Write it yourself or hire a ghostwriter?
Write it yourself if you enjoy writing and have the hours. Hire a ghostwriter if you would rather talk than write, or if your time is worth more than the fee. Most people's decision comes down to three things: time, money, and how they feel about writing.
The three routes side by side
Hours and prices for the help routes are Scribe's published figures from scribemedia.com/services and scribemedia.com/pricing. Self-publishing costs come from the Scribe Method's cost chapter.
| Write it yourself | Write with a coach | Hire a ghostwriter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who writes | You | You, with structure and feedback | A writer, from your interviews |
| Your time | Hundreds of hours; at least an hour a day while drafting | 2 to 6 hours a week (Scribe Guided Author) | 2 to 4 hours a week, 60 to 100 hours total (Scribe Professional) |
| Typical cost | About $3,500 to $14,700 to edit, design and publish well | $44,000 at Scribe, including publishing ($2,933 a month for 15 months) | $56,000 at Scribe ($4,667 a month for 12 months); $135,000 for Scribe Elite |
| Voice | Entirely yours | Entirely yours | Yours, if the process is built on your words |
| Biggest risk | Not finishing | Not keeping up with the writing | A writer who does not capture you |
Write it yourself if…
- You enjoy writing, and people tell you your writing is clear.
- You can protect an hour a day, at the same time and place, for several months.
- Your budget is closer to $5,000 than to $50,000.
- You want every sentence to be yours, start to finish.
Start with The Scribe Method, which is free to read online, and its writing plan: about 250 words an hour, and a 30,000-word first draft in about four months at 250 words a day.
Write with a coach if…
- You can write, but you keep putting it off.
- You have started before and stalled.
- You want accountability and an expert eye, but your own words.
One example: David Burkus used Scribe Guided Author to go from his first session to a book on sale everywhere in about 11 months. His story is on scribemedia.com.
Hire a ghostwriter if…
- You think out loud and would rather talk your ideas through than type them.
- Your hours are worth more than the fee. At $250 an hour, 200 hours of writing is $50,000 of your time.
- You want the book to be as good as possible and are willing to pay for experience.
This is the route most Scribe authors choose: Scribe says 80% of its authors pick Scribe Professional, where a writer interviews you and writes every word in your voice.
Questions to ask any ghostwriter or service
- Who owns the book, the rights and the royalties when it is done?
- How many hours will it take from me, and when?
- Can I read sample chapters from books you have written?
- What happens if I do not like a draft?
- Who edits, designs, publishes and distributes it, and is that included?
- What is the total price, and how are payments scheduled?
Still unsure which route fits you? The quiz weighs your time, your feelings about writing and your budget, and tells you which way to go.
Common questions
Is it cheating to use a ghostwriter?
No. The ideas, stories and expertise are yours, and you approve every word. A ghostwriter turns what you know and how you talk into a book, much as a speechwriter does for a speech.
Will people know my book was ghostwritten?
Not unless you tell them. With an interview-based process, the book is built from hours of your own words, so it should sound like you. Read sample chapters from any writer before you hire them.
Is writing a book with a coach a good middle ground?
Often, yes. If you can write but struggle to keep going, a coach gives you structure, deadlines and feedback while every word stays yours. It costs less money than a ghostwriter and more of your time: Scribe estimates 2 to 6 hours a week for its Guided Author program.
What should I ask a ghostwriter before hiring them?
Who owns the rights and the royalties, how much of your time it will take, how many rounds of revisions you get, what happens if you do not like a draft, who handles editing, design and publishing, and what the total cost and payment schedule are.
Sources: scribemedia.com/services and /pricing, checked October 20, 2026; The Scribe Method, chapters 13 and 32. Published by Scribe Media.