Ghostwriting isn’t just for celebrities or high-powered CEOs looking to publish their autobiographies, memoirs, or advice. While it’s true that many ghostwriters do specialize in writing books for the famous and wealthy, it’s a myth that ghostwriting is strictly for celebrity tell-alls or corporate memoirs. There are plenty of ghostwriters out there who specialize in helping regular people who have a story to tell.

Another common misconception about ghostwriting is that ghostwriters only write non-fiction books. They do write non-fiction books, of course. But ghostwriters can help with a wide variety of other writing projects, from works of fiction to blogs to business communications.

In this post, we’ll go beyond autobiographies and business books and take a look at four types of writing projects that a talented, flexible ghostwriter can take on.

1. Novels, screenplays, scripts for television, and plays.

Most people feel they have a story inside them just waiting to come out: A bestselling spy thriller; an award-winning romcom; the next “Breaking Bad” or “Game of  Thrones.” There’s only one problem: They aren’t experienced writers, and they aren’t sure how to get their ideas down on paper in an engaging way. 

How a ghostwriter can help:

Fiction ghostwriters have the experience necessary to turn a good idea into a great story great. They understand things like character development, plot, and pacing. And, most importantly, they have the skills and experience needed to see a fiction project through to the end. A ghostwriter can also help ensure that your finished piece is tailored to publishers or producers, and he or she may even be able to help with next steps like pitches or self-publishing.

2. Articles for print and online publications, blogs, and e-zines.

A great way to build your brand, position yourself as a subject matter expert, or generate sales is to publish articles and blogs that showcase your knowledge. But industry experts often find that writing for a wider audience is can be a challenge: They’re often too close to the material to determine if their message is clear, conversational, and, most importantly, interesting to the average reader.

How a ghostwriter can help:

A ghostwriter can help you get your message across in a way that resonates with a general audience. A ghostwriter can also help you do things like avoid industry jargon or technobabble. And, of course, any ghostwriter worth his or her salt will also ensure that the end result sounds like you: Your voice, your ideas, your unique perspective or industry expertise.

3. Business marketing and communication projects

Running a company in today’s competitive market can be a challenge. You need a marketing plan with plenty of content — from whitepapers and case studies to newsletters, social posts, and corporate communications — to engage your customers and stakeholders. And you need to do create all of this content while also keeping up with your other business-related tasks. Most companies simply don’t have the time to churn out this much copy without sacrificing quality.

How a ghostwriter can help:

Creating top-notch content and communications is vital to the success – or failure – of your business. Hiring a ghostwriter can help you do that. A good ghostwriter can take your content ideas and minimal direction and run with it, creating shareable, high-quality content that reflects your company’s voice and brand, improves SEO, and gets you noticed  — all while ensuring that you have the time to focus on other aspects of your business.

4. Speeches and presentation scripts

You’ve been invited to give a keynote address at an important industry event. Your sales team has to give a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation about your latest product. You need to pitch your company’s services to a new potential client. You’ve been nominated for an award.

And, you’re terrified.

Let’s face it: Even the most experienced public speakers out there – politicians, celebrities, and business leaders – use speechwriters to help them plan what to say and how to say it. Being prepared can help take the pressure off and ease the anxiety.

How a ghostwriter can help:

Ghostwriters with experience in writing speeches and presentations can help you craft a memorable, interesting speech or presentation. And they can ensure that it matches your unique voice, includes your key messages, and, most importantly, fits within your allotted timeframe.  Not sure what to say? A ghostwriter with speechwriting experience can also help you generate topic ideas and organize your ideas.

Regardless of the type of project you need written, if you don’t have the expertise or the time, hiring a ghostwriter to write it for you can be the perfect option. A ghostwriter can bring your project to a higher level of professionalism and success.

And the best part? You still get to retain all the rights, credit, and potential prestige that comes with the finished work.