Hire the Best Ghostwriters

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Anja B.

Laguna de Duero, Spain

$50/hr
5.0
45 jobs

Skilled as a fiction and non-ficiton ghostwriter. I respond to messages within 24 hours and always get work in on time. GENRES & CATEGORIES EXPERIENCE: - Romance (Dark, Contemporary, Reverse Harem, Steamy, Paranormal, Urban, Billionaire, Sports, Mafia...) - Fantasy - Non-Fiction (Too many niches to mention - reach out for more info!) WRITING: + 10+ years writing experience + 10-20k words/week + can outline / can follow a provided outline + open to feedback, revisIons, edits - DEADLINES ARE IMPORTANT - + read 100+ books/year + English teacher + Lived in Ireland for years CONTACT FOR SAMPLES OR A TRIAL RUN.

  • Ghostwriting
  • Creative Writing
  • Ebook
  • Ebook Writing
  • Editing & Proofreading
  • English
  • Novel
  • Fiction
  • Romance
  • Book Writing
  • Proofreading
  • Writing
  • Storytelling
  • Outline
  • Fiction Writing
Oluwatobi Moses O.

Toronto, Canada

$10/hr
4.8
49 jobs

I am an indefatigable wordsmith with excellent ghostwriting ability in almost every genre. Anyone can pen down words, but only a few can actually breathe life into words. It's easy to write anything; however, the ultimate question is: What impact do your words have on those who read them? You can solidify the efficacy or potency of your words by getting your ideas transformed into mind-blowing and powerful content with one of the best talents on Upwork as far as GHOSTWRITING is concerned. Ghostwrite your articles, blogs, books, eBooks, Memoirs, books, etc. with one of the best ghostwriters yet - Moses O.!!! Let my remarkable profile, portfolio, process, and results speak the obvious to you!!!

  • Ghostwriting
  • Ebook
  • Fantasy
  • Thriller
  • Self-Help
  • Nonfiction
  • Mystery
  • Romance
  • Young Adult
  • Science Fiction
  • Fiction
  • Business
  • Writing
  • Article Writing
  • Health & Fitness
Jessie F.

Far Rockaway, New York

$40/hr
5.0
9 jobs

I finish projects, I meet deadlines, and I have no ego about being told what to do. If you need someone who shows up, does the work, and makes your vision a priority over their own, that's me. I am an enthusiastic, eclectic reader. I will read anything. I bring that energy to every beta read, developmental edit, copy edit, and line edit I take on. I read fast, I respond quickly, and my feedback is detailed, careful, and kind. I grasp story arcs instinctively and I am particularly sensitive to character development, pacing, emotional beats, and emotional arcs. For nonfiction, I assess logic, rigor, and readability: whether the argument holds, whether the ideas flow, and whether readers can actually follow and absorb the content. Because I edit as I go, fixing grammar and smoothing prose in real time, my reads are thorough without being slow. Every beta read includes inline comments addressing prose, pacing, and grammar alongside a separate structured report covering my overall reaction, arc and character progression at different stages of the manuscript, and specific recommendations for revision. You will come away knowing exactly what landed and exactly what needs work. I am also a published author and ghostwriter specializing in psychology, relationships, sexuality, parenting, and education. I write and love romance fiction: the slow burn, the banter, the tension that keeps readers turning pages. I am eager to bring that enthusiasm and experience to collaborative romance and fiction projects. I am currently completing my third nonfiction book, Prayer in the Bible: A Study of the Non-Supernatural Effects of Prayer, so you can be confident you are working with a writer who is actively in the craft.

  • Ghostwriting
  • Content Writing
  • Writing
  • Book Writing
  • Nonfiction Writing
  • Education
  • Psychology
  • Academic Research
  • Sociology
  • Special Education
  • Humor Writing
  • Health & Wellness
  • Article Writing
  • Memoir Writing
  • Long-Form Writing
Johnathon H.

Parker, Colorado

$15/hr
5.0
68 jobs

I am a freelance ghostwriter of four and a half years standing, specializing in the editing and writing of fiction. On behalf of individual clients, I have written short stories as short as 3000 words and whole novels ranging from 50,000 to 60,000 words. I also have edited many unfinished or rough manuscripts in various stages of completion, ranging from line editing to full rewrites. I have a working knowledge of MS Word, Notepad and Excel as it relates to manuscripts. As to work under my own name, I was a regular columnist and reviewer for the website Innsmouth Free Press. I have two published short stories to my credit, "Grand Guginol" for Short Story Me! and "Faces" for the inaugural issue of the now-defunct New Zenith Magazine. I have also written my first script for a video game, the forthcoming visual novel "Starlight Drifter" for Dharker Studio. This last ties in with my education, as I am a holder of Bachelor's Degree in Media Arts and Animation (with a concentration on Video Games) through the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online. I promise that once I am hired, I can deliver work that is timely and up to specifications. I am also a great believer in communication and am more than willing to talk through any concerns you may have about our projects together. I look forward to hearing from you.

