hire a ghostwriter

 by Laura Sherman

Why Should You Hire A Ghostwriter?

377px-Albert_Anker_Mädchen_mit_SchiefertafelMany people have great ideas for a book. Usually, the concept has been with them for at least a decade, sometimes their whole life. It is a goal that burns deep within them, aching to be accomplished.

Does this sound familiar?

So, why wouldn’t you just write your own book?

Why hire a ghostwriter?

Here are ten good reasons why you should hire a ghostwriter to write your book:

Number One: You just don’t have time to write a book right now. And “right now” will probably be “right now” in two weeks or two years. Most likely, if you can’t budget the time to complete your book now, things won’t change.

Number Two: Many books that you know and love have been ghostwritten. Check it out on your favorite search engine. You may be surprised!

Number Three: You may not have the experience needed to write your own book. It isn’t a matter of putting words down on a page. You need to be familiar enough with the rules of writing to know how to break them down creatively.

Number Four: You may be too close to the subject matter to be able to write about it. Approximately three quarters of the people who write to me, asking for help with their book, want to write their life story. Most get very emotional about the subject and can’t write objectively. They need help.

Number Five: A ghostwriter is trained to interview you, pulling information from the depths of your memory. My clients routinely remark, “Wow, I’d completely forgotten all about that!” It’s a side gift I can give them.

Number Six: You get the benefit of a full author’s credit without having to put in the hundreds of hours needed to write a book people won’t want to put down. You’re the author. You own the rights to the story. It’s your name on the cover.

Number Seven: You should get your book written as soon as possible. Why wait? There is no benefit to holding off, but there is a very real danger that someone else will come up with your idea and write the book themselves.

Number Eight: Once your book is available to readers, you are a published author in every sense of the word. Your book will live forever, entertaining and educating your readers throughout future generations. It’s quite an achievement.

Number Nine: If you’ve been sitting on this book concept for a decade, you most likely want the book to be written correctly. How disappointing would it be to have the book released and get horrible reviews? Hiring a professional ghostwriter will give you a book that will make you proud!

Number Ten: The ghostwriting process is a lot of fun. You’ll enjoy watching the pages of your inspiration unfold before your eyes. Just imagine what it would be like to receive the first chapter of your book in your email’s inbox within a month. Go for it!

If you’d like to hire me, please contact me today and we’ll chat about your project!

Additional articles you might find helpful:

How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Ghostwriter?

Tips For Writing Good Dialogue

Eight Reasons Why You Should Write A Book

A Ghostwriter’s Fee: How Do They Charge?

Do You Want To Write A Book About Your Life?

in Tips from a Ghost Writer 10 comments
 by Laura Sherman

Writers, Please Put off Procrastinating Promptly!

I speak to potential authors every day. So many people have a dream to become a published writer. More than not, they are passionate about their books, but ultimately decide to put off starting their projects.

Why?

The list of reasons is endless. The content of the excuses is unique to the writer, but themes are usually frighteningly similar. Too busy, too broke, too preoccupied with some facet of life…

One for one, the clients who hire me to ghostwrite for them are the ones who make a firm decision and don’t let the quirky whims of life sway them. Take charge people end up with a published book in their hands.

After all, I take the hard work off their plates, as well as the hundreds of hours it takes to complete a well-written book. I only really need my clients to spare an hour or two a week to help me complete their project. Sometimes less.

Don’t get me wrong, the reasons not to write a book might be quite valid. If you don’t have a story to tell, wisdom to share, or a passion to help others, it’s probably best not to embark on a writing adventure. Complaining about how unfair life has been to you will never make a good book. Sorry.

However, if you have a good idea and have been stewing over your book for the last year, it’s probably time to do something about it. Or have you been pondering your book concept for two, three…ten years? Come on, when will be the right time?

If you think about your future book on a regular basis, but haven’t taken the first step, please stop procrastinating immediately and do something to further this important long-term goal. If you have a reasonable budget and are ready to start, feel free to contact me. Just to warn you, I’m often booked, but if the project is enticing enough, I might be able to squeeze you in. I’m an outside-the-box thinker and am here to help. If I’m not the best writer for you, I’ll do my best to find someone who is.

I want to help you finish your book!

Whatever you do, don’t sit for a minute longer and carefully consider the wisdom of taking a tentative step forward. Leap, my friend! Leap into the wonderful world of creativity and become a published author!

Additional articles you might find helpful:

How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Ghostwriter?

Should I Write and Publish My Memoir?

Questions for a Ghostwriter

It’s Good Business to Write a Book!

Four Different Ghostwriting Methods

in Tips from a Ghost Writer / Writing Tips for Writers 0 comments
 by Laura Sherman

What Do I Need to Start with a Ghostwriter?

hire a ghostwriter

Ready, set, write your book!

