By Erick Mertz
What Ghostwriting a Book Actually Means
Why So Many Authors Choose Ghostwriting a Book
The Emotional Side of Ghostwriting a Book
How the Ghostwriting Process Works
Will Ghostwriting a Book Still Sound Like Me?
When Ghostwriting a Book Makes Sense
The Ethics of Ghostwriting a Book
Why Collaboration Produces Stronger Books
Many people I speak to feel a pull toward writing a book long before they ever open a document.
They replay vital moments from their life.
They hear their friends say, “You should write a book about that.”
They carry stories, experience, and insight, but at the same time, they struggle to translate it into pages.
If that sounds familiar, you may already be thinking about ghostwriting a book, even if you haven’t used that phrase yet.
One thing I’ve learned after twenty years in the business is that ghostwriting is not about completely handing over your story. Done ethically, it’s about helping you tell it well.
What Ghostwriting a Book Actually Means
Here is something I learned early on in my career. Ghostwriting a book is often misunderstood as simply paying someone to write instead of you.
In reality, I think professional ghostwriting is a collaborative process that allows an author’s voice, ideas, and experiences to be shaped into a finished manuscript with expert support.
Here is what the author brings to the process:
- The story
- One of a kind knowledge and expertise
- The emotional truth
Now compare that to the list of what the ghostwriter brings:
- Structure
- Craft
- Narrative clarity
- Reader perspective
I hope that resonates. The result of working with a ghostwriter is not a replacement voice — it’s your voice, expressed clearly on the page.
Why So Many Authors Choose Ghostwriting a Book
Most of the people I speak to who are considering hiring a ghostwriter for a book are not actually trying to avoid the work.
They’re busy people who are trying to make the work possible.
Common reasons to look into a ghostwriter include:
- Limited time due to career or family
- Feeling overwhelmed by structure
- Being too close to the material emotionally
- Starting drafts but never finishing them
Many important books — memoirs, professional nonfiction, legacy projects — exist only because the author had support translating lived experience into written form.
The Emotional Side of Ghostwriting a Book
Writing about your own life or expertise can be unexpectedly emotional. I learned early on that I couldn’t be a passive participant in the process.
When ghostwriting a book, the process often brings up:
- Memories you haven’t revisited
- Meaning you hadn’t articulated
- Stories you didn’t realise mattered
A good ghostwriter isn’t just focused on putting the words down on paper. They help hold the emotional weight of the material while shaping it for readers, allowing the author to stay connected without becoming overwhelmed.
How the Ghostwriting Process Works
Most people want the answer to this question. Here is your sneak preview of what I tell them.
Although every project is very different, ghostwriting a book usually begins with in-depth interviews rather than writing assignments.
The author talks.
The ghostwriter listens.
Through deep listening and recorded interviews, the ghostwriter learns:
- How you naturally speak
- What themes recur
- Where emotion rises or pauses
Those conversations are the bedrock of our process. Once they are done they are shaped into structured chapters. Drafts are shared, revised on customer standards, and refined collaboratively. Nothing moves forward without the author’s approval.
At every stage, the author remains actively involved.
Will Ghostwriting a Book Still Sound Like Me?
This is the most common concern and, in my years of experience, an important one.
A skilled ghostwriter studies rhythm, phrasing, and tone. This is so that the writing reflects how you naturally communicate. In many instances, authors say the finished draft sounds more like them than what they tried to write alone.
I know that doesn’t sound possible… but, after years doing this, it’s true.
Ghostwriting a book isn’t about an expert imposing a style. It’s about a creative partner translating your spoken voice into written form.
When Ghostwriting a Book Makes Sense
You may want to consider ghostwriting a book if:
- You have a clear story to tell but no sense of the structure
- You’ve started but stalled partway through a draft
- You want the book finished to a professional standard
- You know the book matters, but can’t prioritise writing time
The decision is never easy. From what I’ve encountered, choosing a ghostwriter’s support is not a failure of authorship — it’s a commitment to completion.
The Ethics of Ghostwriting a Book
What do I tell people when they ask me whether I wrote this?
I would feel like a fraud if I told them I did.
I hear these concerns often. I try and convey the reality that ethical ghostwriting is transparent, respectful, and author-centred.
The author remains the author.
The ideas remain theirs.
Most importantly, the story remains authentic.
I believe that ghostwriting a book simply acknowledges a truth long present in the publishing world: strong books are often collaborative.
Why Collaboration Produces Stronger Books
When I look back on my career, one thing rings true above all else. The projects that have been most successful, most beneficial, were less about a client and their ghostwriter.
They were a creative collaboration.
Working with a ghostwriter brings distance and perspective, two things that are difficult to maintain when writing about your own life or work.
A ghostwriter can:
- See the story as the ideal reader will
- Identify what needs expansion or clarity
- Shape pacing and structure intentionally
That collaboration often results in a clearer, more impactful book.
Final Thoughts
If you feel called to write a book but are unsure how to complete that process alone, ghostwriting a book may be a practical and ethical solution.
The story still begins with you.
The voice is still yours.
The authorship remains intact.
What changes is that the book actually gets written with that professional touch.
Ready To Get In Touch?
If you’re exploring whether professional support could help you move your book forward, learning more about the ghostwriting process can help you decide whether it’s the right fit for you.
Bio:
Erick Mertz is a professional ghostwriter and editor who works with authors on memoir, personal nonfiction, and legacy projects. He specialises in collaborative, ethical ghostwriting that preserves the author’s voice.
Website: https://erickmertzwriting.com
LinkedIn: @ErickMertz