  • Ghostwriting
  • Creative Writing
  • Fiction
  • Novel
  • Short Story
  • Short Story Writing
  • Book Writing
  • Fiction Writing
Makanjuola P.

Lagos Island, Nigeria

$7/hr
4.3
11 jobs

𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗘𝗫𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗦. 𝗜𝗧 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗦, 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗥. Every unwritten book is a story the world never gets to read, a lesson never learned and a transformation that never happens. Maybe that book is yours, the idea you keep thinking about but haven’t been able to finish alone. I am Makanjuola Pelumi, professional ghostwriter, and my entire job is to take the book that is stuck inside your head and get it onto the page in your voice, your style, and your words. Maybe you've started three times and abandoned it. Maybe you're too busy running your business to write a 50,000-word manuscript. Maybe you know what you want to say but have no idea how to say it in a way that grips readers and keeps them turning pages. Maybe you've hired a writer before and got back something that sounded nothing like you. That's exactly where I come in. 𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗜 𝗔𝗠 I'm a professional Ghostwriter with completed projects spanning fiction novels, romance, thrillers, cozy mysteries, paranormal stories, nonfiction books, memoirs, children's books, ebooks, and short stories. I write in your voice, from your vision, and for your audience. 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗚𝗛𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗬𝗢𝗨 ✅ Fiction novels & short story collections ✅ Romance, paranormal & cozy mystery novels ✅ Thriller & suspense fiction ✅ Fantasy & humor fiction ✅ Nonfiction books & self-help guides ✅ Biography & memoir writing ✅ Children's books & illustrated story scripts ✅ Ebooks & digital products for KDP & online publishing ✅ Book series, chapter writing & developmental editing ✅ Lead generation ebooks & authority-building books for entrepreneurs 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗠 𝗠𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗘 Most people who come to me have one of three problems: 1. The blank page problem: They have a brilliant idea but freeze the moment they open a document. Writing a full book feels overwhelming, and every attempt goes nowhere. 2. The voice problem: They've tried other writers and got back something that felt robotic, generic, or completely unlike them. Their readers would never believe they wrote it. 3. The time problem: They're coaches, entrepreneurs, CEOs, or busy creatives who simply don't have 6–12 months to dedicate to writing a full manuscript while running their life and business. If any of these sound familiar, you're in the right place. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗜 𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥 I solve all three problems through a process built on deep collaboration, psychology-driven storytelling, and relentless attention to your voice. Every project starts with a thorough client interview, I ask the questions that unlock your story, your tone, your personality, and your goals. From there I build a structured outline, develop your characters or chapters, and write content that sounds authentically like you, only sharper, more compelling, and more powerful than you imagined. 𝗠𝘆 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗼𝗻: 🔹 Story development: strong arcs, vivid characters, satisfying resolutions 🔹 Research & fact-checking: especially critical for nonfiction and memoir 🔹 Psychology of reader engagement: hooks, pacing, and emotional pull 🔹 Clear communication: regular updates, milestone check-ins, zero ghosting 🔹 100% confidentiality: your project stays yours, always 𝗜 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗕𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛: → First-time authors ready to finally publish → Amazon KDP sellers scaling their ebook catalogue → Coaches & entrepreneurs building authority through books → Publishers & content agencies needing reliable fiction writers → Creatives with the vision who need the execution Ready to finally get your book written, the right way? Send me a message today. Let's bring your story to life. MY EXPERTISE INCLUDE: Story Development, Thriller, Creative Writing, Ghostwriting, English, Fiction Writing, Romance, Fact-Checking, Ebook, Psychology, Communication Skills, Short Story Writing, Ebook Writing, Fluent, Spanish to English Translation, Client Interview, Research Interviews, Novel, Writing, Proofreading, Proposal Writing, Content Writing, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Book Writing, Fantasy, Humor, Storytelling, Health & Wellness, Article Writing, Email Marketing, Content Creation, Copywriting, Blog Writing, Nonfiction, Ebook Formatting, Print Design, Editing & Proofreading Biography & Memoir, Children's Writing, Illustration, Curriculum Development, Developmental Editing, Kindle Direct Publishing, Nonfiction Writing, Plot Development, Natural Dialogue Writing, First-Person POV Writing, Scene Building, Emotional Storytelling, Character Development, LinkedIn, LinkedIn Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, AI Content Writing, Ad Copy, Sales Writing, Landing Page, Sales Copywriting, Short Story, Dystopian, Mystery, Romanian, Science, Family, Education, Astrology, Drama, Website Content, werewolf romance ghostwriting, book cover design, non fiction book

