William Hammett

Welcome to How to Hire a Ghostwriter.  I'm William Hammett, a ghostwriter and editor for the past sixteen years.  I've also published novels, short stories, and poetry under my own name for the past thirty years.  Additionally, I've written newspaper articles and held editorial positions and have an in-depth knowledge of the publishing industry.  And I've studied the craft of writing with some of the biggest professors and authors of my generation.

Ghostwriting has been around for a very long time.  Even Mark Twain and other well-known authors have ghostwritten books.  In fact, you might be surprised at the number of successful authors whose books you buy at Barnes and Noble, CVS, or the airport who also ghostwrite fiction.  And everyone has heard of The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Goosebumps.  All of these series were produced by ghostwriters.

With the explosion of the internet, many saw an opportunity to advertise themselves as ghostwriters.  When I myself started out, I had fifteen online competitors.  Today, I have approximately one hundred thousand.  Unfortunately, most of the people advertising on Google or Bing are moonlighters and don't have the experience or expertise to write a full-length book.  They often see internet ads saying, "Work at home!  Make big money as a ghostwriter!"  Many people decide to put up websites and call themselves ghostwriters because their high school and college English teachers (or friends) told them that they wrote "good papers."

As for ghostwriting companies, which are springing up like weeds, they are really POD companies that subcontract work to writers (and I use the term loosely) who are inexperienced, many being English majors, unemployed individuals, or moonlighters trying to augment their household incomes.

Here's the problem.  The new ghostwriting industry is filled with people who can't write a sentence without awkward phrasing or grammatical errors.  They're just following a business model to pick up some extra cash and never emotionally invest themselves in the projects they take on.

And then there are the ghostwriting clearinghouses, like elance, odesk, fiverr, and upwork.  People post their resumes on these sites and write books for a song, sometimes charging as little as a thousand dollars.  If anyone with some street cred examines the resumes these writers post, it's easy to see that they commit a dozen major grammatical and phrasing errors in the space of a single opening paragraph.  If they can't write a resume or simple paragraph, they sure as hell can't write a book.

With so many people trying to get published, or self-published as the case may be, people are turning to these ghostwriters who know as much about writing a book as a second grader.  Writing a book is a labor-intensive process that calls for consummate skill in planning, phrasing, organization, actual composition, revision, and yes, knowledge of the basic rules of grammar.  If you want a book to be published--and everyone does, right?--then it's imperative to know how the publishing industry works.  How does one choose an agent, write a proposal or query, and then actually submit a manuscript?  What are the odds of acceptance?  For self-publishing, one needs to know a great deal about the integrity of POD firms, as well as marketing, distribution, promotion, editing, and a dozen other areas.

I started this blog (and many others) to alert people to the scams, ineffective package deals, bad writing, and inexperienced writers working at the ghostwriting companies and clearing houses.  After sixteen years of producing quality manuscripts for clients, I am appalled whenever I am shown the work of my competitors or read their websites, which are riddled with basic grammatical errors.

So what sets me apart or qualifies me to write this blog?

I was formally trained in graduate school in writing, editing, textual criticism, research, and publishing.  And as noted above, I have decades of experience in the literary marketplace, working with agents and editors and producing my own work as well as writing for others.  It is my hope that readers of these posts, readers who seek to use a ghostwriter to write their books, will educate themselves by assimilating the information on this site.  Most people in need of a ghostwriter simply don't know very much about ghostwriting, the publishing industry, writing in general, or the scammers waiting to take their money.  I hope you will find these articles interesting and informative.  Most of all, I hope they enable you to make an informed, intelligent decision when selecting a ghostwriter.  If I can be of help, please email me.

Good luck!

William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

Index of Posts

A Book Is as Long as It Needs to Be

Many ghostwriters are now trying a new business model of offering shorter books to clients.  This has become a popular selling point in the new POD and eBook climate in which ghostwriters and POD publishers try to bring in more clients who (they fear) might not want to pay a reasonable price for a longer book.  The truth is that a book is as long as it needs to be.

Some books do indeed lend themselves to a shorter length.  Novellas are naturally shorter than full-length novels, and nonfiction categories such as how-to, self-help, and motivational may well call for briefer treatments.  Sometimes business professionals simply want a platform book to help in their branding and franchise building, and length is not an issue.

But someone searching for a publisher and ghostwriter should beware of these low price point offers.  Don't compromise the content and integrity of your book.  Make sure that your subject receives the full treatment it deserves.  Trying to get you to contract for a shorter book is like a car salesman attempting to have you drive off the lot with a smaller model car, one that you really don't want and that won't meet your needs.

