What’s the Difference Between an Editor and a Ghostwriter?

When you’re creating a book, it’s common to hear the terms editor and ghostwriter used interchangeably. They are not the same role, and understanding the difference can save you time, money, and frustration. Both professionals support authors, but they do fundamentally different work.

This article explains what each role does, when you might need one, and how they sometimes work together.

What Does an Editor Do?

An editor works with material you’ve already written. Their job is to improve, clarify, and strengthen your existing manuscript while preserving your voice and ideas.

Editors do not create the core content of your book. They refine it.

Depending on the stage of your manuscript, an editor may provide:

• Developmental editing: Big-picture feedback on structure, pacing, clarity, organization, and content gaps.
  
  
• Content editing: Paragraph-level feedback on the content, topics, and lessons in your manuscript.
  
  
• Line editing: Improving sentence flow, tone, word choice, and readability.
  
  
• Copyediting: Correcting grammar, spelling, punctuation, and consistency.
  
  
• Proofreading: Final error checks before publication.
  
  

Throughout the process, the ideas, arguments, stories, and authority remain yours. The editor’s role is to help you say what you want to say more effectively.

You should hire an editor if:

• You have written your book yourself.
  
  
• You want to improve clarity, structure, or quality.
  
  
• You want professional feedback without changing ownership of the content.
  
  

What Does a Ghostwriter Do?

A ghostwriter writes the book for you.

Ghostwriters create original content based on your ideas, expertise, experiences, or outline. This often involves interviews, recorded conversations, notes, or reference materials you provide. The ghostwriter then turns that raw information into a complete manuscript.

While the ghostwriter does the writing, you remain the credited author. The ghostwriter typically does not receive public authorship credit. NDAs are signed at the beginning of the project to ensure this.

Ghostwriters may:

• Develop the full manuscript from scratch
  
  
• Organize and articulate your ideas
  
  
• Write in a voice designed to match you
  
  
• Collaborate closely with you throughout the process
  
  

You should hire a ghostwriter if:

• You do not have the time or ability to write the book yourself.
  
  
• You know what you want to say but struggle to put it into words.
  
  
• You want a finished manuscript created for you.
  
  

Key Differences at a Glance

Can You Use Both?

Yes. Ghostwriters generally create rough drafts. That means their work is not checked for pacing, grammar, or other errors typically found in the first draft of a manuscript. 

Once your ghostwriter has finished the first draft, you should pursue editing. Your ghostwriter will apply the developmental and content feedback for you. .

Which One Do You Need?

Ask yourself one simple question:

“Do I need help improving what I’ve written, or do I need someone to write it for me?”

• If you’ve written the book: you need an editor.
  
  
• If you haven’t written the book: you need a ghostwriter.
  
  

If you’re unsure, our team can help you determine which service best fits your goals, timeline, and experience level.