Ghostwriter Needed — Narrative Nonfiction Memoir (Indian Author, 60,000 Words)
Budget: ₹75,000 – ₹150,000 INR
I am an Indian author looking for an experienced ghostwriter to help complete a narrative nonfiction memoir that is currently in progress.
About the Book
Title — Against the Weight of Numbers
Subtitle — A Midlife Reckoning on Health, Money, and the Quiet Courage of Starting Again
This book blends personal memoir, personal finance, health realism, and Indian middle class family dynamics. It tells the story of a 41-year-old IT professional confronting three simultaneous life crises — deteriorating health, career uncertainty, and financial anxiety — and the practical and emotional reckoning that followed.
Target readers are urban Indian professionals aged 35 to 55 who have done everything right yet feel quietly anxious about their health, money, and future.
Current Status
Approximately 12,000 words are already written across 14 chapters. The voice, tone, structure, and philosophical framework are clearly established. Your job is not to reimagine or restructure what exists — it is to complete the remaining 50,000 to 55,000 words authentically in my established voice.
Specific tasks include writing one completely missing chapter from scratch, expanding several existing chapters with additional personal narrative and scene level detail, and maintaining complete voice consistency throughout.
What I Need From You
You must be able to match and sustain an established literary voice across a full manuscript length project. This is the single most important requirement. Generic writing ability is not sufficient — voice matching is essential.
You must be comfortable handling emotionally sensitive personal material including health journey details, career experiences, financial information, family relationships, and marriage. All of this requires discretion, empathy, and genuine literary instinct.
You must be willing to work collaboratively through recorded interview sessions where I share the personal experiences and insights that form the foundation of each chapter.
You must deliver work chapter by chapter for review and feedback before proceeding to subsequent chapters.
You must sign a comprehensive Non Disclosure Agreement before any manuscript details are shared with you, and a full work for hire agreement transferring complete copyright to me upon project completion. Your name will not appear anywhere on the published book.
You must be available for regular communication throughout the project duration of approximately 3 to 4 months.
The Voice This Book Requires
Before applying please understand what this voice means specifically. The writing is compressed and philosophical — short sentences that land as complete thoughts before the next idea begins. Personal observation leads to universal insight rather than the reverse. Financial and physical experiences are described using each other's language — the body is described like a system, money is described like a living thing. The tone is honest without being self-pitying, reflective without being indulgent, and philosophical without being preachy. If your natural writing style is expansive, motivational, or abstract you will struggle to match this voice regardless of your general writing quality.
Mandatory Application Requirement
Do not apply with a generic cover letter or unrelated writing samples. Applications without the following will not be considered.
You must submit a writing sample of 300 to 400 words continuing from this specific passage that I will share with shortlisted applicants. This sample must demonstrate your ability to match the voice described above — not your own voice, but mine. This is a non negotiable requirement before any discussion of pricing or contract.
Project Details
Total new words required — approximately 50,000 to 55,000
Total completed manuscript target — 60,000 to 70,000 words
Timeline — completion in 3 to 4 months
Location — remote, all communication via phone, video call, and written feedback
Language — English with authentic Indian cultural context throughout
Budget
My budget for this project is ₹75,000 fixed price. I understand this is below standard market rates for this scope of work. I am therefore open to discussing creative structures including phased payments aligned to milestones, a hybrid model where the ghostwriter writes specific challenging sections and provides editorial guidance for others, or a modest royalty share component alongside the cash fee for writers who believe in the book's commercial potential.
I am not looking for the cheapest option. I am looking for the right person at a price we can both feel good about.
What You Will Gain Beyond Payment
A strong literary memoir credit for your portfolio. A genuine acknowledgment in the published book. A detailed LinkedIn recommendation upon project completion. Referrals to anyone in my network who asks about ghostwriting services.
To Apply
Send a brief introduction of yourself — who you are, what you have written previously, and why this specific project interests you. Do not send generic applications. Tell me specifically what in this book description resonates with you and why you believe you can match this voice.
Shortlisted applicants will receive one page of the existing manuscript and will be asked to write a 300 to 400 word continuation as a paid or unpaid voice matching test — this will be discussed with shortlisted candidates individually.
