Everything You Need To Know About Ghostwriting And Ghostwriter Services

What Is A Ghostwriter?

A ghostwriter is a writer who agrees to create an article or other publication for another company or person, essentially not getting credit for the creation. The person or company gets the credit and the ghostwriter is paid, making a win-win situation for both the writer and the company.


What Is A Ghostwriter Service?
A Ghostwriter Service is when you pay a ghostwriter to write an article or other publication (i.e. eBook) for you on agreed terms. Ghostwriter Services usually charge their clients on how many pages that need written. The cost of one article of 500 words can range from $2 - $10.


What Are The Advantages Of Using A Ghostwriter Service?
Ghostwritten material are usually very professionally written and thoroughly researched. If you do not have time or struggle to write coherently then a ghostwriter service could be the solution you are looking for.

Ghostwriter services are reliable, professional and cost-effective. With articles starting at $2, you could have a 100 page ebook written for just $200.


What Are The Disadvantages Of Using A Ghostwriter Service?
The disadvantage of using ghostwriter services is that if you choose a ghostwriter that charges very low prices, you'll often find the quality of work was not what you were looking for. To get around this, you should always ask for samples of previous work before choosing your ghostwriter.

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Tips For Choosing A Ghost Writer

I have had some recent experience with Ghostwriters so maybe I can offer some advice. Basically never hire someone without some recommendations from other users. If you are going to a freelancing site such as GetAFreelancer.com make sure they have been reviewed multiple times by other users. Also always insist on getting a sample of their work and if possible a unique sample of their work. Then go out and check to see if this sample is in fact unique. If not then do not use them.

Also I would only take small jobs from a few freelancers before hiring for a large project. For instance generating 20 articles for a small fee would be a small example of how you could "test" freelancer work.

It is never an easy thing finding not only excellent writers but those that also focus on customer service as well. A combination of those two factors is what I determine who will get the big projects.

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The Basics Of Ghostwriting

Everyone has a story to tell. We've all experienced love, hate, heartache, joy and fear; we've seen good times and bad, and we all have little beads of wisdom to pass down to younger generations. But how can any single individual spread their thoughts and ideas to the rest of the world?

Through writing, of course!

Ghostwriting has taken hold of the copywriting industry and changed the face of publication as we know it. In case you aren't familiar with ghostwriting, here is a practical definition:

Ghostwriting - the writing of any manuscript, no matter its length or substance, to which credit of authorship is given to someone other than the writer.

In other words, one person hires another to write his or her novel, memoirs, articles, book or other form of media. How cool is that?

Many ghostwriters call their profession "the little known secret of the writing industry," which is accurate because very few people are even familiar with this service. In reality, there are hundreds of professional ghostwriters all across this country, most of whom are very good at their jobs.

How Does It Work?

In most cases, ghostwriters are hired by people who have neither the time nor the ability to write their own book or novella. For example, many of my clients have amazing plot lines for suspense or thriller novels, but can't figure out how to translate their ideas into a cohesive manuscript. Others are business or marketing executives who have amazing insight into the business world, but who need someone else to create a book about it.

Clients usually send me e-mails wondering how the ghostwriting process works, because they aren't sure if it is something they want to pursue. So for all of you out there who have stories and ideas brimming in your brains, here is a basic synopsis of how I work as a ghostwriter.

I start with a phone interview with the person requesting my services, and we talk in detail about their ideas. I take extensive notes, not only about their subject matter, but also about the idiosyncrasies unique to them. All ghostwritten material must reflect the author whose byline will appear on the manuscript. If I write it in my voice, then it isn't really theirs.

Then I get to work on an outline if necessary, and sometimes I jump directly into a first draft. I work quickly, and without thought to details, so that my client can see the basic framework for their manuscript. I submit it after I'm finished, let them read it and comment, and then I go back and begin the lengthy revision process.

How Long Does It Take?

Obviously, the answer to this question will vary from ghostwriter to ghostwriter. It depends on typing speed, thought processes and the extent of editing to be completed before final draft. Business and technical manuscripts will take much longer than fiction novels.

For a 70,000 - 100,000 word novel, it usually takes me around three months to complete. Some ghostwriters take more than a year, while others can pump out novels in less than one month. Since I usually have more than one project happening at a time, I give the three month estimate to allow for project overload.

Full-length business, marketing and technical manuscripts take me around six months to complete. An e-book of 50 - 100 pages will take much less time - around one month. If there is extensive research involved, I incorporate that into my writing time, and I advise clients to provide me with any research they might already have acquired.

How Much Does It Cost?

