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Quick Answers To Frequently Asked Questions

 

Welcome to the section for quick answers to frequently asked questions. Here you will find comprehensive information and support on a wide range of topics. To provide you with targeted and quick help, our FAQs are divided into eight different categories. Whether you have questions about our services, how we work, payment processes or technical issues - all answers are just a few clicks away. Simply select the appropriate category and discover the answers to the most frequently asked questions.

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What exactly does a ghostwriter do?
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The task of a ghostwriter is to create texts on behalf of other persons, usually without being mentioned as author. The services of ghostwriters are used by such organizations as publishing houses, ghostwriting and text agencies, as well as public institutions.


What does ghostwriting mean?
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Ghostwriting in terms of anonymous contract writing covers all kinds of writing activities. The services offered by a ghostwriter include, for example, the writing of autobiographies, advertising texts, song lyrics, or texts for company websites.

 

Particularly common forms of ghostwriting are speech writing and academic ghostwriting. While ghostwriting in terms of speech writing frequently occurs in industry and politics, academic ghostwriting is about writing scientific sample texts at academic level.


What is academic ghostwriting?
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Academic ghostwriting is that form of ghostwriting that centers on academic text writing. Accordingly, academic ghostwriters provide valuable support and assistance when it comes to preparing term and seminar papers, essays, Bachelor’s theses, Master’s theses, Diploma theses, Magister theses, state examination theses, doctoral theses or scientific articles, for example.

 

In doing so, they act either as academic authors that provide an academic template text clients can use for optimum orientation; or as academic coaches that safely guide clients through the writing process by giving helpful hints and making suggestions. It goes without saying that editorial work such as proofreading, editing, as well as translating, paraphrasing and formatting academic texts are part of the service portfolio of academic ghostwriters as well.


What is the advantage of a ghostwriting agency?
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Compared to single service providers, a ghostwriting agency like ghostwriting.com offers several advantages at once: For one thing, agencies have the opportunity to select from a large pool of freelancers. This not only allows them to ensure allocation of incoming projects to qualified agents.

 

Also, the multitude of agents enables an agency to respond to shortages in a flexible manner. If, for example, a writer is suddenly no longer available due to illness, an agency is in the favorable position of assigning a replacement writer with the continuation of the project so as to prevent its cancellation.

 

In particularly urgent cases where deadlines are extremely tight, there is the option to have several writers work on a project simultaneously. Another advantage to single providers lies in more extensive services.

 

In addition to personal client advisors, agencies like ghostwriting.com usually employ experienced project managers to ensure sound coordination, processing and monitoring of projects, as well as knowledgeable quality managers that carry out thorough quality checks according to the dual-control principle for every work.


Which text services does your portfolio include?
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As for the preparation of texts, our portfolio includes, in addition to topic proposals and outline drafts, the preparation of academic text templates (abstract, summary, exposé, case study, legal term paper, term paper sample, essay, project thesis, capstone paper, undergraduate dissertation sample, master dissertation sample, phd thesis sample, diploma thesis sample, magister’s thesis, CAS thesis, scientific article) as well as the writing of image-enhancing corporate books.


What other services are included in your service portfolio?
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The spectrum of our other services ranges from editorial work to scientific services and career services. The first category includes top-precision proofreading and editing, paraphrasing, formatting and plagiarism checks.

 

Among our scientific services are meticulous literature searches, templates for qualitative interviews and quantitative interviews, scientific reviews, transcriptions, and statistical analysis.

 

Career services include the development of strategically sound business plans and in-depth market analyses, persuasive motivation letter and resumé templates, translations, the design of PowerPoint presentations and disputation presentations, personalized doctoral advisory service, and the publication of books or articles in a peer-reviewed journal.


Which subject areas does ghostwriting.com provide assistance in?
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Our experienced science experts offer professional and reliable academic support in more than 40 disciplines from the academic fields of Natural Science, Social Sciences, Business Studies, Humanities, Law, Structural Sciences, Engineering, Cultural Sciences, and Medicine.

 

This includes MINT subjects and other disciplinary subjects such as Psychology, Philosophy & History, Business Management and Economics, as well as interdisciplinary subjects such as Socioeconomics, Nursing Science, and Agriculture & Forestry.


