When to Hire a Ghostwriter Vs an Editor
Ghostwriting and editing are two highly valuable services that are utilized by hundreds of thousands of authors every year. However, though both ghostwriters and editors can be essential for publication, there are many situations where it makes more sense for an author to hire one over the other. Knowing the difference between ghostwriting and editing services and knowing when they might be applicable to your specific writing project will not only save you time, energy, and money, but it may also be the difference between a successful manuscript and one that falls flat on the market.
Why Hire an Editor?
The primary role of an editor is to review the author’s manuscript for a wide range of potential issues and provide guidance and assistance in fixing them. These issues can include ill-defined structure, confusing or inconsistent plot points, a lack of depth in characters, poorly conducted research, or any number of challenges that can be detrimental to a book’s success.
Practically all authors will need to work with an editor prior to publication. But the professional relationship between an author and editor can look very different depending on the genre they write in, the status of their manuscript, and their goals for publishing.
Established authors who already have a literary agent and aim to publish their work through a traditional publishing house are typically the exception. In this scenario, the author has already developed a rapport with the publishing house that provides in-house editorial services prior to publication. However, in most cases, authors who are self-publishing or publishing through a small or independent publishing house or press will almost certainly need to hire their own editor, especially if they do not already have published works.
Even if the author’s ultimate goal is to work with a literary agent or traditional publisher, they will still need to hire an editor if they hope to attract the attention of these parties. Literary agents and publishing houses offer their services based on the perceived future success of the author’s manuscript and how much additional work will need to be put into it to elevate it to a commercial level. As most literary agents and publishers receive hundreds of submissions and queries every day, if they suspect that the work needs heavy editing or that the book’s concept has not been thoroughly fleshed out, it’s likely that the query will end in rejection for the simple reason that the manuscript, in its current form, is not marketable.
Why Hire a Ghostwriter?
While nearly all authors will need to work with an editor at some point before their book goes on the market, not every author will necessarily need to work with a ghostwriter. Compared to editing, ghostwriting is a much more niche, in-depth, and collaborative service in which the author hires another (typically anonymous) writer to directly assist them throughout the writing process.
The scope and extent of this relationship can vary fairly significantly. Some authors may decide to hire a ghostwriter because they have a great concept for a book, but even though they might have the necessary writing and language skills, they simply don’t have the time or energy to commit to writing, revising, formatting, and publishing a full-fledged book. In other cases, an author might have a partial or even fully completed manuscript, but they feel it needs significant revision to the point where it would be more productive to start from scratch with the help of a ghostwriter who can elevate the author’s manuscript to a professional level while also positioning it to fit industry and genre standards.
Over the last several years, our ghostwriters and editors have also recognized that many of the manuscripts we receive during our consultation process contain a substantial level of obvious AI-generated material. Unfortunately, we’ve also seen the downside to this. Even when ignoring the obvious ethical implications of AI usage in the publishing industry, it also comes with clear consequences when an author attempts to publish AI-generated work as their own.
As a result, more and more authors are deciding to work with a ghostwriter to write their book instead of using AI models or hiring them to rewrite their existing AI-generated manuscript to be more human-centered, authentic, and engaging, and more likely to be accepted by publishing houses or self-publishing platforms.
Can You Hire Both?
Yes! There are many scenarios where an author may decide to work with both a ghostwriter and an editor, typically when they are either self-publishing or publishing through a small or indie press that do not provide in-house editors. In this example, the ghostwriter may write part or all of the manuscript on behalf of the author, and then pass on the manuscript to a copyeditor or line editor for fine-tuning.
In other cases, an author may initially contact an editor for a surface-level service such as beta reading or a manuscript evaluation, but following the editor's consultation or feedback, they find that a lot more work needs to be done before publication.
Many editorial service providers (such as UnTapped) offer both ghostwriting and editorial services, which can make it convenient for authors who might not know which service they might need. If this sounds like you, we encourage you to contact us for a free consultation to go over your options.
When to Hire an Editor
When you have a complete and finished manuscript
After you’ve finished your revisions to the best of your ability, and require additional professional help
If you no longer anticipate adding significant additional content (such as several additional chapters)
If you intend to self-publish, publish through a small or indie press, or need to elevate your manuscript to appeal to publishing houses or literary agents.
Types of editors
Just as important as recognizing when you need an editor is understanding which types of editorial services you need for your specific project. There are four primary forms of editorial services:
Developmental Editing
Developmental editing is typically the very first stage of the editorial process that begins as soon as the first draft is completed, following any initial revisions made by the author. The primary goal during a developmental edit is to assess the structural integrity of the manuscript, the organization of the main plot or narrative, address any plot holes, and rework any issues regarding authenticity, factual accuracy, or character arcs. The editor will also often make suggestions for target audiences at this stage, and adherence to industry and genre standards.