Remember: a book is as long as it needs to be.  Don't let salesmanship sully the integrity your book demands.

~William Hammett

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Is Your Ghostwriter Familiar with the Publishing Industry?

A client who wishes to hire a ghostwriter should have some idea of what his or her publishing goals are.  Does the client wish to receive a traditional contract from a large mainstream publisher?  Does the client want to seek a small or independent publisher?  Finally, does the client want to seek self-publication with a POD firm?

Unless a ghostwriter is extremely familiar with the literary marketplace, he or she can't help you assess the chances that you will attain your goals. A top-tier ghostwriter should be thoroughly knowledgeable about the submission process, literary agents, large and small publishing houses, royalties, the editorial process, and all pre-flight measures (the steps that it takes to edit, print, promote, distribute, and launch a book).  The ghostwriter should also be familiar with small and independent presses that are viable options to seeking a contract from a major New York publisher.

Finally, POD, while still affordable, has become more expensive, and most POD companies only offer package deals that include unnecessary services.  They make money on upselling promotional packages that are worthless in getting publicity for an author's book.  A ghostwriter worth his salt can help steer you through the confusing waters of self-publication.  Gone are the days when iUniverse would publish a book for $99.

There's simply no substitute for experience and a working knowledge of the literary marketplace.  You can have the best book in the world, but if you don't have a strategic plan for getting it into print, it will eventually die a quiet death.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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Editing Won't Make Bad Writing Better

One misconception that I've come across lately is the belief that one can hire an inexperienced ghostwriter who charges small fees (or is a moonlighter) with the belief that editing will make up for the poorly-written manuscript at a later date.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  If a manuscript is badly written and organized, the chances of attaining a literary agent are nil. In turn, a badly-written book will never find a home with a major publisher without an agent since major publishers stopped accepting unsolicited manuscripts eighteen years ago.  In other words, a poorly-written book will never have the opportunity to find the editing that was envisioned at the beginning.

Getting published is tough.  There's no shortcut, and settling for a manuscript filled with errors betrays a fundamental ignorance of the publishing industry.  There are a lot of protocols that need to be observed in trying to get your manuscript recognized at any level of publishing, and that includes small and independent presses as well.  The first step in trying to get your book into print is simple: make sure it's a good one, one that is well-written and stands out from the others.

It's true that developmental editing or ghostwriting can help get a book into shape, but that has to be one of the initial steps in the process.  But expecting a major league editor at a large New York City publishing house to clean up a bad book?  It's not going to happen.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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Hiring a Ghostwriter: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You

When hiring a ghostwriter, the biggest impediment to finding the right one for you is that you might not be able to recognize the potential ghostwriter's bad writing.  A majority of online ghostwriting websites are riddled with poor phrasing and grammatical errors.  This is when hiring a qualified professional becomes a Catch-22.  If you need a writer because you can't do the composition yourself, you may not be able to see that you're considering hiring a ghostwriter who is committing high school level writing errors.

On most websites I've examined, as well as resumes on ghostwriting clearing house sites such as odesk, elance, and upwork, it's easy to spot nonstandard usage, misspellings, capitalization errors, run-on sentences, sentence fragments, subject-verb agreement errors, omitted words, missing word endings, tense shifts, and dozens of other errors that a professional writer would never make in a polished advertisement.  Many don't even know the difference between to-too-two, it's-its, your-you're, or there-their, they're.

What you don't know can cost you a lot of money.  Many people pay good money to have a manuscript ghostwritten, only to have someone tell them later that it's filled with errors.  Let the buyer beware.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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Ghostwriting: You Get What You Pay For

Many people try to find the least expensive ghostwriter and hire the cheapest one they can find.  But the old adage really is true: you get what you pay for.  You wouldn't ask a cardiac surgeon to perform your bypass for a hundred dollars.  In the same way, low-end ghostwriters usually are trying to bring in a few extra dollars, and a majority don't have good writing skills.  If you examine their websites or resumes posted on elance, odesk, or upwork, you'll notice that they commit the most glaring of grammatical errors.  Why hire someone who doesn't have a basic grasp of the English language?