What should I do if I am requesting a text service that is not listed in the service portfolio?
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Given the great variety of possible text services, it may occur that some requested services are not considered in our service portfolio. Examples include generating content or company websites or writing a template for a postdoctoral thesis.

 

All you have to do in such a case is inform us about your request by phone or via email. Our friendly client advisors are looking forward to advising you free of charge and without any obligation.


Is it illegal to hire a ghostwriter?
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Doubts as to the legal admissibility of academic ghostwriting are not uncommon in Germany. The German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (Deutscher Hochschulverband – DHV) has repeatedly called on the legislator to declare the submission of academic qualification texts written by a ghostwriter a criminal offence i.e. academic fraud. However, to dispel any doubt right from the start: the activity of academic ghostwriting is not illegal per se. A few legal details should be taken into account just the same.

 

Let us first consider the legality of ghostwriting. According to a judgement of the Higher Regional Court of Frankurt am Main (judgement dated September 1, 2009; ref: 11 U 51/08), the service activity ‘ghostwriting‘ does not go against common decency within the meaning of § 138 BGB (German Civil Code) and therefore is not lllegal, irrespective of whether or not it concerns an academic text. A ghostwriting agreement is illegal if it involves the performance of a ghostwriting service in the context of academia (Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court: judgement dated February 8, 2011; ref: I-20 U 116/10).

 

The illegal nature results from the respective higher-education institution’s Examination and Graduation Regulations insofar as they provide for the submission of an affidavit on the part of the examinee or candidate whereby the submitted academic text has been written on an independent basis i.e. without the help of any third parties. If – which in practice is very hard to do – it can be proven that the text in question has not been written on an independent basis but rather with the help of an academic ghostwriter, this constitutes an offence punishable under § 156 StGB (German Criminal Code) for making a false affidavit. Potential legal sanctions include the payment of a fine as well as deregistration and expulsion from the doctoral program. In the event that the ghostwriter was demonstrably aware of the client’s undertaking, he/she can be prosecuted for abetment.

 

The situation would be different, however, if a ghostwriter expressly pointed out to his/her clients that the commissioned texts are templates, drafts or sample texts i.e. texts whose purpose is to solely provide impulses for the client to write an academic text on his/her own. By pointing that out, according to a judgement of the Cologne Higher Regional Court (judgement dated February 23, 2011; ref: 6 U 178/10), the ghostwriter expresses an interest in making clients seeking an illegal ghostwriting service aware of the legal admissability of his/her supporting services as regards the creation of the client’s academic text.

 

See also our blog articles "Is Ghostwriting Legal?" and "Academic Fraud And Academic ghostwriting Are Not Identical".


How much does an academic ghostwriter earn?
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The amount of the earnings of a ghostwriter relies on various aspects. Essential are the processing time, the scope of work, and the level of the work.

 

Projects with short processing times and tight deadlines are usually accompanied by higher remuneration than projects with longer processing times. The reason: In the first case, there is less leeway for time management, which is why activities on weekends, holidays and nights may also be required.

 

As far as the scope of work is concerned, the number of pages or words is usually decisive. Those who write more also earn more. How much the ghostwriter is paid per page or word depends, among other things, on the ghostwriting agency or freelancer platform for which the ghostwriter works, but also on the level of the project.

 

The higher the level of the project, the higher the remuneration. For example, the pay for writing an undergraduate dissertation sample is lower than for a PhD thesis sample template, where the amount of research and work is significantly higher.

 

Of course, the ghostwriter's experience and qualifications also pay off. Someone who occasionally works as a ghostwriter alongside his or her studies must expect lower earnings than a university graduate with years of successful writing experience as a professional ghostwriter. On average, an experienced ghostwriter in Germany earns 58,500 euros per year, while entry-level ghostwriters earn 47,531 euros.


Ghostwriting job – What are the requirements?
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No special training is required to become a ghostwriter. The basic requirements for a ghostwriter job are a very good knowledge of the respective written language, a distinct talent for writing, sufficient EDP skills, reliability and punctual work, absolute discretion as well as optimal time management.

