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Ghostwriting Agreement Generator

Establish clear terms for professional ghostwriting services. Define project scope, authorship rights, confidentiality requirements, and payment structure.

What is a Ghostwriting Agreement?

A Ghostwriting Agreement is a legal contract between a client (the credited author) and a ghostwriter that outlines the terms and conditions for creating written content where the ghostwriter's contribution remains anonymous or uncredited. The agreement defines project scope, authorship rights, confidentiality requirements, payment structure, delivery schedule, and other important aspects of the ghostwriting relationship.

Key Sections Typically Included:

  • Parties Identification
  • Project Description and Specifications
  • Work Schedule and Delivery Timeline
  • Payment Terms and Schedule
  • Research and Interview Responsibilities
  • Revision and Editing Process
  • Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure
  • Copyright Assignment
  • Credit and Attribution Terms
  • Portfolio Usage Rights
  • Termination Conditions
  • Fact-Checking Responsibilities
  • Moral Rights Waiver
  • Indemnification Provisions

Why Use Our Generator?

Our Ghostwriting Agreement generator helps you create a comprehensive document that clearly establishes the parameters of your ghostwriting relationship. By defining project scope, authorship rights, confidentiality requirements, and payment structure upfront, both the client and ghostwriter can maintain a productive relationship with clear expectations and boundaries.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q: How should copyright and intellectual property rights be handled?

    • A: The agreement should clearly state that all rights to the written work transfer to the client upon full payment, including copyright, subsidiary rights, and adaptation rights. It should specify when this transfer occurs (upon delivery, acceptance, or final payment), whether the ghostwriter retains any rights to the material, and address whether the ghostwriter's name will appear in copyright registrations. The document should include a waiver of moral rights (right of attribution, integrity) where legally permissible and specify whether the ghostwriter can use excerpts in a portfolio (typically anonymized if allowed at all).

  • Q: What confidentiality provisions are essential in ghostwriting agreements?

    • A: The confidentiality clause should extend both to the content being written and to the existence of the ghostwriting relationship itself. It should specify the duration of confidentiality obligations (often perpetual), prohibit the ghostwriter from discussing their work on the project with third parties, address whether the client can acknowledge the ghostwriter's role privately to specific individuals, and outline remedies for confidentiality breaches. The agreement should also address confidentiality regarding research materials, interviews, and source documents provided by the client.

  • Q: How should the revision process be structured?

    • A: The revision clause should specify the number of revision rounds included in the base fee, establish a clear timeline for client feedback after draft delivery, and define what constitutes a revision versus a change in project direction. It should outline the process for requesting revisions (written format, specificity requirements), establish additional costs for revisions beyond the included rounds, and specify a timeframe within which the ghostwriter must complete requested revisions. The agreement should also address what happens if the client substantially changes the project direction or scope mid-process.