Don’t Be ‘Fraid of No Ghost(writer)!

How Do Ghostwriters Work?

by Corey Radman

October 30, 2025

Boo!

Did I scare ya? No?!

Yeah, I’m not a very scary ghost. Pretty friendly, actually.

Still, I couldn’t let the occasion of Halloween pass without taking the opportunity to share the why/what/how of my work as a professional ghostwriter because I get a lot of questions.

It used to be that only celebrities and politicians used ghostwriters to create their books. Not so, these days! With the lowered barriers to publishing via hybrid and self-publishing, many regular folks have taken the leap and hired a ghost like me to help them make their dream books happen.

In FAQ form, here are the most common questions people want to know when they’re considering hiring a ghostwriter like me.

Who hires ghostwriters?

People mostly use ghosts for non-fiction projects like life stories and memoirs, business books, and self-development/self-help books. The clients who hire ghostwriters are:

• People whose life stories prompt requests from family members like, “The life you’ve lived! You have to write a book!”

• Successful entrepreneurs with a great concept and not enough time to spell it out

• People who have a solution or want to help others by capturing their wisdom and story on the page

Those finished products end up being used as family legacy pieces, as a way to build authority and brand, and, often, as the basis for booking speaking engagements.

How does the ghostwriting process work?

Through multiple recorded interviews, the client and the ghost go deep and wide, capturing everything from the main thesis of the book to color details about the “characters” and what they’re eating for lunch.

Then, using the transcripts, the writer outlines a plan, gets approval, and begins writing. The drafts go back and forth through at least two rounds of detailed feedback while the client teaches the ghost about their area of specialty and highlights which concepts need more explanation or less.

What if I need something specific or special?

Of the 16 books I’ve had a hand in ghostwriting, not one has been exactly like another.

• Some clients send me an early draft to expand upon

• Some start with the interviews and we "Once upon a time" our way through to the end

• Some have jumped in and added material to a draft I started and we worked together to round out the information

In other words, they’re all special. Writing books is not easy, and the collaboration should adapt to your needs.

A friendly ghost will guide you through the process but never force you into a structure that doesn’t serve the end goal of an appealing book that will be read by appreciative audiences.

But will it sound like me?

It should. The trick (and the treat) on the writer-side is to listen closely for the motivation behind the story. I try to capture not just what happened, but what was the person thinking and why they made this choice over another; why this approach to problem solving over another path?

Additionally, sense of humor, common sayings, preferences for specific words and sentence structure all emerge in the recording transcripts, which help me get the writing as close to the client’s voice as possible.

The #1 change clients make

Outside of factual misunderstandings, the top change people make to their writing is to swap out vocabulary words that I guessed they might use and was wrong about.

Words clients have cut from my attempts at their writing:

• natch’ (short for naturally)

• bamboozled

• tchotchkes

• schadenfreude

Sigh. I love zany words.  

Will my name be on the cover of my ghostwritten book?

Yes, unless you want something different.

Even if you pay a ghost to help you, it still counts as your book. It’s your knowledge and expertise on the page, not theirs. A ghostwriter’s job is to help you pull it out of your head and put it in a compelling, cohesive order.

Do I get a say in the final edits?

You get a say in all the edits. When you pay someone to write your book, it’s still your story and nothing goes out that you don’t approve. That’s one big plus to self-publishing. The buck stops with you!

Is it expensive to work with a ghostwriter?

If you want a good one, yes, it will cost you in the thousands. Length and your alacrity with the editing process and software will impact how many thousands we’re talking about.

Why hire Corey Radman as your ghostwriter?

Counting the years I was ghost-blogging, I have fifteen years’ experience writing in other people’s voices. I have written ten books and collaborated on another six with authors on their memoirs, business books, and self-help books. Topics ranged from finance and small business to traumatic life stories to wellness, psychology, even data analytics!

I like hearing people talk about their passions; my mission is to find the story in my clients’ lives. Even if we’re talking about dry how-to topics, there are always ways to humanize … which leads to books people want to read!

On top of that, I have cultivated a network of experts who can take your finished manuscript over the goal line and beyond. Go ahead. Be brave and fill out a ghost’s contact form. I dare you.

About the Author

Corey Radman is a ghostwriter and book editor who, since 2015, has helped dozens of authors write captivating, informative business books, self-development books, and memoirs. Learn more at www.coreyradman.com.