 

Those who are specifically seeking an academic ghostwriting job must also have a university degree. As a rule, people in academic ghostwriting jobs are master's-level graduates and PhDs. Without proof of advanced skills in academic writing, it is hardly realistic to successfully pursue a career as an academic ghostwriter. This is because, in addition to considerable written and technical skills, a profound methodological understanding is required. A versatile academic ghostwriter not only masters the various literature research methods, but is also sufficiently familiar with empirical methodology.

 

Interested in a ghostwriting job at ghostwriting.com?

 

We are looking for you if you

 

✔ Have at least one university degree

✔ Are proficient in academic writing

✔ Have sufficient methodological knowledge

✔ Are communicative and a team player

✔ Work reliably and meet deadlines

✔ Maintain discretion


How to become an academic ghostwriter?
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You can become an academic ghostwriter in a direct or indirect way. The direct way is through your own website, where you offer your ghostwriting services yourself. Since constant self-promotion and direct contact with clients comes with extra work time and stress, many choose the indirect route through a freelancer platform or ghostwriting agency like ghostwriting.com.

 

Are you looking for a ghostwriting job in a ghostwriting agency? Apply with us in just a few steps. Simply upload your resumé, certificates and work sample and sign up as a freelancer.


Are ghostwriting jobs illegal?
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No. Both regular ghostwriting and academic ghostwriting are legal services. As an academic ghostwriter, you write sample scientific texts that serve only for orientation purposes.

 

The purpose of such text templates is to outline a possible solution path for the client in compliance with all the criteria of scientific writing. Although the client usually receives the rights to use the work, these apply exclusively within legal limits.

 

Since university papers must be written independently as examination papers, the sample texts of a ghostwriter must not be submitted under one's own name.

 

In this respect, the texts of academic ghostwriters are just like any study papers that are accessible online for free or for a fee: they function as sample texts that can be used for inspiration and assistance for independent text creation. Accordingly, anyone who performs an academic ghostwriting job is not committing any illegal acts. Learn more here.


What is the order situation for academic ghostwriting jobs?
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The order situation for academic ghostwriting jobs is better than ever. This has several reasons:

 

1. Bologna reform: Since the introduction of bachelor's and master's degree programs, students have increasingly complained about excessive workloads and stress levels. Quite a few students have to struggle with exam nerves, depression, burnout and other psychological stresses.

 

As a result of the increased pressure to perform and workload from the student's perspective, there is an increased need for relief and support through professionals. This applies in particular to time-intensive tasks during the already stressful examination phases, such as the preparation of term papers or seminar papers and theses.

 

2. Skills shortage & underfunded education: Demographic change is also making itself felt in the education sector. Universities are finding it increasingly difficult to replace retiring professors with the next generation, which has a low birth rate. Furthermore, more and more qualified personnel are moving from universities to the private sector.

 

Closely linked to this is the problem of chronic underfunding of teaching: the often more attractive salaries in industry and business are luring more than a few academic employees away from universities. The result: reduced educational and support services at universities. These developments endanger in particular the teaching formats that are important for learning the scientific tools of the trade, notably tutorials and propaedeutics. As a result, students are increasingly seeking their writing consultants, learning coaches, and mentors from academic ghostwriting agencies.

 

2. Increased student numbers: This trend is reinforced by the overall increase in the number of students in recent decades. Between 1983 and 2013 alone, the number of students in Germany rose from 1.3 million to 2.6 million. In the winter semester of 2021, around 2.9 million students were enrolled at German universities. These include an increasing number of foreign students.

 

Between 2006 and 2022, the proportion of international students rose from 12.5% to 15%. For academic ghostwriting, this increase in students bodes well for the future: More students with a supposedly greater workload on the one hand, and less academic support from universities on the other, mean more need for advice and support from external academic experts.


How can I recognize a legitimate ghostwriter?
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You can recognize a legitimate ghostwriter by these characteristics:

 

✔ An informative online presence with clear information on services, prices and contact details

Realistic and transparent prices without hidden additional costs

✔ Written agreements or contracts that clearly regulate both the payment modalities and the rights and obligations of both parties

✔ Personal availability by phone, e-mail and/or live chat

Confidential handling of personal data and project details

✔ Guarantee of plagiarism-free texts

✔ Explicit reference to the template character of the texts produced and the serious consequences of scientific fraud.

 

For more information, see our blog article “Academic Ghostwriting – Career Driver Or Career Killer?“.

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