Hire the Best Ghostwriters
Peoria, Arizona
Hello! I am a professional novelist, ghostwriter, developmental/copy editor, and medical technical writer with over thirteen years of full-time experience on Elance/Upwork. I also do Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) formatting for Amazon’s self-publishing program, to include images/photos. Writing as "Janeen O'Kerry," I am the author of twenty different titles. These include historical and contemporary romance; science fiction; fantasy; and non-fiction. I did the writing, editing, formatting, and cover selection on all of my own books,and you can see them simply by searching "Janeen O'Kerry" in the Amazon store. I will, of course, provide a free sample proofread, edit, or ghostwrite of about 500 to 1000 words. I am a full-time writer and editor and always open to ongoing projects. I will sign an NDA if you wish. Outside of a standard built-in grammar checker, I do not use artificial intelligence (AI) software in any part of my writing, editing, or research process. ***All ghostwriting, editing, and proofreading jobs include the following: A manuscript that is fully edited, polished, and ready to upload as an e-book. A searchable table of contents. About 120 words of cover copy for the back cover and the Amazon detail page. A short 140-character piece for Amazon ads and social media. Ghostwriting Let me help with action scenes, romantic/love scenes, dialogue, or “humanizing” your AI manuscript. All ghostwriting includes a full copy edit and e-book formatting. $0.05 (five cents) per word. Original work solely from your idea. $0.03 (three cents) per word. Writing from your outline or partial manuscript. $0.015 (one and one-half cents) per word. Rewriting from your complete rough draft, with some minor additions. Outlining Creating a scene-by-scene outline for your novel. This is a form of ghostwriting. Includes basic descriptions for up to five leading characters. $0.03 (three cents) per word according to your desired length. Developmental Editing An overall critique with many in-depth suggestions. No copy editing or rewriting. $0.005 (one-half cent) per word. *Save time and money! I am happy to do a developmental edit on just the first 10,000 words of your manuscript. You will have plenty to work on! Copy Editing Line-by-line corrections to grammar, punctuation, and word choices (rein/reign and trooper/trouper). Recasting of sentences for clarity and turning narrative into dialogue where appropriate. $0.01 (one cent) per word. Copy Edit with Developmental Edit A combination of both, as described above. $0.015 (one and one-half cents) per word. Proofreading Punctuation, spelling, and word choices only. No rewriting or suggestions. $0.005 (one-half cent) per word. KDP Formatting Formatting your e-book, paperback, and/or hardback manuscripts for Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) program. Includes a searchable Table of Contents for the e-book; page numbers with Table of Contents for the paperback/hardback; and a list of suggested categories and keywords. Note: Amazon requires that you do the actual uploading yourself, since no one else can use your account; but you may consult me through Upwork messaging during the process. The formatted manuscripts will be sent to you as .docx and .EPUB for the e-book and as a .pdf for the paperback/hardback. Both e-book and paperback in the same project: $0.0035 per word. Paperback alone: $0.0035 per word. Hardback alone: $0.0035 per word. E-book alone: $0.0025 per word. Images: $2.00 each up to 50 images; $1.00 for each additional image. This includes resizing, placement, captioning, and Alt Text for each image, all of which Amazon requires. Cover Copy (the "blurb") From your short description, outline, or synopsis of the book, I will create: A blurb of about 100-120 words for the book's back cover and Amazon detail page. A short 140-character piece for advertising and social media posts. $40.00 per book includes both of these. $25.00 to edit an existing blurb into both of these. Medical Writing & Editing Articles and information for your website, e-book, blog, or patient handouts. I have extensive experience with writing and editing for medical websites and e-books. References and samples will be included in the application. I also have eight years of full-time work as a medical transcriptionist for clinics and hospitals, which gave me extensive experience with medical terminology in many different specialties. Medical Writing: Five cents per word. Medical Editing: Three cents per word. Allow me to help make your book into one that will have lasting appeal and continue to sell for years to come, as my own books do. Thank you! I look forward to working with you. Janeen Sloan / "Janeen O'Kerry"
- Ghostwriting
- English
- Track Changes
- Copy Editing
Izmir, Turkey
