Ghost Writer and Plagiarism

You can run sections of it through a duplicated content checker, but that will only pick up what has been published online in a searchable format.

Really you need to rely on the writers reputation.

I am a ghostwriter/publisher and would be happy to provide some tips - just flick me a PM

I'm wondering if you've had a bad experience of someone sending you plagiarized content?
The default thinking should be that it won't be - you seem to be thinking that it will.

Tell any writer that you will be running their work through copyscape, or just take some full sentences and put then into google.

Jamie nailed it -- while tools like Copyscape are good, they only catch plagiarism from online sources (like article directories, blogs, and anything else that's searchable). There's absolutely nothing stopping your writer from grabbing an ebook or even a physical book and ripping sections out of it.

Oh, wait -- there IS something stopping some writers: Their conscience. Most writers would never dream of ripping off someone else's work.

How do you find these writers?

For starters, as mentioned, you need to go on reputation. Find someone who's been doing this a long time (and has a good history).

Secondly, look for writers with a unique writing style/voice. If their writing is unique -- and you can see this across plenty of samples -- then it's a pretty good bet that they're not ripping off someone else.

Cheers,
Becky

I agree R hagel here, Copyspace can only detect online sources and it is impossible for them to detect those articles which are not posted online, like for example, books which were published before the introduction of the internet or the computer. How can we detect that the article is plagiarize or not.
It is very important to know a writer's reputation if he/she has the tendency to plagiarize or write his own original articles. It is a big no for professional writers to just copy and use the ideas and works of others to their own personal use. Most professional writers, I think, wouldn't do that since they know how it will affect not just the articles that they wrote but the author of that article as well.
As a suggestion, before hiring a writer, you must test him/her so you could have an idea the style of his/her writing and if he/she just copy and paste some information or has written the article in his/her own original way.
This all boils down to respect and recognize the works of other people.

There's more to plagiarism than just duplicating text.

Copyscape...
If you are competant in what you do and professional in your approach then copyscape isnt necessary

The folks above are absolutely right... If you're dealing with a true professional, plagiarizing won't be an issue. That's why it's so important to do your homework before you hire a writer. Ask them questions, read through samples of their work, and see if they're someone you trust to do business with.

I, too, don't understand why writers brag about their work passing Copyscape. To me, it's no different than when hotels brag that their rooms are "clean"... well, duh! It really should go without saying that your rooms are clean - just like you really shouldn't have to advertise that you don't plagiarize.

When I hire a writer, there is an indemnification clause in the agreement.

If they won't sign it. I find someone else.

It is a controversial part to any ageement...but is widely used and keeps your writer from going down that slippery slope...most of the time.

It is a protection most publishers want in their agreements with ghost and freelance writers.

gjabiz

PS. When I ghost, I fight like hell to have the clause taken out... but, have inked many an agreement with them in.