  • Ghostwriting
  • Content Writing
  • Creative Writing
  • Ebook Writing
  • PowerPoint Presentation
  • Formatting
  • Ebook Design
  • Fiction Writing
  • Ebook Upload
  • Ebook Formatting
  • Novel Writing
  • Nonfiction Writing
  • Storytelling
  • Proofreading
  • Developmental Editing
  • Kindle Direct Publishing
  • Biography & Memoir
  • Children's Writing
  • Romance Writing
  • Children's Book Illustration
Jamie Nicole G.

Baguio, Philippines

$30/hr
4.9
86 jobs

A ghostwriter specializing in fiction and non-fiction. I conduct top-tier research, write outlines, and draft and edit manuscripts. I also specialize in ghostwriting contemporary romance and cozy mystery books with great amazon reviews for some of my published works.

  • Ghostwriting
  • Creative Writing
  • Ebook
  • Fact-Checking
  • Editing & Proofreading
  • Fiction Writing
  • Narrative
  • Fiction
  • US English Dialect
  • Drama
  • Novel

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Don't just take our word for it

Ghostwriter hiring guide

A ghostwriter can transform your expertise, life experiences, or creative vision into polished manuscripts, articles, and speeches. Whether you need a full-length book, a series of thought leadership pieces, or a compelling keynote, the right ghostwriter can save months of work while preserving your authentic voice.

What does a ghostwriter do?

A ghostwriter writes content on your behalf, capturing your ideas and voice so the finished work reads as if you wrote it yourself. They handle everything from research and outlining to drafting and revisions, collaborating closely with you to make sure the final product reflects your perspective and goals.

Depending on the project, a ghostwriter may take on responsibilities like:

Many ghostwriters specialize in a particular genre or industry, so you can find someone who already understands your subject matter. That domain knowledge means less ramp-up time and a stronger finished product.

The best ghostwriters go beyond putting words on a page. They interview you extensively, research your topic, and structure the content so it resonates with your target audience. Throughout the process, you stay in control by approving outlines, reviewing drafts, and shaping every revision until the final product matches your vision.

Ghostwriting is common across industries. Entrepreneurs, executives, and public figures regularly work with ghostwriters to produce business books, memoirs, and thought leadership content. The arrangement is typically confidential, though some clients choose to acknowledge their ghostwriter as a collaborator or coauthor.

How to hire a ghostwriter on Upwork

Finding the right ghostwriter starts with a clear project description. On Upwork, you can move from job post to signed contract in four steps.

Step 1: Post a job

Start by creating a detailed job post that clearly describes your project, goals, audience, and writing requirements. The more context you provide, the easier it will be for ghostwriters to determine whether they're a good fit.

  • Specify the genre and format, such as a book, ebook, memoir, article, newsletter, speech, LinkedIn content, thought leadership, or website copy

  • Include the subject matter, target audience, estimated word count or page range, and desired publishing outcome

  • Share any style preferences, writing samples, brand guidelines, reference materials, or examples of your voice

  • Clarify whether interviews, research, fact-checking, or source gathering will be part of the project

  • Indicate whether the engagement is a one-time assignment or ongoing ghostwriting support

  • Share your timeline, budget, and major project milestones

  • Get ideas on content and structure from this writer job description template

Use our Job Post Generator, powered by Uma™, Upwork's Mindful AI, to speed things up. Describe what you need in a few sentences, and Uma will draft a ghostwriter job post for your review and customization.

Step 2: Evaluate candidates

As proposals begin to arrive, focus on identifying ghostwriters whose experience, writing style, and subject matter expertise align with your project.

