Looking for a Ghostwriter? What to Send Before the First Call

You have decided to hire a ghostwriter. The first call goes better, and the first draft arrives closer to the mark, when you bring a few things with you.

Start with the purpose. Who is going to read this, and what do you want them to think or do afterward? A post meant to win referrals from other attorneys is a different piece than one meant to reassure a nervous homeowner.

Next, send samples of your own voice. Emails you are proud of, a speech, a transcript of a talk, or an older article all help. A ghostwriter listens for how you build a sentence, where you use humor, and what you never say. If you have no samples, a recorded conversation works nearly as well.

Then share the material. That could be notes from a meeting, a deck, a recording, a list of points you want to make, or simply a topic and a willingness to be interviewed. The more specific the facts, names, and figures, the less guessing the writer has to do.

Be clear about where the piece will run and how long it should be. A LinkedIn post, a newsletter article, a press release, and a firm website page each have their own shape. Mention any deadline and how many rounds of review you expect.

Finally, tell the writer what is off limits. Client names, pending matters, numbers you cannot share, and subjects you would rather avoid should be on the table at the start. A good ghostwriter will ask, but it helps to volunteer.

You do not need all of this to begin. A short conversation and a few samples can get things moving. If you are looking for a ghostwriter in real estate, law, finance, or a technical field, I would be glad to hear what you have in mind.