I look forward to hearing from writers who are genuinely excited by this project rather than simply available for it.
About the Book
Title — Against the Weight of Numbers
Subtitle — A Midlife Reckoning on Health, Money, and the Quiet Courage of Starting Again
This book blends personal memoir, personal finance, health realism, and Indian middle class family dynamics. It tells the story of a 41-year-old IT professional confronting three simultaneous life crises — deteriorating health, career uncertainty, and financial anxiety — and the practical and emotional reckoning that followed.
Target readers are urban Indian professionals aged 35 to 55 who have done everything right yet feel quietly anxious about their health, money, and future.
Current Status
Approximately 12,000 words are already written across 14 chapters. The voice, tone, structure, and philosophical framework are clearly established. Your job is not to reimagine or restructure what exists — it is to complete the remaining 50,000 to 55,000 words authentically in my established voice.
Specific tasks include writing one completely missing chapter from scratch, expanding several existing chapters with additional personal narrative and scene level detail, and maintaining complete voice consistency throughout.
What I Need From You
You must be able to match and sustain an established literary voice across a full manuscript length project. This is the single most important requirement. Generic writing ability is not sufficient — voice matching is essential.
You must be comfortable handling emotionally sensitive personal material including health journey details, career experiences, financial information, family relationships, and marriage. All of this requires discretion, empathy, and genuine literary instinct.
You must be willing to work collaboratively through recorded interview sessions where I share the personal experiences and insights that form the foundation of each chapter.
You must deliver work chapter by chapter for review and feedback before proceeding to subsequent chapters.
You must sign a comprehensive Non Disclosure Agreement before any manuscript details are shared with you, and a full work for hire agreement transferring complete copyright to me upon project completion. Your name will not appear anywhere on the published book.
You must be available for regular communication throughout the project duration of approximately 3 to 4 months.
The Voice This Book Requires
Before applying please understand what this voice means specifically. The writing is compressed and philosophical — short sentences that land as complete thoughts before the next idea begins. Personal observation leads to universal insight rather than the reverse. Financial and physical experiences are described using each other's language — the body is described like a system, money is described like a living thing. The tone is honest without being self-pitying, reflective without being indulgent, and philosophical without being preachy. If your natural writing style is expansive, motivational, or abstract you will struggle to match this voice regardless of your general writing quality.
Mandatory Application Requirement
Do not apply with a generic cover letter or unrelated writing samples. Applications without the following will not be considered.
You must submit a writing sample of 300 to 400 words continuing from this specific passage that I will share with shortlisted applicants. This sample must demonstrate your ability to match the voice described above — not your own voice, but mine. This is a non negotiable requirement before any discussion of pricing or contract.
Project Details
Total new words required — approximately 50,000 to 55,000
Total completed manuscript target — 60,000 to 70,000 words
Timeline — completion in 3 to 4 months
Location — remote, all communication via phone, video call, and written feedback
Language — English with authentic Indian cultural context throughout
Budget
My budget for this project is ₹75,000 fixed price. I understand this is below standard market rates for this scope of work. I am therefore open to discussing creative structures including phased payments aligned to milestones, a hybrid model where the ghostwriter writes specific challenging sections and provides editorial guidance for others, or a modest royalty share component alongside the cash fee for writers who believe in the book's commercial potential.
I am not looking for the cheapest option. I am looking for the right person at a price we can both feel good about.
What You Will Gain Beyond Payment
A strong literary memoir credit for your portfolio. A genuine acknowledgment in the published book. A detailed LinkedIn recommendation upon project completion. Referrals to anyone in my network who asks about ghostwriting services.
To Apply
Send a brief introduction of yourself — who you are, what you have written previously, and why this specific project interests you. Do not send generic applications. Tell me specifically what in this book description resonates with you and why you believe you can match this voice.
Shortlisted applicants will receive one page of the existing manuscript and will be asked to write a 300 to 400 word continuation as a paid or unpaid voice matching test — this will be discussed with shortlisted candidates individually.
I look forward to hearing from writers who are genuinely excited by this project rather than simply available for it.