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Ghost Writing Services That Turn Your Story Into a Book in Your Voice
Many good books are written by someone other than the person whose name is on the cover. Ghost writing pairs you with a professional writer who drafts your book from interviews and notes, in your voice. You are the credited author, you own the copyright, and your project stays confidential. This page explains how the process works, what it is not, and how to judge a writer.
What You Receive
Included In Every Ghost Writing Project
- A complete manuscript written in your voice from your material
- Recorded interviews and a written voice guide for your project
- A sample chapter for approval before the full draft
- Revision rounds on every batch of chapters, defined in your quote
- Full copyright in your name, with an NDA available before work starts
01
What ghost writing is, and what it is not
Ghost writing means a professional writer drafts your book while you are the credited author. It is an old and ordinary practice in publishing. Memoirs, business books, and leadership titles are often written this way, because the person with the story is rarely the person with the time to write sixty thousand words. You supply the ideas, experience, and direction. The writer supplies structure, craft, and hours at the desk. The finished manuscript reflects your thinking, carries your name, and belongs to you.
It helps to be clear about what the service is not. It is not plagiarism, because every chapter is written new for you from your own material. It is not a resale of pre-written books, and we never hand you a manuscript that has been sold to anyone else. Nothing is copied from other books, and we check drafts for overlap before delivery. It is also not a way to skip involvement. A good book needs your interviews, your answers to questions, and your honest feedback on each draft.
Some authors worry that using a writer is somehow dishonest. In practice, readers buy a book for what it says and how well it serves them. Editors, designers, and researchers also contribute to most published books, and a writer is one more professional on that list. If you want to acknowledge the help, you can. Many authors thank their writer in the acknowledgments, add a "with" credit on the title page, or say nothing at all. That choice is yours, and we put it in writing at the start.
02
How we capture your voice on the page
Voice is the hardest part to fake, so we do not try to fake it. We start with recorded interviews, usually in sessions of sixty to ninety minutes, plus any notes, talks, emails, articles, or earlier drafts you already have. The writer listens for how you actually speak: sentence length, humor, the words you favor, the ones you avoid. A blunt founder should not read like a poet. A gentle counselor should not sound like a lecturer. Those habits go into a short voice guide that the writer follows.
Before the full draft, the writer produces a sample chapter, usually the opening one. You read it aloud and mark anything that does not sound like you. This step catches problems early, when they are cheap to fix. Maybe you never say "moreover," or the jokes are too dry, or the stories need more detail from your own memory. We adjust the voice guide and continue. Chapters then arrive in batches, so you can react as the book grows and not only at the end.
Revision rounds are built into every project, and we define them in writing before work starts. After each batch you can ask for changes to tone, order, emphasis, and facts. Small corrections are quick. Larger structural changes may need another interview. We also check dates, names, and claims with you, since only you know what is true. Once the manuscript is approved, it can move on to editing, formatting, and publishing with us, or you can take it to anyone you choose.
03
Ownership, confidentiality, and choosing a writer you trust
You hold the copyright and keep your royalties. Our agreement states that the work is written for you and that all rights pass to you on payment, with the writer keeping no claim on it. A confidentiality agreement (NDA) is available before any work begins, so your story, your business details, and the fact that you used a writer stay private. We do not list ghost-written clients publicly, and we never reuse your material for anyone else.
You should vet any writer, ours or otherwise. Ask for samples in a similar genre and read them for clarity, not only style. Ask how interviews are handled, how many revision rounds are included, and who owns the text. Be wary of anyone who promises a finished book in a few days, guarantees sales, or cannot explain where their material comes from. A professional will ask you plenty of questions first. We introduce your writer by background before you commit, and you can speak with them directly.
Payment is made in stages tied to progress, such as a deposit at the start, then installments as the outline, chapter batches, and final manuscript are approved. That way you pay for work you have already seen. Scope, word count, revision rounds, and schedule are set out in your quote. A full-length book usually takes four to eight months, depending on length and how quickly interviews and feedback happen. Your project manager replies within one business day and keeps the schedule moving.
