How Much Research Does a Ghostwriter Do for You?

The amount of research a ghostwriter will do depends on two big factors: (1) your contract and (2) your subject matter. When you begin to work on your project, you and your ghostwriter will discuss how much research needs to go into the book. For example, a memoir would require a minimal amount of research, whereas a history or medical book would require a great deal. Business-related books often fall somewhere in the middle. If you hire an experienced ghostwriter, he or she will be able to give you an estimate of how much research needs to be done and how long that will take.

A book that requires heavy research can often take longer, since the writer will need to do a lot of preparation before beginning to write the book. While the ghostwriter does the research, you can still be an active participant. During the research and interview phase, your ghostwriter should give you regular status reports on the material he or she is finding. This way, you can help guide the research without having to spend hours on the Internet or in the library. You can also do research of your own or work on drafting other parts of the manuscript.

If you have hired a ghostwriter because you have a busy schedule, you should communicate to the ghostwriter that he or she will be doing the majority of the research. It is unlikely that a ghostwriter will ever do all of the research—you, the author, should be involved as well. This can be as simple as pointing the writer in the right direction and coming up with a few resources of your own. When it comes to ghostwriting, communication is key, so the more you talk with your writer, the more likely you are going to be satisfied with the end product.

Contact the Jenkins Group and tell us about your project