Ghostwriting that sounds like you, not like us
You bring the story, the expertise or the life. We bring a genre-matched professional writer, a structured process and a manuscript that reads as though you wrote every word — because, in every way that matters, you did.
How much does a book ghostwriter cost?
A professional book ghostwriter costs £0.12–£0.35 per word, so a 60,000-word book runs roughly £7,200–£21,000. Arkedia's ghostwriting starts at £4,950 for shorter works. The author keeps full copyright and 100% of royalties, and a mutual NDA is signed before any material is read.
- Typical cost£0.12–£0.35/word
- From£4,950
- Timeline5–6 months
- CopyrightAssigned to author
Most people who want to write a book never finish one. Not because the idea is weak, but because turning a head full of material into 60,000 structured, readable words is a craft in its own right — and a full-time one.
Our ghostwriting service closes that gap. You are matched with a writer who has published in your genre, who interviews you properly, and who writes in a voice built from how you actually speak. You approve the outline before a single chapter is drafted, and you review every chapter as it lands.
The manuscript is yours. Full copyright transfers to you on final payment, your name goes on the cover, and our writer signs a non-disclosure agreement before they see a single page of your notes.
Fixed price, quoted in GBP before you commit. Milestone payments.
- Free 1,500-word sample first
- Mutual NDA signed before we start
- Two revision rounds included
- Full rights and royalties stay yours
Everything in the Ghostwriting service
Genre-matched writer
We shortlist two or three writers who have published work in your category and share their samples. You choose.
Discovery interviews
Recorded sessions — typically six to twelve hours in total — that capture your voice, stories and expertise.
Chapter-by-chapter outline
A full structural plan you sign off before drafting begins, so nobody writes 40,000 words in the wrong direction.
Milestone drafts
Chapters delivered in batches with a review window, so the voice is corrected early rather than at the end.
Two full revision rounds
Structural and line-level revisions included as standard, not sold back to you as an upgrade.
Full rights transfer
A written copyright assignment and a mutual NDA. The book, and everything in it, belongs to you.
How ghostwriting works, step by step
You approve before we proceed. Every time. No stage begins until you have signed off the one before it.
Discovery call
A 45-minute conversation about the book, the reader and the outcome you want. No charge, no obligation.
Writer matching
We shortlist writers published in your genre and send you samples. You pick the person you want to work with.
Interviews and outline
Recorded interviews capture your material. We return a chapter-by-chapter outline for approval.
Drafting
Chapters are written in batches. You review each batch and your feedback shapes the next.
Revision
Two full revision rounds — structure first, then line-level voice and rhythm.
Handover
Final manuscript, copyright assignment and a publication-ready file in the format you need.
What authors say afterwards
I came with eleven years of workshop notes and no idea how to make a book out of them. The outline stage alone was worth the fee — it was the first time I could see the shape of what I actually knew. The finished book reads like me on a good day.
I had three self-published titles that were not selling. They showed me my covers side by side with the top forty in my category at thumbnail size and I understood the problem in about four seconds. New covers, re-optimised listings, and the back catalogue started moving.
Writing about my mother's illness was not something I could do alone. The interviews were handled with real care, and they were clear from the start about what would be in the book and what would not. My family have all read it. That matters more than sales.
Ghostwriting — your questions answered
Will the book actually sound like me?
That is the entire job. Your writer works from recorded interviews rather than a questionnaire, so they hear your sentence rhythm, your vocabulary and the stories you tell without thinking. The first batch of chapters exists specifically so you can say 'closer, but I would never use that word' — and we adjust before the bulk of the book is written.
Who owns the copyright?
You do, completely. Copyright assigns to you in writing on final payment. Your ghostwriter is bound by a mutual NDA and is not credited anywhere unless you choose to credit them.
How long does a book take?
A 50,000–70,000 word non-fiction book typically runs five to six months from kick-off to final manuscript. Memoir and literary fiction often take longer; a short business book can be done in three. We give you a fixed schedule before you commit.
What if I only have notes and a rough idea?
That is the most common starting point. Roughly two-thirds of our clients arrive with fragments — voice memos, blog posts, a half-finished chapter, a lifetime of experience and no structure. The discovery interviews exist to turn that into a spine.
Can I stop partway through?
Yes. Work is billed against milestones, so you are never paying far ahead of delivery. If you stop, you keep everything written and paid for up to that point, with rights assigned.
Services that pair with this one
Book Editing
Developmental, line and copy editing from editors who work on commercially published books, with a clear report you can act on.
Learn moreBook Publishing
Print, eBook and global distribution set up properly — in your name, with your ISBN, and 100% of royalties paid to you.
Learn moreBiography & Memoir
Life stories written from recorded interviews — for family legacy, public profile or the record you want left behind.
Learn moreTell us about your book
A 45-minute call, no charge and no pressure. You will leave with a realistic timeline, a fixed price and an honest view of whether the book is worth writing.