Some potential clients believe that good writing doesn't matter and that editors "somewhere down the line" will clear up grammatical errors and poor phrasing.  This betrays a fundamental ignorance about the publishing industry.  Major publishers, such as those in New York City and elsewhere, do not accept submissions any longer except from literary agents, and getting a literary agent can be quite difficult.  Too many people believe that once a book is written, it will automatically be published and therefore get the editing and TLC that compensates for a poor first draft, but this is not how publishing works.  Getting a manuscript accepted for publication requires that you present an agent with a professional, polished manuscript.  They're not interested in sloppy work.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com  
 
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Hiring a Ghostwriter: Do You Need Developmental Editing?

Many ghostwriters are also developmental editors.  Developmental editing entails correcting grammatical errors (i.e., line edits) as well as rephrasing awkward passages, eliminating repetition, reorganization, and deleting or adding passages to make the manuscript crisp and publishable.

If you already have a rough draft of your manuscript, you may not need a ghostwriter to rewrite the entire book.  You may need developmental editing to polish your manuscript.  Fees for developmental editing vary depending on the length of your manuscript and how much work the editor needs to do to bring the manuscript up to acceptable standards.

Some developmental editors charge by the word.  Others charge by the hour.  Still others may quote a flat project fee, especially if a great deal of rewording is entailed.

Many online ghostwriters and developmental editors will edit an entire manuscript for a few hundred dollars, but their work is usually quite bad.  (See other articles on this site about freelancers who work for "affordable rates.")  Editing a manuscript involves a lot of judgment calls, so it's imperative that you hire someone with a keen eye and a thorough knowledge of the editing process.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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Hiring a Ghostwriter: The Bait and Switch

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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What Is Ghostwriting?

Many people don't know what ghostwriting is?  When I tell people that I'm a ghostwriter, they often ask if a write about ghosts.  Most people, however, have heard the term and have a general concept of what ghostwriters do.  They nevertheless don't really know much about the profession or how a ghostwriter operates.  If you are considering hiring a ghostwriter, it's crucial that you understand the profession.

Ghostwriting is a longstanding tradition in the publishing industry.  The chances are quite high that some of your favorite books have been written, in part or in whole, by someone whose name isn't on the cover.  Publishers have realized for a long time that many people with great ideas for a novel, or those who expertise in a particular field, can't write their own books, fiction or nonfiction.  For hundreds of years, especially in the twentieth century, ghostwriters have been used to execute books by people who cannot write their own work.

In some cases, the ghostwriter serves as a developmental editor, smoothing out a rough copy of the manuscript.  The ghostwriter rephrases awkward passages, reorganizes sections of the book, applies line editing to correct grammatical errors, and may augment sections of the book that are unclear or incomplete.

In some cases, the ghostwriter may receive nothing more than an idea or cast of characters and is told to write the entire book.  In the juvenile market, this was the case with many series, such as the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, or the Goosebump series.  The ghostwriter for these series received no public credit.

Ghostwriters may or may not receive open credit for their work.  In some cases, however, famous authors decide to franchise themselves by hiring writers to openly collaborate with them.  The author gives the writer a seminal idea, and the writer then executes the entire book.  Many books by Arthur C. Clarke, Tom Clancy, and James Patterson were (or are) written by writers whose names appear in small print at the bottom of the front cover.

It is estimated that approximately forty percent of books in the literary marketplace have been ghostwritten.  Ghostwriting covers a wide spectrum of services, from writing the entire book, to collaboration with another person, to editing the book for content or grammar.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com

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How to Hire a Ghostwriter: Make a Checklist

Before you start searching for a ghostwriter, you should make a list covering the following points so that you know exactly what you want.  If you can't articulate what you expect from a ghostwriter, then the ghostwriter isn't going to be able to give you much information about his or her services upon initial contact.

1) What do you wish to have written?

2)  Is it fiction or nonfiction?

3) What is the proposed length of the book?

4) Do you have source materials available for nonfiction?

5) For nonfiction, are you available for telephone interviews?

6) For fiction, what genre is your book?

7) For fiction, do you have a partial or complete manuscript?  Do you really need developmental editing rather than ghostwriting?

8) For fiction, do you have a synopsis or outline that you can share with the ghostwriter?

9) When do you wish to begin the project?

By having the above information at your fingertips, you'll be able to target your search for a ghostwriter more effectively and also receive better responses from ghostwriters once you query them.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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How to Hire a Ghostwriter: The Essentials

Hiring a ghostwriter can be a daunting endeavor if you don't know much about the publishing industry.  It's even scarier if you don't know much about the profession of ghostwriting.  Exactly who are these people who claim to write your book?  Are they trustworthy?

