Ghostwriter for Fiction and Nonfiction

When considering various ghostwriting firms, keep in mind that a majority of the work is subcontracted out to independent ghostwriters across the country. Essentially, you are paying a hefty price for a middleman – the company – who may not match you with a writer who shares a passion for your work. Ghostwriting firms are usually brokers, and you are paying their overhead. They generally don't have a stable of "New York City writers," although their advertising might imply it.

Much of the fee charged by ghostwriting companies is usually paid before one-third to one-half of the work is completed. This means that firms have already made their money if a client is dissatisfied with the writing. Also, books are generally kept very short so that a company can make a maximum profit in the shortest possible time. These firms deal in volume and aim for speed. Do you want to be one of a hundred clients whose name is only remembered by an accountant?

As an independent ghostwriter, I handle your work after I evaluate its marketability. I then take on a book only if I believe it is a good match for my skills. I will talk with you at length before forwarding any contract. And I'll share my inside knowledge of the literary marketplace at no charge. In today's economy, do you really want to learn the realities of publishing after you've paid thousands of dollars because a company led you to believe you might receive a large advance or quick royalties, or might have a bestseller?

Many clients have shown me work done by ghostwriting firms, work that needed to be rewritten or re-edited because the book was filled with grammatical errors or bad writing. I pride myself on being a prose stylist, and I take on one client at a time to ensure that your project is a priority. If we work together, it will be because I share your vision and enthusiasm. I produce quality manuscripts and remain friends with a majority of my clients long after a work is completed. Your success is as important as my paycheck.

You wouldn't dream of going to Wal-Mart to furnish your dream home, but every year people pay five-digit fees for poorly crafted work by writers without experience or publication credits. Take painstaking care in your selection of any ghostwriter and beware of promises that sound too good to be true. Publishing is a tough business.