"Hire a Writer, Not a Company"

Do you have the passion to put your ideas in print? Do you have a story waiting to explode onto a blank page? I use my craft to shape your ideas into prose that is informative, energizing, inspirational, and imaginative, transforming the reader after the last page is turned. I specialize in book-length manuscripts, and I know what agents are looking for. I have worked for celebrities, first-time authors, and professionals from all walks of life: TV directors, movie producers, bankers, athletes, doctors, educators, headline-makers, academics, motivational speakers, and many more. My clients have appeared on PBS, National Public Radio, and Sixty Minutes and have been interviewed in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Two have worked with former presidents of the United States. In short, I produce a polished manuscripts to suit your needs.

You're probably looking for a friendly professional, someone who's interested in your project rather than getting you to sign on the dotted line. Good. For me, the first part of any writing job is to simply listen. The only thing that is important at this stage is your vision. Rest assured that there's no office staff, no sales pitch. 100% of my ghostwriting fees come from writing and editing manuscripts, and I have no ties to any company. See my page on ghostwriting scams and how several companies try to "hook you" with extra services that are totally useless.) I'll give you an honest evaluation of your project at no charge, plus I'll provide a writing sample based on your idea for free. Your ideas and notes are automatically copyrighted even without formal registration with the Library of Congress, so there's no risk.

SCAM ALERT: Some of the self-proclaimed "leading firms" in ghostwriting and book publishing are now under investigation for unprofessional business practices. Check out the Preditors & Editors website under "Editing" and "Book Publishers" for info. Bestselling books are rarely, if ever, written in three months. Also, bestselling authors do not ghostwrite books as a rule. Companies use them to close the deal, after which clients are assigned independent ghostwriters around the country.

I work with one client at a time in order to maximize your chances of success. Work is never farmed out to moonlighters or unemployed English majors. When the book is finished, I will help you write query letters and provide the names of reputable agents at no charge. If your goal is to self-publish, I can advise you how to do so at a fraction of the cost charged by many ghostwriting companies, and I won't charge you a cent.

MY CLIENTS:  Many of my clients have secured traditional publishing contracts, with their books distributed in chain outlets around the country. Their books have been reviewed by Publisher's Weekly, The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and the Midwest Book Review.

I handle mainstream, literary, and most genre fiction. For nonfiction, I have an extensive background in research and have written on such diverse topics as quantum physics, school violence, colonial history, Taoism, and medical ethics. To see what my clients have said about my work, check my Testimonials page. I have also published novels under my own name as well as poetry in respected literary journals around the country. You may see excerpts from my work on my Ghostwriting Samples page. You may find work written under my own name at Short Fiction and Essays by William Hammett (offsite link to my blog).

All queries and manuscripts remain completely confidential, and you are the legal owner of all work from beginning to end. (Like a literary agent or editor, I can't evaluate your project unless you tell me what it's about and/or show me a sample of what you have on paper.) I charge a flat fee and usually bill in five increments to ensure your satisfaction with the work-in-progress. Feel free to email me about your project, and, if you wish to speak with me personally, please email your phone number. I will make every attempt to return your call within twenty-four hours.

Thank you for stopping by, and I look forward to hearing about your project. If you are not quite ready to give me a call or start your project, please bookmark my website for your convenience.

William Hammett's latest novel written under his own name is John Lennon and the Mercy Street Café published in September 2007. It is available at most online booksellers and may be ordered at any conventional bookstore.