Congratulations! You have decided to write a book. You might already have put pen to paper to brainstorm ideas or opened a Word document to start a chapter with enthusiasm, energy and… then what happens?

Everyone who has tried knows writing a book isn’t easy. Structure, flow, drying-up of ideas, lack of momentum, editing, putting in the hours needed… There are so many reasons for stalling or giving up completely.

The world is full of books that were started with the best intentions and never finished. Every single book you see sold in a shop has an army of people who helped produce it. Not only a writer, editor, proofreader and copy editor but designers, marketing people and sales teams. 

So where does this leave you and your book? At what point do you decide you need professional help? Let’s look at the reasons first why a ghostwriter isn’t necessary.

You won’t need a ghostwriter if:

1) You’re not interested in having the book published.
If you’re writing a book for family or friends or a personal project and a particularly professional standard is not the goal, then there’s no need to hire anyone!

2) You feel confident with your own writing and have experience putting prose together.
If you’re talented at writing, know your audience and have plenty to say, you might be better off with a good editor. An editor can direct your writing, chop chapters, beef them up and make suggestions on style, quantity and overall tone.

3) You have lots of time to hone your craft.
If you’re not a confident writer, but still feel determined to do all the writing alone, you’ll need lots of time. If there is no particular deadline and you want to learn along the way, there are thousands of courses, books and podcasts aimed at amateurs longing to improve their writing skills. If you’re aiming at finding a publishing deal afterwards, you will still need an editor, however. Doing your own editing is like doing your own dentistry.

So when do you need to use a ghostwriter? Seriously consider employing a ghostwriter if you want to:

1) Save time.
Most people underestimate the amount of time writing takes. A professional writer will be faster, taking an average of three to six months, depending on the length of the book. Writing it alone, you will need to commit to giving up evenings and weekends, especially if you’re working a full-time job too.

2) Have the prose appeal to your audience.
Ghostwriters can adapt their style to appeal to different readerships. They know what style of writing appeals to what audience.

3) Find a publishing deal.
Many ghostwriters work for a range of publishers and know what the current market requires. A professionally written manuscript is always far more appealing to publishers than any amateur attempt, however good the story is.

4) Make your book a commercial success.
Even if you’re self-publishing, using a ghostwriter will produce a professional-grade manuscript and appeal to a mass audience. Publishers are only interested in books that sell and make money, and a ghostwriter will know what they’re looking for.

Using a ghostwriter is not cheating or lazy. It’s an opportunity to use a professional to make your book the best it can be.