FAQs
What is a certified ghostwriter?
Let’s define a ghostwriter first—someone who writes books for other people.
The distinction between a ghostwriter and a certified ghostwriter is important. Professional certification is awarded to a ghostwriter who has completed a master’s-level, university-accredited training program, taught by industry professionals and insiders. Why is that important? A certified ghostwriter does so much more than just write your book.
As a certified professional ghostwriter, I’ll help you identify your target audience, organize the material—so it has a Slinky™ flow, develop or refine the structure, toss out superfluous material (maybe the foundation for another book!), fill in gaps, revise and polish early drafts to ensure the reader is front-and-center, and musically line edit the final draft to ensure every word on the page sings. In addition, I’ll write the book proposal you’ll need for traditional publishers, identify literary agents and write query letters for you, find publishers who have recently purchased similar works, or develop a bestseller strategy plan if you decide to self-publish. Finally, I’ll work with you to identify special interest or professional groups whose members might have a unique interest in your book, write the bio they can use to introduce you, and even provide a sampling of potential questions an audience or interviewer might ask.
Oh! Did I mention I’ll write the book?
How does ghostwriting work?
It’s a collaborative process. I will provide a detailed description separately.
Do people really use ghostwriters?
Yes, they do! And, for many reasons. Well-known celebrities, politicians, or public figures are often simply not writers. Many successful, high-profile professionals, CEOs, attorneys, academics, athletes, or thought leaders just don’t have the time or energy to devote to a book. It’s a reasonable assumption that most books written under the name of a widely-recognized individual—memoirs especially—have been ghosted.
It happens in fiction too! Aspiring novelists and first-time authors often seek out the help of a ghostwriter. The estates of successful novelists frequently use ghostwriters—books continue to be published under the names of Vince Flynn, Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancy, Michael Crichton, and Ian Fleming.
Does your name appear anywhere in the book?
No.
Will anyone every know you were involved in my book?
No. You have my non-disclosure promise, backed by my word.
If I use a ghostwriter, is it really still my book?
Of course. People hire professionals to develop, design, and implement their ideas everyday. You know exactly how you want your new house laid out, but you don’t draw up the floorplan. You may have a fantastic idea for a new business venture, but it’s going to take a team of knowledgeable professionals to make it work.
In this case, you have a dynamite idea for a book but you may not have the time or energy to devote to such a sizable project. Working with a certified ghostwriter simplifies the entire process for you.
Can’t I just hire an editor?
Absolutely, editors do some of the same things ghostwriters do. But a good ghostwriter takes a much more comprehensive approach to your project. An editor may just check grammar, spelling, and punctuation but not pay attention to the organization of the book or how the information flows. Just like a major construction project uses a general contractor to make sure all phases of the project happen in the correct order and everything runs smoothly, a ghostwriter acts as your general manager. It’s my job to ensure we produce the best possible literary property, we identify and target the right audience, we find a good publishing fit, or you have a solid plan for marketing your own self-published book, and that everything stays on schedule.
What’s the difference between a writing coach and a ghostwriter?
The difference depends how much you want to be involved in the book. If you are in a time crunch, and can’t carve out significant chunks of time to spend on the book, then I’ll take on that task. On the other hand, if you want to do most of the writing, I can collaborate with you as you write, offering suggestions on structure, content, voice, flow, style, etc., coaching you through the process.
It sounds like a huge project…how long does it take?
You can count on a minimum of six months regardless of the project. Beyond that, a number of variables can affect our timeline. How much writing have you already completed? Is there background research that still needs to be done? Do you have interviews that still need to be transcribed and evaluated? Non-fiction, business, expert, and legacy books usually take six to eight months. Memoirs and fiction can take a bit longer, but usually no more than ten to twelve months.
I’ve already started writing…?
That is great! If you have the first two or three chapters mostly complete, I can analyze what you have and give you some recommendations or organization, flow, audience, structure, and content. From there, we can determine the best way to move forward. I can continue to function as your coach on a monthly basis if you want to do the writing, or I can become more involved in the project as your ghostwriter.
I don’t know whether to use a traditional publisher or self-publish…can you help?
Absolutely! We can discuss which route suites your objectives best. If you decide to pursue a traditional publisher I can assist you in selecting a literary agent who specializes in the genre. If you opt to self-publish then I can put together a marketing strategy to help you maximize the potential of your book.
As a point of interest, the most current data available indicate sales of printed books are on the rise while e-books are declining. NDP BookScan data for 2017 reported print book sales of 687.2 million units, an increase of more than 10%, continuing a multi-year trend. Major book sellers reported significant increases in sales. Over the same period, e-book sales have declined by about 6%.
Nonetheless, you still need to balance your return-on-investment (typically 6%–1-% of sales with a traditional publisher vs. 80%+ if you self-publish) against how much control you have over your book. While traditional publishers may be able to reach a larger distribution channel, they assume total control of the process, yet still hold you responsible for specific promotional efforts. If you self-publish you maintain both control and responsibility.
Why do you charge a flat fee?
It’s simple.
From your perspective, you know exactly how much it’s going to cost, and what the payment schedule is. You don’t have to worry about how many hours I’m going to charge you for this month.
From my perspective, it means I can focus on your book, not on how many hours I’m going to bill this month. A flat fee really impacts the perception of what’s important. It frees both of us to concentrate on the best possible quality.
Do you offer specials or discounts?
No.
How do I pay for your services?
We will estimate how long the project will take, and set up a monthly payment plan.
Can I share a percentage of sales to reduce your fee?
The book is yours. You hold the copyright. You are entitled to 100% of the income from its sales, or from unanticipated developments such as audio or film rights, international rights, etc. I sincerely hope you make $1,000,000 on your book. If you do, it’s all yours. I am happy with my fee.
But, if you do make that $1,000,000 I hope you’ll hire me to work with you on the next one!
Don’t other ghostwriters charge less?
It’s like anything else. Of course you can find cheaper ghostwriters. Of course the number of services, their depth of expertise, and their professionalism will also be different.
You get what you pay for.