Book ghostwriting is the highest-value engagement in our industry—and the highest risk. A single book project can generate $100,000 or more, but it can also become a nightmare of scope creep, payment disputes, and ownership conflicts without proper legal protection.
Every book ghostwriting engagement needs two documents: a detailed services contract and a robust non-disclosure agreement. Here's what these should contain.
The Services Contract: Essential Elements
Your contract must specify scope with surgical precision. Vague language creates disputes.
Define the deliverable clearly: "Complete ghostwriting of a 45,000-55,000 word business book" not "ghostwriting a business book." Include the acceptable word count range and what happens if the book exceeds that range (additional fees, typically).
Outline exactly what's included: research, interviews, drafting, revision rounds, coordination with publishers or literary agents. Specify what's explicitly excluded:Index creation, marketing copy, speaking materials derived from the book.
Payment Terms and Schedule
Book ghostwriting requires substantial upfront payment. A common structure:
- 25% upon contract signing
- 25% upon completion of first draft
- 25% upon completion of second draft
- 25% upon final delivery
Never begin significant work without the first payment cleared. Book ghostwriting requires hundreds of hours—you need financial protection.
Include provisions for scope changes. If the client wants to add three new chapters mid-project, specify the additional fee (typically $3,000-8,000 per new chapter depending on length and research requirements).
Kill Fees and Cancellation
Specify what happens if the client cancels. A typical kill fee structure:
- Cancellation before research begins: 15% of total project fee
- Cancellation during research phase: 35% of total project fee
- Cancellation during drafting: 60% of total project fee
- Cancellation after first draft: 85% of total project fee
These percentages protect you for work already completed. Without them, you may finish substantial work and receive nothing if the client walks away.
The Non-Disclosure Agreement
Book ghostwriting inherently involves confidential information. Your client will share unpublished business strategies, personal stories, industry secrets, and information about family members and colleagues.
Your NDA should cover:
- Definition of confidential information (everything shared during the project unless explicitly public)
- Obligation to maintain confidentiality during and after the project
- Exclusions for information that's public, independently developed, or received from third parties
- Return or destruction of confidential materials upon request
- No license to client materials beyond the specific project
Make the NDA mutual—the client should sign it too, acknowledging they'll keep your process and methodology confidential.
Intellectual Property Considerations
Standard ghostwriting arrangement: the client (credited author) owns all intellectual property in the finished work. You receive payment; they receive authorship and all rights.
Document this explicitly. "Work product created under this agreement shall be considered works made for hire. All intellectual property rights in the finished manuscript shall vest in the Author."
Some ghostwriters negotiate limited credit or acknowledgment rights. If you want "Developed with [Your Name]" or similar recognition, specify this in writing before signing.
The Revision Clause
Define revision parameters precisely. How many rounds of revision are included? What constitutes a "round"? What counts as revision vs. rewriting?
Typical contract language: "Two rounds of revisions are included. A revision round consists of one complete pass through the manuscript incorporating client feedback. Additional revision rounds beyond those specified shall be billed at $150/hour."
This prevents the infinite revision cycle where clients continuously find new issues without additional payment.
Interview and Research Rights
Specify your right to interview company employees, use publicly available research, and reference third-party sources. The client should warrant that your access to information and people is authorized.
Also address how you'll handle information discovered during research that contradicts the client's narrative. If you uncover data suggesting their business approach is flawed, your contract should establish how to handle disagreement.
Practical Contract Tips
Use e-signature platforms that create legally binding records (DocuSign, HelloSign). Keep signed copies permanently. Store them in multiple locations.
Never begin substantive work—research, outlining, drafting—until the contract is signed and initial payment clears. The handshake means nothing without documentation.
Consider having an attorney review your standard contract template, even if you don't involve them in every project. A few hundred dollars for legal review protects against thousands in potential disputes.