Ghostwriting FAQ
Fees:
I charge a flat fee, rather than working on an hourly basis. For editing, I charge $8.00 per page (250 words). For longer, book length works (30,000 to 100,000 words or 125 to 400 pages) my fees start at $25,000 and can go as high as $50,000, depending on turnaround time (two to six months, depending on length and in some cases, up to a year or 18 months. Writing is an organic process and sometimes things happen, especially if the client is an extremely busy person.
For book-length works, I require at least 1/3 of the total fee in advance. This will allow me to devote time to your project and help you make your book come alive.
Will you find me a publisher?
No. That is up to an agent. I will assist in choosing an agent but all agency fees will be the responsibility of the subject.
What do I get for such big money?
Book writing is an expensive proposition. You get to know me before you sign a contract. Keep in mind that, as ghostwriting can be an intensely personal task and if the subject and the writer do not get along, the book will show it. It is best to shop around for a ghostwriter and you are perfectly within your rights to do so. It’s kind of like dating. If we click, we might create some magic!
Speaking of contracts, do I need one? Do I need an attorney?
A contract protects us both. If you flake out and enter rehab and cannot continue to work on the project, I have legal recourse. By the same token, if I decide to have a second midlife crisis and move to a bleak Irish shore to write the great American novel, you will be able to sue me and recover damages. You do not need an attorney to enter into any contractual agreement but you may want to consult yours, of course, before signing any agreement. Do not sign any contract that you do not fully understand.
You may view a sample proposal agreement, which begins the process of preparing a proposal to send to agents and publishers. There is a nonrefundable $1,500 fee if we enter into a contract and the Proposal goes to publishers (via my agent), but this is deducted from the total fee. Please take the time to read it carefully and write down any questions you may have so we might discuss them at our next meeting.
The Big Contract, the one that deals with the nitty-gritty of the project, outlines in detail what is to be expected of both the writer (me) and the subject. In the case of memoir writing, the trust issues are immense and I hope I have provided a comprehensive list of points that need to be agreed upon before the project can truly move forward.