Line editing
As the name suggests, line editing is designed to assess the manuscript line by line to uncover any issues with sentence structure, narrative flow, dialogue, style, and voice.
Copyediting
Similar to line editing, the main focus of a copyedit is to address the technical accuracy and consistency of the manuscript, reviewing each paragraph and sentence to determine their success in contributing to the overall work. This may include correcting grammar, punctuation, spelling, and syntax, as well as ensuring adherence to a particular style guide if applicable. In many cases, an editor will provide both line editing and copyediting services in tandem.
Proofreading
The final stage of the process is proofreading. Once an editor has completed each of the above stages, the author will submit their manuscript for one last read to correct any lingering spelling or grammatical issues and to elevate the manuscript to the level it needs to be for publication. One of the many perks we offer to our clients is complimentary proofreading following an initial editorial service.
Other types of editorial services
Before the first stages of the editorial process begin, many authors look for alpha or beta readers to review their manuscript early, high-level feedback. These readers are not editors, but they play an important role in identifying how the work is received by an audience. Alpha readers are often trusted peers or fellow writers who review very early drafts and offer broad impressions on story, pacing, and clarity. Beta readers typically come in after revisions have been made and provide more structured feedback from a reader’s perspective, highlighting what works, what doesn’t, and where engagement may falter.
Similarly, some authors may request manuscript evaluations before committing to a full editorial service. A manuscript evaluation provides a broad, professional assessment of the work as a whole, typically focusing on big-picture elements such as structure, pacing, character development, and overall readability. Unlike a developmental edit, it does not involve in-line revisions or detailed markups. Instead, the editor delivers a comprehensive report outlining strengths, opportunities for improvement, and a proposed editorial strategy. UnTapped offers these services at $0.01 per word; however, for authors who anticipate needing additional editorial services later on, we provide them free of charge during our consultation process.
How does the editorial process work?
An editor’s process can vary somewhat depending on the specific service requested and the level of quality and experience that the editor can offer to the author. UnTapped’s process starts with a free consultation that includes a full read of the manuscript’s current draft, followed by an initial assessment of the work, akin to a manuscript evaluation (described above). This allows the editor to gauge the amount of work needed to elevate the manuscript to a professional level and estimate the timeline and cost needed to do so. For authors looking for line editing or copyediting services, we also include an optional 10-page sample edit to give the author a sense of the process and the level of skill that the editor possesses.
After the author receives the assessment and sample edit, they are free to answer any additional questions they might have about the process or request additional professional references. If they decide to move forward, the editor will begin a second read, providing in-manuscript notes, working within the writing software preferred by the author, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word. When this stage is complete, the manuscript is handed back to the author to make revisions and is free to accept or deny the editor’s suggestions at their discretion. If the author has requested a developmental edit, they will also receive an extensive editorial letter that elaborates on the provided notes and serves as a guide for additional revision. Regardless of the specific service, the editor will always make themselves available to the author should they need additional clarification or assistance along the way.
When to Hire a Ghostwriter
When you have an idea or concept for a book, but are unsure how to start.
When you have an incomplete manuscript that you need help finishing or rewriting.
When you want to publish a book, but do not want to take part in the actual writing process.
If you have a manuscript that needs extensive editing to the point where a full rewrite is necessary.
If you need help brainstorming a book idea, developing an outline, or reworking a concept for a wider or more specific audience.
If you are not a native speaker of the language in which you want to write a book.
How does the ghostwriting process work?
Ghostwriting is a highly collaborative and extensive process between the author and the writer. Like the editorial process, authors seeking a ghostwriter will start with a consultation to go over the author’s concept and their vision for publication. During this process, the ghostwriter will request any initial writing that the author may have already completed and conduct an initial interview, asking a series of questions about the book’s premise and offering a few initial strategic options that they may be able to utilize in developing the manuscript. Once the ghostwriter has a general idea of the author’s goals, they will develop an outline for the author’s review and allow them the opportunity to revise or add suggestions.
After the outline is approved, the ghostwriter will offer a finalized rate and timeline quote. If the author accepts these terms, the ghostwriter will work chapter by chapter in a shared document, using the outline as a guide, and offering the author the opportunity to make revisions or amendments along the way. Following the completion of the manuscript, it will still need to receive a full-service edit before it can be published. However, UnTapped offers this free of charge under our ghostwriting rate.
Still Not Sure Which One You Need?
That’s okay! Writing a book can be an exceptionally rewarding and gratifying experience, but it’s also a huge commitment. Taking the time to ensure that you’re receiving the correct and applicable services that your book requires is important for not only reducing costs, time, and effort, but also ensuring that your book has its best chance of success when it hits the market. If you’d like more insight on whether you might need a ghostwriter or can simply get by with just an editor, contact us today for a free consultation to go over your options!
Comments