 

Clients often ask me how they should prepare to work with a new ghostwriter. My answer is almost always the same.

If you’re going to hire a ghostwriter, please don’t go off and try to prepare content on your own!

If you think about it, that doesn’t make any sense. It’s a bit like mopping all the floors before a house cleaner arrives or repairing your car before taking it to the mechanic.

It’s much better to work with your hired writer right from the start. They can help guide you.

Most people hire me because they really don’t have any idea how to write a book. They need guidance in all aspects, which is natural. 

Unless you’ve written professionally, you probably don’t know how to structure the content of a book. There’s an art to putting together a book, one that I enjoy finding for each project.

It’s my opinion that the author should grab the reader’s attention by the scruff of the neck with the very first line. Then, ideally by the time the reader has finished the first page, they will be so enthralled by the book they can’t put it down!

If you’ve researched material, definitely give that to your ghostwriter. Otherwise, start with the basics. Here are some things which should be easy to provide:

  • Diaries (especially for memoirs)
  • Blog posts you’ve written
  • Relevant newspaper articles
  • Links to websites that relate to your project
  • Any interviews you may have given

If you don’t have these items, your ghostwriter will help you collect them. Don’t wait until you have these in hand before you hire your writer. They can help direct you, informing you on what is relevant to your topic so you don’t waste a lot of time putting together notes that won’t end up being used.

If you are waiting for funds to get started, you might begin by making a rough list of the incidents or elements you’d like to see in your book, with a brief explanation of each. When you’re ready to begin, your ghostwriter can go over each of these pieces and help you organize them into a book, adding or deleting as needed.

So, please don’t feel like you need to write your book before you hire a ghostwriter! Collecting data and doing research is all part of the ghostwriting process.

Additional articles you might find helpful:

It’s Good Business to Write a Book

How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Ghostwriter?

Is Ghostwriting Ethical?

A Ghostwriter’s Fee: How Do They Charge?

Why Should I Hire a Ghostwriter?

 

in Tips from a Ghost Writer 11 comments
 by Laura Sherman

How To Find A Ghostwriter

Find a GhostwriterSo, you’ve got an epic book idea and you dream of getting it published, but you haven’t been able to find a way to complete it. Do you need help? Hiring a ghostwriter can certainly bring that dream to fruition, but it’s tough to know who to hire, who will be the person to see your project through to the end.

Just doing a search in Google for the term “ghostwriter” will provide a myriad of results. It can be a bit overwhelming if you have no clear plan of action in place. Here are a few tips to help you make sense of it all and find a ghostwriter to be your voice.

1.       Understand the different ghostwriting service providers. There are freelance sites like Elance and Guru, where you can find someone willing to do the job. They charge much less than the market generally demands, which may sound good, but should be a blaring warning sign. Consider if the average writer bids $15,000 to $60,000 to write a full length book, knowing that it takes six to eight months to write, how on earth can someone bid $500? There’s a reason for the low bid. If you hire someone in this ballpark, you will need to rewrite the book once it is delivered. After having experienced a low budget writer, most people are very willing to spend the money required to get an experienced and qualified expert to write their book.

2.       Establish your budget. As you search out the best ghostwriter for your project, discuss your budget early on in the conversation. I’ve noticed that some clients hesitate to tell me what they want to spend. Even if I love a project concept, I will not bid too low to get it. If you tell me upfront what you can spend, I can give you options and perhaps even find a writer for you within your range.

 3.       Check work samples. When reviewing a potential candidate, be sure to do your research and check their work samples and any books they may have published. There is no better indicator of the type of work someone can produce for you than the work they have already published. Professional writers have varying styles. Find a writer who writes in a style you and your readers would enjoy reading. If you don’t like the writer’s samples, chances are you won’t like how they tackle your book.

4.       Establish a rapport. Once you get through the initial stages of research and are drawn to a particular ghostwriter, take the time to talk to her. The writing process is a very bonding experience. Most likely, you’ll be immediately drawn to the right writer. If not, keep looking. It’s vital that you and she can communicate easily and well over the months to come.

5.       Start as soon as possible. Whenever a client puts off a project, it usually means it will never get done. It is rare that someone postpones for more than a month and then comes back to actually complete their book. If you want to write your book, understand it will take at least half a year, adding on a few months for the publishing process. When you consider that, now is a good time to start!

Finding a quality ghostwriter to deliver your book doesn’t have to be a haunting, I mean daunting task. I am always happy to give a free twenty minute consultation and answer all of your questions, giving you advice on the process.  I do also know many writers, so if you’re looking for something in particular, just let me know!