Why Authors Stay
What Authors Value Most About Working With One Team
Confidential by default
An NDA is signed before you share anything, and your name is the only one that appears on the book.
Pricing you can read
You get a written quote that lists what is included. Royalties are never shared with us, now or later.
How We Run A Ghost Writing Project
Our Process, Step By Step
- 1
Discovery call and brief
We talk through your story, audience, goals, and length. You share any notes, talks, or drafts. We recommend a writer with genre experience and confirm scope, schedule, and credit preferences in writing.
- 2
Outline and voice guide
The writer builds a chapter outline and a short voice guide from your material. You review both, correct the order or emphasis, and approve them before drafting begins.
- 3
Interviews
The writer interviews you in recorded sessions, chapter by chapter, asking for stories, details, and opinions. Recordings and transcripts stay private and are shared only with you and the assigned writer.
- 4
Sample chapter
The writer drafts one chapter first. You read it aloud and flag anything that does not sound like you. We adjust the voice guide before continuing, which prevents costly rewrites later.
- 5
Drafting in batches
Chapters arrive in batches. After each one you send comments, and the writer revises within the agreed rounds. We check facts, dates, and names with you as we go.
- 6
Final manuscript and handover
You approve the finished manuscript and receive the files with all rights assigned to you. From there it can go to editing, formatting, cover design, and publishing with us or elsewhere.
Complete Your Book With Our Other Services
Five Services, One Team
Who This Service Is For
Authors We Work With Most Often
Founders and executives
You have hard-won lessons and a full calendar. A book builds authority with clients and hires, but writing it yourself would take a year of evenings. Interviews fit around your schedule, and the manuscript stays in your own words.
Memoir and life-story authors
You have a story worth keeping but no idea how to shape it into chapters. The writer listens, finds the thread, and gives your memories structure while keeping your voice, your humor, and the details that only you remember.
Experts and speakers
You teach, coach, or consult, and you already explain your method well out loud. We turn talks, slides, and recordings into a clear, organized book that supports your speaking and brings readers to your work.
Book Your Free Consultation
Tell us about your book. A project manager replies within one business day with a clear plan and a written quote.
Ghost Writing: Your Questions Answered
Is ghost writing legal and ethical?
Yes. It is a long-established part of publishing, and many well-known memoirs and business books are written with professional help. You supply the ideas and approve every word, and you are the credited author. What is not acceptable is copying someone else's work, and we do not do that. Every chapter is written new for you.
Who owns the copyright to the book?
You do. Our agreement states that the work is written for you and that all rights transfer to you once payment is complete. The writer keeps no claim, and you keep your royalties. You can publish with any platform or publisher you choose. We can set up the publishing under your own accounts.
Can my writer be credited?
That is your decision. Some authors add a "with" credit on the cover or title page, some thank the writer in the acknowledgments, and some prefer no mention. Whatever you choose, we write it into the agreement. A confidentiality agreement is also available if you want the arrangement kept private.
How do you make the book sound like me?
We start with recorded interviews and any writing or talks you already have. The writer builds a voice guide and drafts a sample chapter for you to read aloud. You mark what feels wrong, and we adjust before the full draft. Revision rounds then fine-tune tone chapter by chapter.
How long does it take to ghost write a book?
Most full-length books take four to eight months, depending on word count, how complex the material is, and how quickly interviews and feedback happen. A shorter book can move faster. We agree a schedule in writing at the start and tell you early if anything changes. No one can promise a fixed date honestly.
How does payment work?
Payment is split into stages tied to progress: a deposit at the start, then installments as the outline, chapter batches, and final manuscript are approved. The quote lists scope, word count, revision rounds, and each payment. Fees and terms are confirmed in writing before work begins, so there are no surprises.
Services That Pair Well With Ghost Writing
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Ready to write your book?
Why Authors Choose HivesPublisher
- Free first call: Talk through the idea, the reader and the format before any money changes hands.
- Written, itemised quote: You see what is included and what each stage costs before you commit.
- NDA before you share anything: Your drafts stay private and your name is the only one on the book.
- Rights and royalties stay with you: The copyright is yours in full when the book is finished.
- One named contact: A project manager replies within one business day and owns your timeline.