That story includes marketing/promotion, cover design, interior manuscript formatting,  copyediting/proofing, publishing, sales and distribution…Whew!   

That book you’ve been dreaming to write? Let’s say it’s nearly real now especially if you had a Ghostwriter doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes. After getting a well-earned pat on the back for your accomplishment, you may find yourself wondering about one of the next steps: Publishing.

The idea that “if you write it and publish it, readers will come” is, unfortunately, not reliable. A Ghostwriter can help streamline your work toward that end. While Ghostwriters charge a fee, the ROI often saves time and sidesteps many hurdles typically in the steps of the publishing process. Ghosts with marketing experience can be invaluable in setting the stage for your book’s success.

There are three main publishing paths: traditional, self-publishing, and hybrid or author-funded publishing (also called vanity publishing). Each route differs in cost, control, and reach, and each has its own success stories.

Traditional publishing is competitive and requires no upfront cost. Once a book is accepted after query, authors are paid an advance and receive 5–15% in royalties after that advance is earned out (book sells enough to cover the advance). The publisher has people who handle editing, design, distribution, and marketing.  It can take 1 to 2 years or more before print, and authors relinquish some creative control.

Self-publishing offers full creative control and higher royalties (36–70%), but no advance. You manage or outsource editing, design, marketing, and promotion (more on this later). About 10–20% of authors go this route, though many books sell fewer than 100 copies. Still, it can lead to traditional deals. Successful author examples include Andy Weir (The Martian), E.L. James (Fifty Shades of Grey), Lisa Genova (Still Alice), Amanda Hocking (Trylle Trilogy), and Christopher Paolini (Eragon).

Author-funded publishing guarantees publication and the companies that do this may offer bundled services like editing, cover design, and printing. Turnaround is fast and works well for memoirs or family history. Upfront costs are high, and the burden of producing a quality manuscript rests on the writer. Author-funded marketing must start early (typically as the book is written), and can be expensive or time-consuming if the author chooses to handle it. Historically, authors who need no introduction like Beatrix Potter, Mark Twain, Karl Barth, Virginia Woolf, and Marcel Proust began this way.

Consider the example of self-publisher Andy Weir. He began posting The Martian chapter-by-chapter on his blog in 2009. With input and engagement from a niche sci-fi audience, he self-published the book on Amazon KDP in 2011 for 99 cents. Within three months, it sold 35,000 copies. That momentum landed him a traditional publishing deal in 2013, with him being approached by a publishing house, followed by a 2014 print release and a 2015 film adaptation, all without an agent.

Weir’s success demonstrates the power of an author’s platform while writing a book, an increasingly important factor in a publishing house’s decision to accept a manuscript.    

Publishing a book doesn’t guarantee an audience. Readers won’t automatically appear just because a book exists. Publishers look for more than a polished manuscript; they want to see market potential. A Ghostwriter who understands the publishing ecosystem and the benefits of pre-promotion can help shape your book for success while supporting your visibility and outreach. Some Ghosts can simultaneously write and promote the story in advance of publishing by helping build the author’s platform (e.g., blogs, website, newsletters, media outreach, social media, SEO, guest blogging, et al).  

There’s nothing wrong with dreaming of landing a deal with Columbia or HarperCollins.  If a publishing house sees the value in your book, they have an entire team in place to pay to bring it to market. Don’t overlook the freedom in knowing that if they, the publishing gatekeepers, say “no,” it’s not the final say. You can still create, publish, and connect. 

Some of the most resonant voices, the most transformative stories, the most widely read books, came not from being invited in, but from stepping out and creating anyway. The right Ghostwriter can get you there…and then some.