  • Use Uma's Best Match insights to surface candidates whose skills and experience align with your requirements

  • Review portfolios and writing samples for projects similar in format, audience, and subject matter

  • Prioritize candidates with demonstrated success in your genre, since voice, structure, and reader expectations vary significantly across formats

  • Evaluate writing quality, storytelling ability, structure, clarity, and consistency of voice

  • Check for experience ghostwriting books, articles, executive content, thought leadership pieces, speeches, or other relevant formats

  • Review client feedback for comments about communication, reliability, collaboration, and ability to capture a client's voice

  • Check Job Success Scores (JSS) and talent badges such as Top Rated, Top Rated Plus, or Expert-Vetted

  • Look for evidence of research skills, interviewing experience, and subject matter expertise relevant to your project

Step 3: Interview top choices

Interview shortlisted candidates to determine whether they can accurately represent your voice, ideas, and expertise.

  • Schedule and conduct interviews directly within Upwork Messages and review transcripts and summaries afterward to compare candidates efficiently

  • Draw from these writer interview questions as a starting point 

  • Inquire about their experience writing in your genre and how they adapt their process for different audiences and content types

  • Ask how they approach voice matching, interviewing, research, outlining, drafting, and revision workflows

  • Discuss similar projects they have completed and how they adapted their writing style to different clients

  • Explore their process for handling confidential information, attribution, fact-checking, and source verification

  • Clarify expectations around revisions, collaboration, communication frequency, and turnaround times

  • Consider providing a short paid writing test or sample assignment to evaluate writing quality and voice alignment

  • Confirm availability, timeline expectations, and ability to meet major project milestones

Step 4: Agree on scope and begin work

When you've selected a ghostwriter, establish clear expectations around deliverables, ownership, timelines, and communication before writing begins.

  • Finalize the project scope, deliverables, deadlines, revision rounds, and milestone schedule in a formal hourly or fixed-price contract

  • Align on genre-specific expectations, including structure, tone, audience, research depth, and deliverable format before drafting begins

  • Clarify intellectual property ownership, authorship rights, confidentiality requirements, and any nondisclosure agreements that apply to the work

  • Establish expectations for interviews, research access, review cycles, approvals, and stakeholder feedback

  • Define milestones for outlines, chapter drafts, article drafts, revisions, final manuscripts, or other major deliverables

  • Use messaging and the contract workroom to manage communication, feedback, files, and project documentation in one place

  • Take advantage of Upwork's identity verification, payment protection, and hourly tracking features for added security and transparency

  • For fixed-price projects, fund milestones through project funds and release payment as each phase is completed

  • Track progress throughout the engagement to ensure the project stays aligned with your goals, voice, and publishing timeline

The rates and information provided in this article are based on current data and industry sources available at the time of publication. Freelance rates can vary depending on factors such as experience, location, project scope, and market conditions. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research to confirm current rates and trends, as this information may change over time.

How much does hiring a ghostwriter cost?

On Upwork, ghostwriters generally cost $20-$45 per hour. Rates vary based on the project’s scope and length, as well as the writer’s experience level. Required turnaround time and the amount of research involved can also impact costs. This is a breakdown of typical ghostwriter costs by project type for jobs often found on Upwork:

Blog posts and articles

$250-$750 /project

Entry-level to mid-level
  • 1,000-2,000 word article
  • SEO-optimized blog post
  • Thought leadership piece

Speeches and presentations

$500-$1,500 /project

Mid-level to senior-level
  • Keynote speech draft
  • Conference presentation
  • Award ceremony remarks

Book proposals

$2,000-$5,000 /project

Mid-level to senior-level
  • Full book proposal
  • Sample chapters
  • Market analysis

Full-length book manuscript

$10,000-$40,000 /project

Senior-level or specialist
  • Complete manuscript
  • Memoir or autobiography
  • Business or self-help book

Ongoing content retainer

$1,000-$3,000 /project

Mid-level to senior-level
  • Monthly blog content
  • Newsletter writing
  • Social media thought leadership

FAQs about ghostwriters

Frequently asked questions

Is hiring a ghostwriter worth it?

For most people with a strong idea but limited time or writing experience, a ghostwriter is a worthwhile investment. Discussions in writing communities such as Reddit often suggest that a skilled ghostwriter can help compress months of writing and revision into a much shorter timeline. Many entrepreneurs credit their ghostwritten books with landing speaking engagements and building authority in their field.

Do ghostwriters get royalties?

In most cases, ghostwriters are paid a flat fee or project-based rate, and the client retains full ownership and credit. Royalty-sharing arrangements exist but are less common and depend on the contract you negotiate.

How long does it take to write a book with a ghostwriter?

A full-length book usually takes three to nine months with a ghostwriter, depending on length, complexity, and how quickly you can provide input and feedback. Shorter projects like articles or speeches can be completed in a few days to a couple of weeks.