We've already discussed the perils of hiring a ghostwriting company instead of a qualified independent ghostwriter with legitimate experience and writing credentials, but the pitfalls of hiring a company are many. Let's examine the companies further.
One problem with hiring a ghostwriting company to pen your book is that the negotiation process isn't always transparent. Sales reps on the telephone line (not writers, in most cases) are eager to have you sign a contract as soon as possible. Threats are often made that if you don't sign, the price may go up or available writers are "currently limited."
The process used by these firms once you've indicated that you might sign your soul over to these companies is to have you talk with three of their subcontractors (i.e., writers from around the country) and then decide which one you want. But after you choose, don't be surprised if you are suddenly assigned a different writer because the preferred writer is suddenly unavailable. It's the old bait and switch.
If you show any hesitation whatsoever during this process, the company might well bring in "the closer" to help seal the deal. (At a car dealership, if the salesman on the lot can't close the deal, you are invariably brought to the general manager.) The closer is often a writer who is allegedly going to sort out the process, and the impression given to the potential client is that this writer that will be assigned to the project. In a majority of cases, however, you don't get the closer. As indicated above, the writer you are assigned may be someone you haven't spoken with--and someone who is not at all qualified to write your book.
As I say frequently, do your due diligence. And hire a writer, not a company.
~William Hammett
Contact: wmhammett@aol.com
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