This is everyone's favorite question, and like turn-around time, it's a difficult one to answer. I offer custom quotes to each of my clients, and assess the project according to the following factors:

1. Estimated Length of Manuscript 2. Reseach Necessary to Complete 3. Level of Client Involvement 4. Medium for Publication

A full-length novel (more than 50,000 words) will usually run between $10,000 and $25,000. A business or marketing book more than 50,000 words will cost between $15,000 and $50,000. E-books less than 100 pages are usually around $900, and articles less than 2,500 words cost between $150 and $300 per document.

This is a basic guideline for my price list, and is in no way set-in-stone. Some ghostwriters charge upwards of $70,000 for a full-length manuscript, while others charge less than $5,000.

How Do I Find A Ghostwriter?

The important thing is to find a ghostwriter who can work on your time table and who can understand your philosophies and ideals. Compatability is extremely important, and I won't accept a client with whom my basic principles don't coincide. I advise everyone seeking a ghostwriter's services to interview several before making a decision.

I also recommend that you hire a ghostwriting company versus a freelancer. A ghostwriting business can offer professional support and can ensure that your work will be completed in a timely fashion. Freelancers are often too overloaded with work, and when you hire a business, you have multiple writers from which to choose.

About The Author
Laura College is the co-owner of a ghostwriting company called eWriters' Web, which is based in Houston, TX. eWriters' Web specializes in the ghostwriting of fiction and non-fiction books as well as the substantive editing of already finished manuscripts.

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What Is A Ghostwriter?

Do you believe in ghosts?

They are mostly unseen. Unnoticeable. And believe it or not they are moving behind the scenes in the publishing industry. If you're lucky you might catch a fleeting glimpse. They are officially called 'ghostwriters'.

A ghostwriter is a writer who writes on an assigned topic under someone else's name, with their consent. They often write books completely from scratch but sometimes their work involves rewriting or polishing an existing work.

Most books by famous personalities are actually written by ghostwriters. When you see an autobiography or memoir from a politician, businessperson, or celebrity, chances are that it has been written by a ghostwriter.

Here are a few examples. The autobiography "Ronald Reagan: An American Life" was ghosted by Robert Lindsey. "Learning to Sing", the autobiography of American Idol star Clay Aiken, was written with ghostwriter Allison Glock. The autobiographies of Doris Day and Sophie Loren were written by A.E. Hotchner.

So how popular is ghostwriting?

Statistics are hard to come by since many people don't want to reveal that their book is ghosted. Some industry estimates suggest that up to fifty percent of all non-fiction books are ghostwritten.

A client may decide to hire a ghostwriter because the client does not have any writing talent or because they are too busy. Ghostwriters, for their part, are usually well-established writers already, and are selected on that basis.

What do Ghostwriters Write?

Ghostwriters are hired to write many types of documents, from autobiographies for famous personalities to e-books for internet marketing gurus, and even letters for politicians.

They also write fiction. Sometimes it is for a series of books written by several ghostwriters under one name, as with the stories of Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys. Ghostwriters also continue to write novels under the name of popular authors who have died, as in the case of Robert Ludlum.

Is Ghostwriting Ethical?

Although ghostwriting is a widely accepted practice within the publishing industry, some people outside of the industry complain that ghostwriting is deceptive. But that is not necessarily true. Consider for a moment the ghostwriting process. The client is the author of the work in that they are the person who is really behind the content. It is the client's ideas, the client's stories and experiences. It is the client's words recorded on hours of interview tapes. The ghostwriter is a professional consultant providing expertise in the area of bringing together all the information, organizing it, and writing it up in a way that will produce a marketable and readable masterpiece.

What Skills does a Ghostwriter Need?

A ghostwriter must be a good writer. He or she should also have good interviewing skills, since they will spend many hours and days interviewing clients. They should have the ability to ask good questions that will draw out the best aspects of a story.

Another skill - which may need to be developed - is the ability to maintain the client's voice so that the book reads like the client, not the ghostwriter.

How is a Ghostwriter Paid?

Ghostwriters usually charge a flat fee for their work. Sometimes they will reduce their ghostwriting fee in return for a percentage (perhaps 25-50%) of the royalties, or in rare cases they may waive their fee in return for a percentage of royalties.

The advantage of a flat fee is that a ghostwriter knows exactly how much he or she will be paid. The risk of relying on royalties is that even if the book is well-written, the ghostwriter has no control over the book's marketing and promotion.

Does a Ghostwriter get Any Credit?

More often than not, the public never knows that a book was ghostwritten. Sometimes ghostwriters are even legally bound to not reveal that they have ghosted a particular book.

Occasionally ghostwriters will receive some credit. The writer's name may appear on the cover as a co-author or it might read "as told to Jenny Ghost." Another way to thank the ghostwriter is under the acknowledgements, for example "...and thanks to Joe Ghoul without whom this book would never have been completed".

Are You Thinking of Becoming a Ghostwriter?