Unfortunately, not all ghostwriters are trustworthy.  A majority are certainly not competent.  In this blog on How to Hire a Ghostwriter, I have tried to educate people about the best ways to select a ghostwriter.  Below is a summary of the most important things to consider when considering hiring a ghostwriter.

1) Look for a someone who is trained in writing and editing.

2) Look for someone who has several years experience.

3) Look for someone who has writing credits under his or her own name.

4) Look for someone who can offer you writing samples of his or her work.

5) Avoid ghostwriting companies, which are really POD companies that subcontract ghostwriting duties out to people across the country.

6) Read the websites of ghostwriters (and companies) carefully.  Look for grammatical errors.

7) Avoid ghostwriting clearing houses, such as elance.com and odesk.com.  A majority of resumes on these sites are filled with awkward phrasing and grammatical errors.

8) Avoid any ghostwriter or company that wants to upsell you on additional services, such as marketing and printing.

9) Remember that ghostwriters who charge very little are usually not top-tier ghostwriters and may not have the qualifications needed to write a full-length book.

To learn more about each of these essential points to consider when seeking a qualified ghostwriter, read through the index of posts on this site.  You'll gain valuable information.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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Concentrate on Ghostwriters Who Are Part of the Publishing Community

Top-tier ghostwriters have an online presence as opposed to moonlighters and subcontractors who work for ghostwriting companies.  Professional ghostwriters have transparency, unlike the writers and owners of the large ghostwriting firms one sees on Google.

A professional ghostwriter with years of experience at producing full-length marketable books will usually show up on Publishers Marketplace (where writers, agents, and editors network), LinkedIn, Goodreads, Amazon, and the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors.  Many will also have links to articles on the craft of writing, or articles and short stories published in professional and literary journals.

If you can't find out much about your potential ghostwriter, it should be regarded as a red flag.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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Avoid Ghostwriting Competitions

Probably the worst way to select a ghostwriter is to contact several and then ask them to participate in a ghostwriting competition by writing a few sample pages that can be "judged" against each other.  Professional ghostwriters have nothing to do with such an amateurish approach since they are top-tier ghostwriters who work for best-selling authors and those who are experts in their fields.  A top-level ghostwriter doesn't have time to compete with low-level writers who are moonlighters or inexperienced when it comes to penning a full-length book.  For a professional ghostwriter, it's a waste of time and money.

Find the right ghostwriter for you by doing your research, examining the ghostwriter's credentials, looking at his work, and speaking to him on the phone.  A professional ghostwriter doesn't participate in the Hollywood cattle-call.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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Be Committed and Ready to Start with Your Ghostwriter

There's nothing wrong with gathering general information about ghostwriting if you're considering hiring a ghostwriter, but you can do so by reading up on the practice on many websites, including many of my own.

Because qualified ghostwriters earn a living with their writing, they need a cash flow like anyone else in business.  No ghostwriter should ever rush you into signing a contract, and some negotiation is always called for.  But truly professional ghostwriters are primarily searching for clients who are highly motivated, can pay a professional fee, and are ready to commit to a project once they have found the right ghostwriter.  Such clients have usually researched potential ghostwriters carefully (or spoken to them over the phone) and don't just send out random emails to dozens of ghostwriters.

I personally select clients who are courteous, passionate about their projects, expect to pay a professional fee, and can readily see that I'm a good fit for their particular book.  It's okay to ask a lot of questions of the ghostwriter you are considering hiring, but realize that a ghostwriter has to be able to schedule clients in a timely fashion, clients who know what they want and are ready to turn their ideas into publishable manuscripts.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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Not All Ghostwriters Are Created Equal

We've already discussed the fact that some ghostwriters are part-time writers or moonlighters.  Some are subcontractors working for whatever crumbs are thrown their way by large ghostwriting companies.

This site is dedicated to helping you find a professional ghostwriter, someone trained in writing, editing, research, textual criticism, and proofreading--someone who has a thorough knowledge of the publishing industry and the literary marketplace and who has writing credits (including books) under his or her own name.

There are many tiers in ghostwriting.  Even among those who are independent ghostwriters, meaning that they're full-time writers who don't work for ghostwriting companies, there are many ghostwriters who either pad their resumes or don't have the qualifications mentioned in several posts on this site.

The more professional ghostwriters in the publishing world have handled major projects for a variety of clients.  Some of these clients are likely to have been published by mainstream presses, while others are celebrities or top professionals in various fields, such as businessmen, doctors, and dozens of other areas of expertise.

