You are about to share some of the most personal, professionally sensitive information of your life with a complete stranger. Your business failures, financial details, competitive strategies — maybe even family dynamics that shaped your entire philosophy. And then you are trusting that person to keep it all confidential while they write a book that carries your name for years to come.
This is why the NDA and the intellectual property contract are the two most critical legal documents in any ghostwriting relationship.
What an NDA Actually Covers
A Non-Disclosure Agreement legally prohibits your ghostwriter from:
- Revealing that they wrote your book (maintaining the "ghost")
- Sharing your personal stories or business information with third parties
- Using your frameworks or proprietary processes in their own work
- Discussing the project publicly — including on social media
A well-drafted NDA should have no expiration date. Your ghostwriter should remain bound to confidentiality permanently — not just during the project.
Who Owns the Copyright?
Under US copyright law, when someone creates an original work, they own the copyright by default — even if you paid them to create it. Without a proper contract, your ghostwriter technically owns your book.
There are two ways to fix this:
- Work for Hire Agreement — Copyright vests in you from the moment the work is created. This is the cleanest arrangement.
- Copyright Assignment — Transfers copyright from the ghostwriter to you upon completion and payment.
Do Ghostwriters Get Royalties?
In a standard ghostwriting arrangement, the ghostwriter receives no royalties. They are paid a flat fee in milestone installments, and all future earnings from the book belong entirely to you. This is very different from a co-authoring arrangement, where royalty sharing is common.
Your Contract Checklist
- Exact scope of work — word count, chapters, interview sessions included
- Number of revision rounds before additional fees apply
- Timeline with specific milestones and delivery dates
- Payment schedule tied to deliverables (never pay 100% upfront)
- Permanent confidentiality/NDA clause
- Termination clause for both parties
Want to start the conversation in a completely confidential setting? Book your protected discovery call. Also read our complete guide on how to hire the right ghostwriter.