A lot of people would relish the chance to write a book, but few have the time, the energy, or, frankly, the talent to get the job done. Coming up with an idea for a book can be the easiest thing in the world; inspiration strikes, and all at once you are flush with brilliant ideas, ideas that simply need to be put onto paper. And that is where things get difficult: Writing a book is a huge commitment of one’s time, and, for those with little writing experience, it can prove laborious work.
That hardly means you should give up on your dream of becoming a published author, however. There is another option, popular among novice and veteran scribes alike—and that is to enlist the services of a professional ghostwriter. Indeed, there are more ghostwritten books on the bestsellers list than you may think, including not just celerity memoirs and political manifestos, but even cherished novels and children’s stories.
For many, of course, these are uncharted waters, and the questions are many: What is it like, working with a ghostwriter? What does the whole process entail? Here are a few quick facts about what is typical among ghostwriting endeavors.
How much does it cost?
This is the first question to be asked, when the topic of hiring a ghostwriter comes up—and alas, there is no simple or straightforward answer to give. It is probably fair to say that you will find a few ghostwriters who charge quite a lot, and others who charge substantially less, but this is certainly an instance in which you get what you pay for. An accredited ghostwriter, with ample experience, is going to charge more than someone with zero ghostwriting experience—and chances are, hiring the pro will prove a sounder investment.
Does the ghostwriter put his or her name on the cover of the book?
This is something you will want to figure out with your ghostwriter. Reach an agreement, and include the terms of that agreement in your contract with the ghostwriter. You can acknowledge the ghostwriter if you really want to, but the convention is for the ghostwriter to be totally invisible—and most professional ghostwriters are happy to abide by that convention.
How does one select a ghostwriter?
Hiring a ghostwriter is like hiring any other contracted professional: You are the one paying money to have a job done, so it is totally within your rights to expect some proof of legitimacy. Ask for writing samples, and ask for references from previous clients; a legitimate ghostwriter will be happy to offer these to you.
How long will the process take?
Once more, there is no hard-and-fast answer here. Obviously, a book that weighs in at 500 pages is going to take more time than a book that totals only 200 pages. Likewise, if research is involved, that will add to the time commitment. Generally speaking, however, you can expect a ghostwriting process to last anywhere from three months to about half a year.
If you are interesting in learning more about ghostwriting services including details on the process, timelines and availability, reach out to the team at Grammar Chic, Inc. by calling 803-831-7444 or visiting www.grammarchic.net.
Amanda E. Clark founded Grammar Chic in 2008. She is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and holds degrees in Journalism, Political Science, and English. She launched Grammar Chic after freelancing for several years while simultaneously leading marketing and advertising initiatives for several Fortune 500 companies.