Also, some ghostwriters specialize in medical or business books.  Others write articles or web copy.  Some only write memoirs, while others only write fiction.  As you can see, it can be difficult finding a qualified, professional ghostwriter who handles your kind of project.

So when you Google "ghostwriter," realize that you are looking at search results that encompass a wide variety of individuals.  You need to know who and what you are looking for.  Do your due diligence by following the guidelines on this site.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com

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Ghostwriting Is a Profession, Not a Hobby

Some people believe that ghostwriting is not a full-time job, but rather something people do on the side for fun or to earn some extra cash for the next summer vacation.  This mistaken notion probably stems from the fact that people don't realize that professional ghostwriters are used for at least forty percent of all books that are sold in brick and mortar bookstores.  Ghostwriters have been a part of the publishing industry for hundreds of years.  The famous Goosbumps, Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew series were all executed by ghostwriters.  And an incredible number of adult books, both fiction and nonfiction, are written or developmentally edited by ghostwriters.

When hiring a ghostwriter, one needs to remember that a truly professional ghostwriter (and not a moonlighter or subcontractor) is running a business.  He or she can't afford protracted negotiations, accept late payments, or help evaluate a potential book without a well-thought out query.

If you want to use a qualified ghostwriter (and I can't emphasize the word "qualified" strongly enough), approach the ghostwriter as you would any other professional.  People keep appointments with their accountants, lawyers, and doctors.  And they pay these professionals on time. 

So when you email a ghostwriter who has a professional standing in the publishing industry, always do so with respect for the ghostwriter's time.  You'll land a better ghostwriter in the end and have a better experience in getting your ideas into print.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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Don't Ask Ghostwriters to Accept Royalties

It's true that some ghostwriters accept royalties in addition to payments while actually writing a book.  If a publisher knows that a book, such as a memoir, will sell copies in the millions, then a ghostwriter may accept a royalty deal from ex-presidents and the most famous celebrities in Hollywood. 

But not all books are going to sell in the millions, and this sometimes applies even to politicians and celebrities.  Publishing is a tough business, and there's no guarantee that a book will receive agent representation, be acquired by a publishing house, or make money.  Finding an agent and then getting the book picked up by a publisher can take one to three years.  Assuming a book does "earn out" (meaning it makes back the printing and promotional costs) and goes on to make money, advances are usually small in today's publishing climate, and royalties do not accrue for one to two years after a book is published.

A ghostwriter can't afford to wait three to five years to get paid for months of hard work.  A professional ghostwriter earns his or her daily bread by writing books.  If you don't have the money to pay for such a service, you're not likely to find anyone to pen your book.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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Look for a Ghostwriter Who Is the Right Fit

There's nothing wrong with initially contacting more than one ghostwriter, but your goal should be to find the ghostwriter who is the best fit for your project.  This is better achieved by reading ghostwriting websites carefully and researching ghostwriters who look promising based on the ads and websites.

While many ghostwriters will wait indefinitely for you to get back with them, these ghostwriters are the ones who juggle multiple projects and can therefore afford to wait weeks or months for you to make a decision.  True professionals in the area of ghostwriting look for the perfect client whose work resonates with them.  They are careful and selective in who they choose to write for.  And they don't juggle multiple projects.

You can cast your net wide, but if you do, you will get a lot of different replies that are apt to be confusing.  You'll also get more than a few sales pitches.  Just as in buying a car, you don't have to settle on the first vehicle you see, but you usually start with an idea of what kind of automobile you want.  In the same way, do your due diligence and search for a ghostwriter who has the right qualifications.  You can conduct a better, more productive search by following the guidelines in the posts on this site.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com

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A Ghostwriter Can't Steal Your Work

Many people each year are afraid to send me a description of their proposed books because they think that the ideas might be stolen.  Without formal registration, your work is copyright-protected according to U.S. copyright law from the moment you set an idea onto paper or any electronic medium.  This may be verified at the following web page of the U.S. Copyright Office: When Is My Work Protected?

Literary agents and editors at publishing houses will not respond to any query they receive if you ask them to sign non-disclosure agreements or ask them if it is safe to describe your idea.  Such queries get deleted from the inbox or thrown in the trash immediately.  Otherwise, agents, editors, and ghostwriters would live at the post office, mailing out NDAs all day long.