Additional articles you might find helpful:

Writing A Book Proposal

How To Write A Nonfiction Book

How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Ghostwriter?

Working With A Ghostwriter – What Steps Should You Take?

in Tips from a Ghost Writer 0 comments
 by Laura Sherman

Budget for a Ghostwriter

Are you interested in writing a book, but don’t know where to start? One of your first steps will be to determine the price, so you can budget for a ghostwriter properly. Honestly, you’ll find that fees vary quite a bit from writer to writer. People often write in or call, wondering how much they can expect to spend to hire someone to write their book for them. It’s a good question!

One of the top questions I get is, “What if I offer to split the profits with you, could you write my book?” A professional writer will never accept these terms. It isn’t logical.

You might not realize it, but it takes 200 to 300 hours minimum to write a 200 to 300 page book (about 100 hours for 100 pages). Most likely your writer will need to interview you over the phone many times throughout the six to eight month period it takes to complete your project. Unless he or she is independently wealthy, they cannot afford to work for free. Would you ask a roofer to fix your roof for free in the hope that you might sell your home and be able to pay him? Would you hire a dentist on a deferred basis to fix your teeth, hoping you might land a major film deal? These examples sound silly, I know, but it is similar with writers. If your book doesn’t sell, the writer won’t get paid for the months of work they already put in.

If you have a limited budget, but have a book idea you feel will sell well, you can always opt to write a book proposal and pitch it to agents and publishers. This is a much less expensive route to take. Then you can take the proceeds from the advance and hire a writer.

The cost of a book proposal should be between $5000 and $10,000 and will include: A table of contents, an outline, a bio, two sample chapters and a marketing analysis. Plus some writers have ins with agents and can help you find a home for your project.

When you are pricing a ghostwriter, you will want to treat the process like any other major purchase. Consider your bids and don’t always jump at the lowest one. Instead, interview each candidate and check their testimonials and experience. Ask for a few samples of their work and make sure their writing style matches your needs.

One good option I strongly suggest is that you hire a few writers to write a sample for you. Test them out and see which writer is best for you. Part of the assignment should include interviewing you, so that you can see how well they capture your voice.

If after reading this article, you realize that you really don’t have the money to hire someone to write a book, my suggestion is that you do your best to write it yourself. Then you can hire an editor to help you polish it a bit. Editors run four to ten cents per word, which is much less than a ghostwriter. Keep in mind though, that if you want your book rewritten, you are no longer looking to hire an editor, but are looking to hire a ghostwriter.

You can write a book yourself and sell it as an ebook. It can be any length and you can sell it for any amount. There are many options available for you, many ways to get your story out there.

If you think a ghostwriter is the way to go, give me a call and I can give you a quote and some free advice, so you can budget for a ghostwriter. All I need to know is your deadline, your story concept, and a few other details.

Additional articles you might find helpful:

How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Ghostwriter?

Writing a Book Proposal

Do you need help writing a book?

Working with a Ghostwriter – What steps should you take?

in Tips from a Ghost Writer 0 comments
 by Laura Sherman

Hiring a Ghostwriter

19749453_sHiring a ghostwriter is a major undertaking. You are about to enter into a long-term relationship with someone who will step inside your shoes, learning to write with your voice.

Make sure this person is a good match for you by interviewing the writer a few times, preparing questions ahead of time. Examples of topics to cover are:

  • The number of books they have ghostwritten
  • Testimonials from past clients
  • Their writing forte
  • Their current schedule

In addition you should Google their name and see what comes up. If they are a successful writer, their books, interviews and articles should pop up. If the proverbial crickets chirp (dead silence), you know they aren’t very well established (or they have chosen to keep off the internet).

It is a good idea to test your top candidates. Never ask a writer to write for free. No professional ghostwriter should agree to that (if they do, they’re far too desperate, which should be a red flag). However, you can ask them to write a few pages for you for a fee. You’re not only checking out their ability to write, but you should also observe their process. How do they respond to your feedback? How quickly do they answer your emails? These are vital points to consider when hiring a ghostwriter.

Most ghostwriters will give you a free consultation. This is a good time to talk to them about your project, giving them a chance to give you their thoughts on your book’s structure. How would they tackle the opening chapter? For instance if you’re writing your memoirs, you wouldn’t start with the day you were born. That approach rarely works, as it is typically rather boring.

You should enjoy the process of hiring a ghostwriter. And enjoy the process of turning your vision into a bestselling book!

Additional articles you might find helpful:

How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Ghostwriter?

Should you hire a local ghostwriter?

Working with a Ghostwriter – What steps should you take?

There is no “standard” ghostwriting deal

in Tips from a Ghost Writer 8 comments