the stories, the credentials. What you don’t have is the time to sit down and write 60,000 words … or frankly, the desire to.
So you’re asking: should I hire a ghostwriter?
The honest answer is: it depends on what you want to achieve and how you feel about the process.
When ghostwriting is the right choice
Ghostwriting is right for you if you’re honest about these three things:
- 1. You don’t have the time and that’s not going to change any time soon
Not “I’m busy this quarter.” You actually don’t have time. Running a business, coaching clients, leading a company and writing a book on top of that isn’t going to be as easy as you think. As one client admitted, he didn’t believe me when I told him what was involved. He thought I was just being cautious. Nope! Just realistic!
Most people who try to write while running a business take 18-24 months and still don’t finish. If you’ve been “working on a book” for over a year with nothing to show for it, you already know the answer.
- 2. You want a professionally written book that positions you credibly
There’s a difference between “I wrote a book” and “I have a book that makes people trust me.”
Ghostwriters know how to structure a book, develop your voice, and turn expertise into something readable. If credibility matters—and for your readers, it does—you’re not just paying for words on a page, you’re investing in a legacy.
- 3. You’re fine with collaboration (and won’t feel uncomfortable with it)
Ghostwriting is a partnership.
But if the idea of someone else turning your words into a book will always feel dishonest to you, don’t do it. That feeling won’t go away, and you’ll regret the investment.
But most people who work with ghostwriters don’t feel this way once they understand the process. The ideas are yours. The voice is yours. The ghostwriter just knows how to turn that into a book.
The objections (and whether they matter)
Before hiring a ghostwriter, most people fight with at least one of these thoughts:
“I should be able to write it myself.”
Maybe. But you should also be able to fix your own plumbing, manage your own accounts, and design your own website. Honestly, I don’t know anyone who can do all of that without going insane.
The question isn’t whether you can do it. It’s whether it’s the best use of your time and whether the result will be as good as if you’d hired someone who does this professionally.
“It’s expensive.”
Yes. Ghostwriting a business book is a significant investment, often tens of thousands of pounds.
If that’s going to cause financial strain, it’s not the right time. But if you’re viewing the book as a business asset (credibility, authority, lead generation), the ROI often justifies the cost.
“I’ll lose creative control.”
You won’t. A good ghostwriter works with you, not instead of you. You approve the structure, review every chapter, give feedback at every stage.
If you can’t collaborate closely with someone on your book, ghostwriting isn’t for you. But that’s about whether you’re comfortable with partnership, not whether you’ll lose control.
What people try first (and why it usually doesn’t work)
Most people don’t jump straight to ghostwriting. They try a few things first:
Writing it themselves.
This works if you enjoy writing, have the time, and can stay disciplined over months of drafting and revising.
Most people can’t. They start, get 10,000 words in, realise they hate the process, and stop. The manuscript sits unfinished. A year wasted.
Using AI.
AI can do a lot. Let’s face it. But what I’ve noticed is that it lacks any understanding of human experiences. It rarely writes about how things feel, or smell or taste. It doesn’t know a pang of regret or a dry throat when you panic. If you’re writing a memoir, it just flattens and polishes the humanity out of the writing.
It’s also a pattern-recognition machine trained on millions of other writers’ hard-done work. (Without their permission.) If you want to create your own voice, solidify your own thinking and not become the average of a bunch of writers you’ve never met. Best to rethink how you use it.
Relying on friends or family.
Well-meaning but rarely effective.
Friends and family aren’t objective. They’re not qualified to structure a book or push back when your ideas don’t land. They’ll tell you it’s great because they love you, not because it’s publishable.
What to do next
If you’ve read this and ghostwriting still feels like the right choice, the next step is finding someone you trust.
Look for ghostwriters who specialise in your type of book. Read their work. Talk to them. Make sure their process and approach feel like a good fit.
If you’re still on the fence, start smaller. Perhaps book planning, a strategy session, or manuscript development. You don’t have to commit to full ghostwriting until you’re certain.
Want to discuss your book? Book a call or explore my ghostwriting services.