No one can steal your idea if you write the idea on a piece of paper.  It's the law.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com

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Present a Professional Query to a Ghostwriter

Ghostwriters receive hundreds, even thousands, of queries each year.  Approach a ghostwriter just as you would approach a literary agent or editor.  State briefly whether your proposed book is fiction or nonfiction.  Then describe your project, even if only in one or two paragraphs.  If possible, attach a sample of your work if you have already started the book or simply wish editing.  No one can steal your ideas (which will be covered in another post). 

Ghostwriters do not handle every type of book in the literary marketplace.  Before you enter into long telephone calls or protracted negotiations, give the ghostwriter an idea of what you want written.  This is the protocol throughout the publishing industry.  It will save both you and the ghostwriter a lot of time.

By describing your project, you can hook the ghostwriter's attention and make your query stand out against the others.  If it's something the ghostwriter is especially interested in, you increase the chances of becoming a client.

Don't just send an email that says "Call me at 555-5555" or "I want a ghostwriter.  Call me."  These are usually ignored.  Be courteous and professional and follow established protocols to ensure getting the best ghostwriter available.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com

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Don't Pay a Ghostwriter or Company for Additional Sevices

Many ghostwriters offer package deals beyond simple ghostwriting.  The additional services include marketing and printing.  Just about all of these additional services can be done by any individual who has done a bit of homework.

Many companies promise to send out press releases to people and publications that have no interest in your book.  They also send advance review copies to a generic list of reviewers, most of whom are also not interested in your book.  These services almost never result in sales.  As for sending your book to literary agents, you can do that yourself.  By some stamps and an agent directory instead of paying companies an additional $4,000.

In short, you can market your own book through social media.  Read Dan Poynter's The Self-Publication Manual and you'll see what I mean.

When it comes to getting your book into print, there are many POD companies that can be researched online or in Mark Levine's The Fine Print of Self-Publishing.  If you choose a POD firm wisely, you can probably pay a much lower price than you would pay to a ghostwriting company, and you'll probably get better service and a better product. 

It's up to you to do your due diligence.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com

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Hire a Ghostwriter Who Does One Job at a Time

The last thing you want is a ghostwriter who juggles projects and who multitasks.  Did any great author, classic or contemporary, write several books at once.  Did Hemingway write Old Man and the Sea and The Sun Also Rises at the same time? 

A truly professional ghostwriter is able to concentrate on a book with laser-like focus.  He or she should give your book all the attention it deserves.  Writing a book is a challenging enterprise, and a competent ghostwriter will make your manuscript his or her sole priority.

Do you want to hire someone who is trying to please two or three other clients while penning the book you've dreamt of writing for so long?

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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Has Your Ghostwriter Published Books?

I think it's crucial that a ghostwriter be able to point to titles that he or she has written when it comes to writing full-length books.  Writing a book is a labor-intensive endeavor, one that calls for the highest levels of the craft of writing.  A great ghostwriter must be able to organize, foreshadow, plot, and (in the area of fiction) be able to create believable characters and realistic dialogue.

The ghostwriter's prose style should pop and grab the reader, regardless of what kind of book is being written.  The prose should be polished and demonstrate superior writing abilities.

Some ghostwriters have been published by mainstream houses.  Others, such as myself, have been published by small or independent presses (known as "indies" in publishing).  Others may be self-published.  The latter is not necessarily a problem since many self-published books do quite well, with some even going on to become best sellers.

If your ghostwriter has never published a book, why are you hiring him?

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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The Ghostwriting Contract

The following should be a part of every ghostwriting contract.

1) The names of the parties entering into the contract.

2) The jurisdiction under which the contract is enforced.

3) A guarantee that the client is the sole owner of the literary property mentioned in the contract.

4) A guarantee of confidentiality for the client.

5) The fees to be paid and a schedule of when they are due.

6) What constitutes breach of contract.

7) Whether or not the manuscript will be revised.  (Most contracts stipulate one revision of the entire work when the book is finished).

8) The time frame in which the work is to be completed.

9) The availability of client and ghostwriter if telephone interviews will be necessary.

Beware of very long contracts filled with legalese, especially when tendered by ghostwriting companies.  Most people don't realize what they're signing when long contracts are extended, many with fine print and hard-to-understand clauses.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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Beware of Ghostwriters Who Work at "Affordable Rates"

We all want to save money and get the best product at the lowest price, but sometimes you get what you pay for.  Some ghostwriters will agree to write an entire book for $5,000 or less.  This fee may be appropriate for a very short book or eBook, but for a book of 200 to 500 pages, it's ridiculous.  It screams of a moonlighter or an unemployed English major.

