How much does it cost to commission a ghostwriter?
I assess each book individually, and my costing depends on things like length of book, subject matter (technical?), source of information and timescale. I quote a flat fee for ghostwriting a book, which is usually broken down into instalments. As a guide, my rates usually fall between £100 and £200 per 1,000 words.
Given that writing a book takes a lot of time and requires a high level of expertise, it's certainly not cheap to commission a ghostwriter. A ghostwriter is at the very top of the editorial ladder in terms of skill, knowledge, ability and experience, and that comes at a price.
Will you write on a percentage basis?
I'm afraid not. It makes much more sense in business terms for me to act as ghostwriter for a book and leave the client to enjoy the royalties from there on.
How long does it take you to ghostwrite a book?
That very much depends on the book – the length, the genre, the method of gathering information – and my other projects, but usually I ghostwrite a book in around six months.
Will you ghostwrite a book on any subject?
No. I have to understand and connect to the subject matter. That's not to say I have a narrow field of interest/knowledge: I work on books on a diverse range of subjects. And the process for ghostwriting a book is the same whatever the content. However, I'll never be a ghostwriter who writes about astrophysics or quantum mechanics, because I wouldn't have a clue what to write!
Oh, and I also choose not to ghostwrite fiction, because I prefer to write fiction for myself, not others.
Where are you based?
I live in Nottingham, United Kingdom. I work with clients in Nottingham and in the surrounding areas like Derby, Leicester, Sheffield and Birmingham, and I travel to London to work with clients in the capital. I also travel further afield where necessary – from Scotland to Ireland, the US to the Med. My favourite ghostwriting projects involve trips to warm, sunny, idyllic locations, of course, but that's a rare treat.
Ghostwriting often involves one or more face-to-face meetings, but it is possible to write a book based on phone and email communications, depending on the nature of the project. Therefore, I can write a book for you no matter where in the world you're based.
Can we meet to discuss a ghostwriting project?
As you've no doubt guessed, I'm a pretty busy person, so in the first instance I prefer to speak on the phone. Then, if we reach a point where I think we may work together, we can arrange to meet to discuss the book in more depth. I prefer to meet in London or Nottingham, but am able to travel for some projects (usually but not necessarily within the UK).
How much help can you give me in getting published?
I'm happy to recommend agents/publishers you can approach, and I can advise you on putting together a proposal/submission package. However, I prefer to stick to what I do best – being a ghostwriter – rather than acting as an agent for clients' books.
So once I've completed the ghostwriting, the client is in charge of the next step of finding an avenue for publication.
Does the ghostwriter get credited for the writing?
That's entirely up to you. You can name me as a co-writer (e.g. Joe Bloggs and Charlie Wilson, or Joe Bloggs with Charlie Wilson), you can display your name on the cover but add an acknowledgement to me inside the book, or you can simply omit all mention of me. I really don't mind! It's your book, and your choice, and the true nature of a ghostwriter is to be happy as a ghost (invisible).
Do you keep your ghostwriter work confidential?
Yes, of course – otherwise this site would be packed full of details of books I've ghostwritten. The vast majority of my clients (and their publishers) prefer me to keep my ghostwriter service confidential; and that's fine by me.
Confidentiality is also assured for any prospective clients who share their book ideas with me.
