How to Hire a Memoir Ghostwriter
How to Choose a Professional Memoir Ghostwriter
Choosing a ghostwriter is not like choosing a graphic designer or accountant. When you hire a memoir ghostwriter, you’re inviting someone into the interior of your life, your story, and your inner world. The relationship can be deeply intimate.
Here’s what to look for when hiring a memoir ghostwriter:
1. Look for someone who understands trauma, emotion, and storytelling.
If your story involves trauma, loss, psychological abuse, addiction, mental health, high-pressure careers, or identity transformation, choose someone who is:
Trauma-informed
Grounded and emotionally aware
Able to hold sacred space
Sensitive to pacing
Practiced in supporting survivors
Many ghostwriters are excellent with words but not equipped to handle stories that require emotional safety. If you’re writing a survival story or recovery memoir, this matters.
As a ghostwriter for trauma survivor books, I incorporate tools like grounding practices, nervous system regulation, and spacious pacing so the process feels safe and empowering.
2. Be ready to share about your story.
It’s important to find someone you feel safe and comfortable talking to. In your initial call, a strong ghostwriter might ask:
What is your deeper “why” for writing this memoir?
What are the emotional stakes of your story?
What happened and what meaning have you made from your experience?
Who do you want this book to help?
What parts of your story feel hardest to tell?
What themes or transformations define your life?
If you feel seen, understood, and at ease in that first conversation, that’s a good sign.
3. Understand the ghostwriter’s process.
Ask them to explain:
How they conduct interviews
Their timeline
How many drafts they produce
How revisions work
How they capture your voice
How often you’ll meet
How they protect your emotional safety
For example, my process as a memoir ghostwriter involves spending a weekend together in-person whenever possible, so we can get to know each other and I can see a glimpse of your world. Additionally, I like to do a series of recorded interviews before drafting a complete book outline and starting some chapter drafts. In completing the early chapters, we’re looking to get clear on the voice, tone, and style of the book.
A memoir is a marathon, not a sprint—and you deserve a process that feels clear and supportive.
4. Ask yourself, do I feel comfortable with this person?
When you find a memoir ghostwriter, they need to be someone you feel comfortable with and who you can trust. It’s important to look for someone who syncs with your communication style.
Ask yourself:
Do I feel safe with this person?
Do I trust them?
Do they understand my story?
Do they speak with compassion?
Do I feel calmer after talking to them?
Feel free to ask them questions that would help you learn more about them. Trust your instincts on whether it’s a fit.
Cost Estimates for Hiring a Memoir Ghostwriter (2025)
Let’s talk about cost—the question everyone has about ghostwriting. What does it cost to hire a professional ghostwriter?
The cost of hiring a memoir ghostwriter varies widely. In the U.S., professional ghostwriting can cost anywhere from $25,000 to over $150,000, depending on:
Experience level
Demand
Timeline
Complexity of the story
Depth of interviews required
Emotional labor and support
Research needed
Scope of revisions
Here’s a realistic breakdown:
Entry-Level Ghostwriters
Beginner ghostwriters can usually be found on freelance platforms like Fiverr or Upwork. You can expect to pay $10,000–$25,000. On one hand, hiring a newer ghostwriter is more budget-friendly, but can result poor-quality writing or an experience that feels scattered or overwhelming.
Mid-Level Professional Ghostwriters
Mid-level professional ghostwriters typically charge between $25,000–$75,000 for a full-length memoir or nonfiction manuscript. These writers often have multiple books under their belt, stronger storytelling skills, and a more organized client process.
You’re likely to receive a clearer structure, better communication, and a more polished manuscript compared to entry-level options.
High-End Memoir Ghostwriters
High-end memoir ghostwriters are seasoned professionals who often charge $75,000–$150,000+, depending on the project’s complexity and scope. This tier typically includes writers with extensive experience, a proven track record, and a highly personalized, white-glove process.
They may have helped clients land traditional publishing deals, write bestsellers, or produce books that have been featured in major media outlets. They may also have a New York Times Bestseller under their belt or have worked with celebrity authors before.
My Pricing as a Professional Memoir Ghostwriter
✨ My ghostwriting fees start at $50,000 for a full-length, clean, proofread manuscript (typically 50,000–80,000 words).
✨ Most projects take 9–12 months.
✨ Payment plans are available.
✨ Book proposals start at $20,000 and up.
My work is trauma-informed, emotionally attuned, and deeply immersive. Many clients choose me because they need more than a writer— they’re looking for a book shaman: a guide, a partner, a safe container, and someone who can help them carry the weight of their story.
Red Flags When Hiring a Memoir Ghostwriter
Here are warning signs to watch for:
🚩 They promise a finished book in a short period of time like 8-12 weeks.
🚩 They don’t ask about emotional safety or boundaries.
🚩 They don’t specialize in memoir.
🚩 They skip the interviewing process.
🚩 They can’t explain their process clearly.
🚩 Their pricing feels vague or too good to be true.
🚩 They aren't transparent about revisions.
If you’re going to share the deepest parts of your life, you deserve someone who treats it with respect.
What It’s Like to Work With Me
If you’re curious what the process looks like when I ghostwrite a memoir, here’s a glimpse:
1. We meet and map the story.
We spend deep time together (in person or on Zoom) clarifying your themes, arc, voice, and message.
2. I interview you.
I ask questions designed to help you connect the dots and understand your story in a new way.
3. I outline your memoir.
This becomes the backbone of the whole project.
4. I write a few sample chapters to dial in the voice and tone.
I write a handful of chapters that act as a “tone test,” giving you a preview of how I’ll shape your experiences into scenes and reflections. We review them together, making sure the writing reflects your authentic voice and intentions.
5. I write the full first draft.
You read along as chapters emerge. We refine as we go.
6. I revise and polish.
The manuscript goes through multiple rounds of revision (usually two or three) and I make edits based on your feedback.
7. A copy editor from my team does a final proofread.
Once the manuscript is fully revised and you feel confident in the story we’ve crafted, it goes to a professional copy editor I trust. This ensures your book is clean, consistent, grammatically precise, and ready for publication. A fresh set of eyes catches anything we may have missed and gives your manuscript the final layer of polish it deserves.
8. You receive a finished book.
When the proofread is complete, you receive the full, polished manuscript—professionally written, deeply aligned with your voice, and ready for the next steps of publishing. Many clients describe this moment as life-changing: holding the story they’ve lived, survived, and finally told with clarity and power.
9. Emotional support and healing practices are built into the process.
Because telling your story, especially a survival or transformation story, is emotional work, I weave trauma-informed care into every phase of the experience. Optional healing tools include breathwork, meditation, grounding practices, Reiki, and gentle nervous-system support. You’re never alone in the process, and you’re never pushed beyond what feels safe.
Clients finish feeling:
Empowered
Lighter
Clearer
Proud
Transformed
Ready for the next chapter of life
Is Hiring a Memoir Ghostwriter Worth It?
Only you can answer that—but here’s what I’ve seen after years of doing this work:
Clients find closure.
They reclaim their voice.
They understand their story on a deeper level.
They feel more confident.
They open new career opportunities.
They heal by telling the truth.
They create a beautiful legacy.
Not only do you walk away with a book in your hands, but you open the door to a new chapter of your life.
Your Story Matters More Than You Think
If you’re thinking about hiring a memoir ghostwriter, remember this: your life has meaning, purpose, and wisdom that will change someone else’s world.
Whether you choose me or another professional memoir ghostwriter, I hope this guide helps you take the next step with clarity and confidence.
When you’re ready, I’d love to hear about your project.
Reach out through my contact form.
Or email me directly at support@rachelwarmath.com.