If you want quality, you have to pay for quality.  You wouldn't ask a lawyer to represent you in a major trial and then pay him $100.  And sure wouldn't ask a heart surgeon to perform your bypass for $500.

Ghostwriting fees vary according to the length and complexity of a project, but when a writer offers to write your book "real cheap," that's what you'll get: a really cheap manuscript.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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Don't Hire a Ghostwriting Subcontractor

Many ghostwriting companies (and remember--most of these companies are vanity presses) subcontract their ghostwriting business to freelancers around the country, writers who will work for very little money since the company is going to keep the lion's share of the fee paid by a client.

The biggest problem with these ghostwriting subcontractors is that most are inexperienced.  They are often English majors, unemployed English major graduates, moonlighters, housewives, second-income householders, and others who just don't have the chops for the job.  They may or may not have written a book before, but I've seen the work coming out of these companies, and (pardon my lack of grammar here) "it ain't pretty."

These subcontractor are forced to adhere to company standards, which in my professional opinion, are either very low or compromised.

It's safer and wiser to stick with an independent ghostwriter who focuses on writing, not on package deals that are money pits and yield little success.  And that's my motto:  Hire a writer, not a company.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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Google the Ghostwriting Companies

One thing that is a must is to Google the various ghostwriting companies that advertise on Google and follow the company name in the search box with "complaints."  You will be amazed at the number of complaints that you can find online about these self-proclaimed industry leaders.

Many have been sued, although the companies usually have their lawyers bury any complaints as soon as possible.  Some companies close their doors and re-incorporate under different names.

You can also go to websites such as Absolute Write and Absolute Write Water Cooler and search their forums for the various company names.  You'll see a lot of horror stories.

Research, research, research!  Whether you want to hire a company (bad move) or an individual, do your due diligence.

~William Hammett

Contact:  wmhammett@aol.com 

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Does a Ghostwriter Belong to an Professional Writing Association?

Professionals, from doctors to plumbers, are expected to be accredited or certified.  Why should we expect less of freelance writers?  The vast majority of ghostwriters have no such licensing or accreditation.

A great ghostwriter should belong to one or more associations which vet the writer before extending membership privileges.  The best is the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors, or NAIWE.  The National Ghostwriting Association was also a good organization, although as of this writing, it has become inactive.

The most professional ghostwriters will also be found on LinkedIn and Publishers Marketplace, which are searchable via Google.

But the point is that there are many associations out there that serve as strong indicators of whether or not a freelancer has the right stuff to pen your book or article.  When performing your due diligence, look to see whether a ghostwriter is a member of a professional association.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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Ghostwriting Clearinghouses: Odesk, Elance, and Fiverr

Many websites coming up in a search for ghostwriters are ghostwriting clearinghouses, such Odesk, Elance, and Fiverr.  These sites offer you access to personnel in many areas, including writing and editing.

Many of the ghostwriters who post their resumes on these sites work multiple jobs at once.  They also work for fees that rarely match the professional rates charged by top-level ghostwriters.

Read the resumes on these sites carefully to make sure that they are worded professionally and that they are free of any grammatical errors.  Also, don't assess a potential freelance writer's capabilities simply by how many jobs they have completed.  This metric tells you nothing.  Always insist on looking at a comprehensive resume and asking the right questions of anyone you may want to hire.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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A Ghostwriter's Credentials

Too many people become ghostwriters because they simply like to write or because they did well in English when in school.  These two reasons do not indicate that a person has any competence whatsoever when it comes to writing a full-length book--or anything at all.

Here are a few credentials that any ghostwriter should have:

1) A ghostwriter should have a college degree in some area related to the liberal arts, preferably a degree in an area related to both writing and research.

2) A ghostwriter should have a strong editorial background, or at least training in editing and proofreading.

3) A ghostwriter should have strong research skills.

4) A ghostwriter should have a thorough knowledge of the publishing industry and the literary marketplace.

5) A ghostwriter should have writing credentials under his or her own name.  These can be books, articles, short stories, technical writing credits, or other pieces for which the ghostwriter received a byline.

6) A ghostwriter should have superior interviewing skills.

7) A ghostwriter should have a resume that is able to demonstrate, at least in part, past work that he or she has done for clients.  Granted, the very nature of ghostwriting gives clients confidentiality, but many clients will offer a ghostwriter at least some credit, even if it's only an editing credit (and most ghostwriters are editors as well).