The book in your head deserves to exist. I can get it there. I'm a full-time ghostwriter with more than 50 books behind me, fiction and nonfiction alike, across romance, mystery, thriller, and beyond. I trained as an English teacher before I wrote professionally, so the fundamentals, clear prose, structure, voice, are second nature to me. I also write my own fiction, because I can't seem to stop. My debut under the pen name T.S. Solace reached the top 6 on Amazon's bestseller charts within its first year. I know what readers want because I am one, and I know what works because I've done it. What working with me looks like: 🔹 Before we write a single word, you get a personalized sample, an outline, and a full summary, so you know exactly what you're signing up for. 🔹Two free revisions per milestone and up to 10,000 words a week. Your project stays on schedule and keeps moving. 🔹 I write in your voice, not mine. I never recycle old content or repeat the same topic twice. Each project is completely unique. 🔹Full confidentiality, always. I never share your work without permission and I'm happy to sign an NDA before we begin. 🔹Writing is my full-time job. I stay on your project until it's done and done right. 🔹A spotless review record since my first day on Upwork. No client has left unhappy yet. Due to NDAs, samples aren't publicly listed, but with permission from the clients involved, I'm happy to share them on request. If you've read this far, you have a story you want told. Send me a message and let's talk about it.
- Ghostwriting
- Creative Writing
- Nonfiction
- Fiction
- Book Writing
- Self-Help
- Book
- Novel Writing
- Plot Development
- Romance Writing
- Fiction Writing
- Contemporary Romance
Laguna de Duero, Spain
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
Far Rockaway, New York
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
Poza Rica de Hidalgo, Mexico
My name is Tomás, and I am a passionate dentist with a strong interest in languages. I currently hold a certification and have been working as a Spanish tutor for over 3 years, specializing in teaching Spanish as a second language. I have experience tutoring students of all levels, from children to adults, and I tailor my classes to meet the individual needs of each student. In addition to my dental background, my experience as a Spanish tutor has strengthened my communication and interpersonal skills. I am patient, empathetic, and dedicated to helping my students overcome challenges and achieve their language goals. I am truly passionate about both dentistry and teaching Spanish, and I am excited to continue making a positive impact on the language learning journeys of my students.
- Spanish
- Teaching Spanish
- Translation
- Spanish Tutoring
- Spanish to English Translation
- Language Studies
- Language Instruction
- Language Interpretation
- Mexican Spanish Dialect
- Data Entry
- Academic Writing
- Proofreading
- Editing & Proofreading
- Proofreading Feedback
- Teaching
Warren, Ohio
Please read completely as many common questions are answered here. Born and raised in Ohio, I am a native English speaker and have a BA in English from Kent State University. For five years, I taught language, reading, and honors creative writing to junior and senior high students, writing my own drama and creative writing curriculum. Over the course of my career, I have released nearly a dozen YA novels, short story collections, a collection of plays, a cookbook, and a book on writing. I have worked as a freelance writer / ghostwriter in both non-fiction and fiction capacities, writing everything from captions and copy to short stories and novels in myriad genres. While my forte is fiction, I do accept non-fiction work. I've created characters and outlines, as well as writing from a provided outline, and can work with as much or as little as the client wishes. All work is 100% original, meaning that unless otherwise instructed by a client, I do not outsource work to other freelancers and I do not use generative AI programs. None of my writing, including any provided samples, were assisted or created by AI. Much of my work as a ghostwriter has made Amazon's top 100 ebook lists at least once, and I have had more than one make USA Weekend's Bestseller list. I have been freelancing since 2002 and have been writing full-time since December 2012. As I sign NDAs with all of my clients and while some do give permission for me to use parts of that work as writing samples, I cannot provide full chapters of any work I have done for clients. I can only provide chapters from my own work, which is all YA. I do not write samples over 500 words on request without payment. I require all communication to be through a messaging platform, which means no phone or Zoom interviews, though I am happy to set a time for an Upwork message chat interview. My current Upwork hourly rate is $40/hr and my current Upwork per word rate is $0.06/word. This is based on my experience and what my current clients are paying. Outlining, story development, and revision options vary for per word / fixed rate work and are not provided without additional compensation. I work on a first-come, first-serve basis, and that comes by contract, not discussion. I can advise what my schedule looks like at any given time, but until a contract is signed and a project accepted, that may change. I do not accept any work that promotes / portrays any of the following in a positive manner: homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, racism, hatred, or blasphemy of any religion.
