Ghostwriter. It sounds quite scary, right? If you have never worked with a ghostwriter, you might picture a spectral figure, leaning over your shoulder as you write, whispering ominous suggestions into your ear. You might hear the clacking of keys on an unattended typewriter in a dusty antique store nobody has visited for years.

If you met a ghostwriter, you might think their profession was some kind of seasonal joke, a Halloween skit. But the reality is very different. A ghostwriter is not the spectral figure the name implies—although that might be an interesting writing experience.  Ghostwriters provide an invaluable service. It is estimated that they produce between 60 and 90 percent of nonfiction books on the bestseller lists.

From the business section to celebrity memoirs to real-life stories from so-called ordinary people, ghostwriting can be a handy tool capable of producing a legacy that lasts.

Years ago, ghostwriting as a profession was often misunderstood. Ghostwriters were known for cobbling together those hastily written memoirs that minor celebrities, hoping to cash in on a brief moment of fame, might pass off as their own work. In recent years however, ghostwriting has become recognized as a vital part of the publishing industry, facilitating the spread of messages and teachings that would otherwise not be heard. For everybody does indeed have a story to tell. But some people are too busy to tell them. Others may have the ideas and the time, but not the requisite writing skills.

That’s not to say that hiring a ghostwriter will magically produce a bestseller. Without careful selection and chemistry, you could end up frustrated that your viewpoint and voice has not been portrayed in the way you envisioned.

For a ghostwriting relationship to work, the ghostwriter needs to be someone you click with, someone who will understand your message and capture it in a way that still feels like you.

If a writer like this is not found, the final product, if it gets that far, may sound clunky and unnatural, making it impossible for readers to connect with the subject matter in a meaningful way.

Ultimately, the right person can help you tell your story, raise your professional profile, and attract future clientele through a practiced yet personal interpretation of your ideas.

Selecting the correct writer often makes the difference between a bestseller and a bargain bin buy. So be careful how you choose a ghostwriter, because the choice could end up haunting you for a long time.