It could be an excellent career move. You've probably heard it said that everyone has a book inside them. Well, the fact of the matter is that not everyone has the time or the skill to write it. As long as there is a story to be told, ghostwriters will continue to be in demand.

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Ghostwriting: A Practical Solution for Business Professionals

Ghostwriting has become a popular and convenient way for business executives to publish their ideas and experience. You can have a full-length book written for you in less than six months.

Admit it: you have great ideas. Everyone does. And if you live and operate in the business world, then you've come up with ways to streamline your productivity and engage your target market. Perhaps you've come up with a revolutionary idea for motivating sales personnel. Or maybe you have significant knowledge that could help C-Level executives become more efficient.

Whatever the case, the business world is full of new ideas just waiting to be expressed. Have you been to your local bookstore lately? Thousands of business men and women have written books on business topics. So why haven't you written a bestseller yet?

My name is Laura College, and I own a successful ghostwriting business called Ghostwriting Express. For the last ten years, I have helped more than 200 business executives to put their ideas on paper and sell them to major publishing houses. Ghostwriting is a very profitable and practical solution for business executives who want to share their ideas with the world - for a profit.

The problem is that most people honestly don't know that ghostwriting is a viable option. Maybe you thought ghostwriters were just for celebrities and policitians, or maybe you've never even heard of ghostwriters before. Whatever the case, you might want to consider the option of having a ghostwriter pen your bestseller.

1. Establish Yourself as an Expert. You've heard it before: "He knows what he's talking about; he's written a book". Once you've written a book about your industry, you're automatically considered an expert in that industry. This will help gain recognition in your field and promote your products or services to your target market.

2. Earn a Return on Your Investment

I typically charge around $10,000 for ghostwriting a non-fiction book, and most of my clients earn a 500% return on their investment with me. Although you will have to pay for a ghostwriter to write your book, once it is published you will reap all the benefits.

3. Establish Credibility

Maybe you aren't much of a writer, but that doesn't matter. When you hire a ghostwriter to write your book, you retain all of the intellectual property rights. That means that no one ever knows that you hired a ghostwriter; your byline goes on the book. It's a win-win situation: you make money from your new book, and you can show off "your" excellent writing skills! This beats trying to publish a substandard book.

4. Posterity

Many business executives fade out of their industry once they retire. Even if you were a great mover and shaker in your time, new executives will take over your spot in the limelight. By having your book ghostwritten, however, you will always have literature in the world that shows what you did and how you made your industry better.

All of these reasons make ghostwriting a viable option for business executives who have great ideas. Finding a ghostwriter is not very hard - just type 'ghostwriter' into a search engine - and you can have a full-length manuscript in as little as six months. You owe it to yourself and to your industry to have your book ghostwritten and your ideas made public.

About the author

Laura College is a professional ghostwriter with more than ten years of experience writing fiction and non-fiction manuscripts. She currently owns a ghostwriting business called Ghostwriting Express (www.ghostwritingexpress.com) and resides in Houston, Texas.


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Deciding On Ghost Writer Services

A ghostwriter is a writer who creates an article or other publication for another company or person, essentially not getting credit for the creation. The person or company gets the credit and the ghostwriter is paid, making a win-win situation for both the writer and the company.

There are several reasons you may need a ghostwriter. The first being you just may not have the time to write the article(s) yourself. Second, you may feel you do not have the skills needed to write an article.

When searching for a good ghostwriter there is a few things to keep in mind. First, find a writer that would write the article in the way you would. A good ghostwriter should allow your personality to shine through within the article. You should also seek a writer who is knowledgeable on the topic at hand and possesses the ability to organize and write it specifically for your target audience.

Always ask to see samples of their writing, ensuring their experience in ghostwriting. You will want to look at various samples and get an idea of their personality and that it clicks with your own. Make certain you clearly specify what you expect and find out what the writer expects as well. Never go into a contract or agreement without first understanding what expected of each party.

Your chosen ghostwriter should meet all your deadlines exactly. Preferably, they should beat the deadline and make allowances for changes and corrections. Additionally, he or she should be flexible and available to you for the entire period of your project.

You should define to the ghostwriter the content the article(s), should contain. As well as, the format in which you require the article. The ghostwriter should deliver the article(s) to you in whatever manner you choose. If this is not possible, perhaps you should acquire another writer.

Finally, go with your instincts, communicate well with the ghostwriter, and then decide if they are the proper writer for your project. A good ghostwriter will maintain excellent communication, provide the utmost professionalism, and create a well-written article in a timely manner.

While I do write most of my own articles, there are times that I just need to find somebody else, usually due to time constraints. For this I recommend hiring a freelancer using sites like www.scriptlance.com or www.elance.com. On sites such as these you can post a project that you want to be done and then have multiple writers bid. Follow the guidelines in the article for choosing a ghostwriter and you will find that you can easily create a lot of quality content for very little money.