Do You Need a Ghost?

During the past three weeks, I've been on more than a dozen calls with people who are looking for a ghostwriter. While they've come to the right place (yes, that is something I do), many of them don't actually need a ghostwriter; what they need is a book coach and an editor. But if one doesn't consider oneself a writer but has ideas for a book or a blog, sometimes the difference is unclear. 

For example, in the early 2000s, I was hired by Women Unlimited's founder Jean Otte to ghostwrite what became Women Are Changing the Corporate Landscape, Originally, I was hired to conduct all of the interviews, do all of the research and to write the book, plus hire the editor and work with the printing company who would provide the paperback copies. Then, Jean and WU's president decided to write intros to the book, and my name was added to the front cover. This is similar to what happened to Tony Schwartz when he wrote ​The Art of the Deal for Donald Trump and his publisher (though Trump didn't write any of his own book). 

But those examples are a bit unusual because the ghostwriter is usually unseen or heard from, they are literally the invisible specter that makes the project happen or brings the blog or book to life. And because the ghostwriter does the research and conducts the interviews and does all of the writing and editing, she or he is paid a fee for the project. (In the case of books, this fee is in the thousands of dollars; for a blog, the fee will be in the hundreds, if you are hiring an experienced U.S.-based writer.)

GHOSTWRITER VS. COACH AND EDITOR

Some of the potential clients and clients I've talked to this month have drafts started of their books or have drafts written of their blog posts. Or they may have an idea and an outline and have the desire to write the book themselves, but need guidance. Some of these people have thought they needed a ghostwriter, when what they really need is a book coach and an editor.

A Ghostwriter:

• Takes an idea and figures out how to tell the story.
  
• Conducts all of the interviews.
  
• Does original research. 
  
• Writes all of the drafts and edits the manuscript.
  
• Works closely with the person(s) whose name(s) will ultimately appear on the front cover. 

A Book Coach and Editor:

• Holds the writer or idea generator's hand as s/he creates a draft of the project. 
  
• Offers developmental feedback, and may do developmental editing and copyediting.
  
• Explains the publishing options and helps the writer bring the product to the marketplace (either through help finding and querying editors and publishers or guiding one through the best self-publishing process for the writer's goals).  
• Works closely with the person(s) whose name(s) will ultimately appear on the front cover. 
• Acts as a cheerleader throughout the whole process. 

For book coaching and editing, combined prices start around $1,000 and can run as high as $5000, depending on the coach. Ghostwriting prices are determined by a number of factors such as experience of the writer, length of the proposed book, amount of original research required, turnaround time expected from idea to finished product, and if any of the book has been written and is expected to be cleaned up and incorporated. Some American-based websites claim book ghostwriting prices start at $5,000, and Upwork has people frequently looking for overseas ghostwriters in the hundreds of dollars price range. But If you want to hire an experienced ghostwriter and an experienced author to research and write a book-length manuscript for you, expect to pay a lot more than that. 

Ghostwriters who handle celebrities' books often earn over $50,000. Schwartz himself admits to receiving a six-figure advance plus a part of the royalties (the royalty part is very unusual for a ghostwriter as ghostwriter's receive the money upfront not residuals for years after publication). And Schwartz admits that he devoted a year and a half to Trump's book; it's that time and work that someone hiring a ghostwriter is paying for. 

Hiring a ghostwriter can be very beneficial if you have an idea and want to write a book but don't think you have the time or the skills to do so. Expect to work with the person closely, and to provide guidance when asked. After all, the finished product will have your name on the cover.