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“How Do I Find a Ghostwriter for My Book?”
As a book writing coach, Lisa Tener meets many people who have a great idea for a business book, self-help bestseller, a gripping novel, or a fascinating memoir or autobiography. They have good reasons for wanting to write a book but what they may not have is the particular skillset required to actually do that kind of work – a way with words, an understanding of audiences, organizational skills, editing skills, persistence for months (or years) and stamina.
For some people the limiting factor is time. Even if you are an excellent writer, it still takes a great deal of time to research, write, edit and rewrite a manuscript so that you achieve the level of quality that you would be proud to put your name on.
That’s why many busy, successful people who would like to author a book ultimately choose to hire a ghostwriter. They have a goal they want to pursue and a book is part of reaching that goal:
It’s simply too important to delay the project or to accept anything less than the highest quality so they enter into a ghostwriter work-for-hire contract with an experienced writer.
The challenge is how to find an experienced ghostwriter and the optimal fit.
Most authors and publishers will be cagey when asked if they hired a ghost writer for a particular work. That’s where a ghostwriter referral service can be useful.
Lisa Tener works with a number of excellent writers who provide ghost writing services. All of the authors on her referral list are skillful, compelling writers with a body of work that speaks to their talent. Some have written or edited New York Times bestsellers, Business Week bestsellers, award-winning books, and books that were featured on Oprah (along with the author who conceived the work and hired the writer). Our ghostwriters are seasoned experts: many of them have been in the ghostwriting business for more than two decades.
If you are serious about finding the perfect ghostwriter for your project, contact Lisa Tener. After an interview with you, Lisa will refer you to select ghostwriters who she believes will be the best match for your particular project based on the genre of your book, your personal style and your budget.
A book is a very personal thing. It’s important that you feel comfortable with the writer you choose. Lisa has provided some guidance for interviewing and choosing a ghostwriter on this site and with an accompanying free e-book, 20 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Ghostwriter. Be diligent in thoroughly investigating the writers you are considering.
If none of the writers Lisa has referred to you for an interview prove to be a good fit, contact Lisa again and provide more detail about your needs and the qualities you are looking for in a writer. She will provide additional referrals.
Begin planning your book project by establishing a realistic budget. If you are considering hiring a ghostwriter, determine what services you want from that writer. Will you need help with a book proposal, or with research? Determine the approximate number of pages (your writer may have insights into this). Do you have any deadlines that must be met? A right deadline can affect costs.
For the high-quality, experienced ghostwriters with whom Lisa works, books of 120 pages typically run from $15,000 to $35,000 (though can be more expensive for a particular skill set and expertise) and books of 250-pages start around $25,000 to $65,000 and up into the six figure realm. If your budget is below $12,000 for ghostwriting a short book or $20,000 for ghostwriting a full-length book, please do not ask us for a referral to a ghostwriter. We can recommend an editor for that budget range. For a very modest budget, you may want to check elance.com.
Lisa does not charge a fee to clients seeking a ghostwriter referral. If a match is made through her service, the ghostwriter pays a marketing fee.
Occasionally, an author will seek Lisa’s input and expertise on other parts of their book project. Lisa is happy to provide additional services, such as those listed below, under a separate contract:
If you are ready to get your book project off the ground with the help of a skilled ghostwriter, contact Lisa Tener. We look forward to helping you find the perfect match.
Yes, we refer ghostwriters who specialize in business, leadership, self-help, psychology, health, how-to, finance, relationships, business, memoir, personal success, healing, going green and many other areas. Some of the ghostwriters we refer to have broad experience across genres. Lisa will personally speak with you to find the best match for your needs.
Find our more about hiring a Business Book Ghostwriter or Ghostwriter for a CEO Memoir.
This is your decision. If you wish to have the person named as a co-author, you can say “with” or “and.” If you do not wish to have the ghostwriter receive credit, just be sure that you discuss it before commencing the project and have it in your written agreement.
Regardless of the name situation, ghostwriters would like to know that they can receive a reference and testimonial for their work. If you don’t want the ghostwriting to be public, you may still be able to write a testimonial that addresses the writer’s abilities as an editor or coach.
This is another area where you decide what you need. If you enjoy research, or already have the data, this could keep down the overall cost of the project. If the ghostwriter needs to do extensive research, it will add to the price, but can save you a lot of time. The most important thing is to define ahead of time how much research each party will do.
This will be decided between you and the ghostwriter, and your initial agreement should be specific. If you desire revisions beyond those initially agreed upon, that can generally be done for additional cost.
Can you suggest a ghostwriter for my book proposal, or do they only ghostwrite books?
Yes, we can refer you to a ghostwriter for your book proposal.
On ghostwriting projects, the answer is generally, no. Ghostwriters are hand selected by Lisa, and she will suggest the person or people who seem to be the best match. From then on, you will work directly with the ghostwriter and will develop a written agreement or contract with that person–they work with you to write your book as a work for hire.
You and your ghost writer will determine the best way for you to proceed. You may choose to meet regularly, to talk on the phone at determined intervals, email drafts back and forth or provide materials that the ghostwriter will review and put into a book form. In any case, you will also want to schedule some intense personal meetings that allow you and your ghostwriter to truly understand one another.
No. The ghostwriter would pay the marketing fee and we ask them to take it out of their marketing budget, not your fees/cost.
We do our best to find and recommend excellent writers who will fit your particular needs, including your budget. You will interview and hire the writer yourself. Most of the writers we recommend we have worked with for many years. Occasionally we will bring on a new writer if their work is excellent and they fill a void in our offerings. Feel free to ask us more about our experience with any writer we recommend.
We have sometimes heard from people who signed a contract with a competitor of ours and was then unhappy with the writer they assigned. We will not assign you a writer. Rather, you are in charge of the project, you do the hiring and can interview a number of writers and will only choose a writer you feel comfortable with.
Having someone ghostwrite your book is a very personal thing. While we cannot guarantee that you will be satisfied, we have an excellent track record with happy clients. What we can do is recommend that you:
1. Speak with a reference or two who worked with this writer;
2. Ask for samples of their work so you get a feel for it;
3. Negotiate to have them write 1 or 2 chapters as phase 1 of the project so that you are not tied to working with them if you decide it is not a perfect match;
4. Listen to your intuition. If you speak with a writer who is not the fit you are looking for, let us know and we can explore a better match. The more you can tell us about your vision and needs and the qualities you are looking for, the better clarity we have to match you.
We also recommend setting clear expectations and clear communication up front and throughout the project. This should create a solid, fulfilling working relationship.
If you are ready to get your book project off the ground with the help of a skilled ghostwriter, contact Lisa Tener. We look forward to helping you find the perfect match.
Read more information on how to hire a ghostwriter and the specific accomplishments of the ghostwriters we work with and recommend.
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