- Ghostwriting
- Creative Writing
- English
- Fantasy
- Romance
- Book Writing
- Short Story Writing
- Writing
- Story Development
- Character Design
- Proofreading
- Fiction
- Outline
- Fiction Writing
How it works
Post a job for free Post a job
Tell us what you need. Create your own job post or generate one with AI then filter talent matches.
Hire top talent fast
Consult, interview, and hire quickly, so you can meet the freelancers you're excited about.
Collaborate easily
Use Upwork to chat or video call, share files, and track project progress right from the app.
Payment simplified
Manage payments in one place with flexible billing options. Only pay for approved work, hourly or by milestone.
Don't just take our word for it
“Upwork provides an umbrella-level of security. I can see a talent’s work history and ratings. I can hold payments in escrow. I can communicate through Upwork Messages instead of working through my email address.”
Kim Darling
Emerald Tiger
“Upwork is the best platform to hire skilled professionals when we're not looking for a full-time employee. All the companies in our portfolio use Upwork to find talent across a wide range of fields.”
David Merry
Kinetic Investments
“Our very specific requirements can be a challenge—With Upwork, we’re able to access a bigger community to ensure the success of our projects.”
Katja Krohn
Summa Linguae
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:
Writing full-length books, including fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, and autobiographies
Drafting book proposals with sample chapters and market analysis
Crafting speeches for keynotes, conferences, and special events
Producing articles, blog posts, and thought leadership content
Developing white papers, case studies, and executive communications
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
- 1,000-2,000 word article
- SEO-optimized blog post
- Thought leadership piece
Speeches and presentations
$500-$1,500 /project
- Keynote speech draft
- Conference presentation
- Award ceremony remarks
Book proposals
$2,000-$5,000 /project
- Full book proposal
- Sample chapters
- Market analysis
Full-length book manuscript
$10,000-$40,000 /project
- Complete manuscript
- Memoir or autobiography
- Business or self-help book
Ongoing content retainer
$1,000-$3,000 /project
- 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.
Find more freelancers
Similar Ghostwriter Skills
- Biography Writers
- Letter Writers
- Academic Proofreading Professionals
- Writing Tutors
- Synopsis Writers
- Resume Writers
- Proposal Writers
- Cover Letter Writers
- Academic Writing Specialists
- Citation Style Professionals
- Writers
- White Paper Writers
- Professional Writers
- Dissertation Writers
- Research Paper Writers
- Journal Writers
Top Countries for Ghostwriters
- Ghostwriters in France
- Ghostwriters in Japan
- Ghostwriters in Ukraine
- Ghostwriters in Nepal
- Ghostwriters in Venezuela
- Ghostwriters in Poland
- Ghostwriters in Jamaica
- Ghostwriters in New Zealand
- Ghostwriters in Norway
- Ghostwriters in Vietnam
- Ghostwriters in Malaysia
- Ghostwriters in Mexico
- Ghostwriters in Macedonia
- Ghostwriters in Madagascar
- Ghostwriters in Morocco
- Ghostwriters in Sri Lanka