Can you help me get a publisher?

As your ghostwriter or collaborator I can help you get your book into a publishable state, and advise you on writing a proposal and how to approach publishers and agents. The industry is changing all the time and I have no control over the lists of publishing houses in any given year. A ghostwriter can’t guarantee you a publishing contract – no matter what they might promise.  

You may want to try and secure a publisher before we begin work on your project – although it is always easier to generate interest when you have the finished manuscript in your hand. Self-publishing is an increasingly popular and viable option for many authors – both original and ghostwritten. Ultimately it will depend on what and who your book is aimed at. See Who uses a ghostwriter? for more information.    

I have a nearly-completed manuscript but it’s all over the place. Can you help me sort it out?

The short answer is – probably not. Beware writers who try and be all things to all people. My speciality is extracting information and ideas, and turning them into a coherent, flowing narrative. What you need is an editor – a different speciality. Try a literary critiquing service first – your manuscript may not be as bad as you think!     

How much does ghostwriting cost?

The million-dollar question. Thankfully it’s not quite that expensive! I work on a project-by-project basis and it would be misleading of me to give a definitive price list here. Many factors influence the cost – the amount of research needed, the quality of your existing notes and material (if any), the length of the proposed book, its subject matter and genre. The best thing to do is contact me and take it from there.

What if I don’t like the book once it’s written?

This unhappy event is avoided by having a carefully structured schedule of work, and is tied into my fee, so you will always feel you are getting value for money. For example, a project consisting of an 80,000 word non-fiction book would be divided up into four stages for approval. The first stage would consist of an outline, with chapter headings and a brief description of each chapter. At this stage details like target market, length, layout, font, and tone would all be finalised and approved. A pro-rata payment would be made before I continued on to the next stage. And so we would continue, with you in control every step of the way.    

Who uses a ghostwriter?

There are so many types of people who need projects ghostwritten it’s hard to know where to start. Projects can come from a variety of sources: Agents, representing celebrities or experts in a particular field; Business professionals who are looking for a platform or marketing book; People who have led amazing lives or survived extreme situations and would like to see their life-story in print; Enthusiastic amateurs in any field with specialist knowledge they want to share.

What types of projects are you willing to take on?

• Non-fiction books on virtually any subject, including motivational books and self-help manuals
• Autobiographies/memoirs/diary extracts
• Fiction – agented celebrity authors in the genres of romance/chicklit/general women’s fiction/crime/historical
• eBooks for sale or promotion – with web copy or supporting articles if needed
• ‘How To’ guides