Not everyone has the skills to be a ghostwriter.  The above checklist is a good place to begin when evaluating the person you wish to write your book.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com

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Examine the Ghostwriter's Prose

When a ghostwriter offers to write your "fiction novel," beware.  All novels are fiction.  I also saw a website the other day on which the ghostwriter said he would "write your novel, fiction or non-fiction, with great care."  (Nonfiction is not hyphenated, by the way.)  And again, a nonfiction book is not a novel.

A majority of ghostwriters use the phrases "book length manuscript" and "full length book" when advertising on their websites.  These phrases should be hyphenated:  full-length and book-length, at least when they are adjectives modifying a noun (which they are).

One of the ghostwriters mentioned above wrote a sentence that said, "Choose your ghost writer carefully, otherwise you might get someone who is not right for the job."  The word "otherwise" creates a comma splice, one of the most basic grammatical errors one can make.  This writer has no business charging money to write people's books.

When ghostwriters can't even write grammatically correct ad copy on their own sites, do you want them to write your book?

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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Do You Really Want a Moonlighter to Write Your Book?

Many ghostwriters are part-time writers who hang out a shingle to make extra money because they've seen ads on e-How or about.com proclaiming that anyone with good language skills can make great money at home by following a few simple steps: 1) get a website; 2) decide how much to charge; and 3) choose what kind of writing they want to do.

Wrong!  Professional ghostwriting--ghostwriting practiced at its highest level--should only be done by people who have an extensive background in writing, editing, and publishing and who have publishing credits to their own names.

Likewise, thousands of alleged ghostwriters post resumes on sites such as elance and odesk.  I have yet to read a resume or profile on these sites that didn't have fundamental grammatical errors and awkward phrasing.  If these writers can't produce a single clean paragraph, do you really want them to write or edit your book?  These writers also charge very low prices that don't match the fees charged by truly professional writers

Let the buyer beware.  You get what you pay for.  You wouldn't ask a doctor to take out your tonsils for five dollars, would you?

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

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Avoid Ghostwriting Companies

If you Google any word related to ghostwriting, you'll always see the websites of ghostwriting companies.  Most are merely POD companies that try to upsell people on additional services such as ghostwriting and marketing.  They almost always subcontract work out across the country to inexperienced ghostwriters who don't have the skill to produce a simple article let alone a book. 

I've seen the work coming from many of these companies.  My clients often ask me to rewrite the botched work coming from these self-proclaimed industry leaders.  It's bad.  Really bad.  The ghostwriters apparently don't even know what complete sentences are.  As for the marketing packages, they are expensive and  totally ineffective.

Hire a writer, not a company.  Choose a qualified independent ghostwriter.

~William Hammett

Contact: wmhammett@aol.com 

Index of Posts

Index of Posts

Index of Articles on this Site

Avoid Ghostwriting Companies
Avoid Ghostwriting Competitions
Be Committed and Ready to Start with Your Ghostwriter
Beware of Ghostwriters Who Work at "Affordable Rates"
A Book Is as Long as It Needs to Be
Concentrate on Ghostwriters Who Are Part of the Publishing Community
Do You Really Want a Moonlighter to Write Your Book?
Does a Ghostwriter Belong to a Professional Writing Association?
Don't Ask Ghostwriters to Accept Royalties
Don't Hire a Ghostwriting Subcontractor
Don't Pay a Ghostwriter or Company for Additional Services
Editing Won't Make Bad Writing Better
Examine the Ghostwriter's Prose
A Ghostwriter Can't Steal Your Work
A Ghostwriter's Credentials
Ghostwriting Clearinghouses: Odesk, Elance, and Fiverr
The Ghostwriting Contract
Ghostwriting Is a Profession, Not a Hobby
Ghostwriting: You Get What You Pay For
Google the Ghostwriting Companies
Has Your Ghostwriter Published Books?
Hire a Ghostwriter Who Does One Job at a Time
Hiring a Ghostwriter: The Bait and Switch
Hiring a Ghostwriter: Do You Need Developmental Editing?
Hiring a Ghostwriter: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You
How to Hire a Ghostwriter: The Essentials
How to Hire a Ghostwriter: Make a Checklist
Is Your Ghostwriter Familiar with the Publishing Industry?
Look for a Ghostwriter Who Is the Right Fit
Not All Ghostwriters Are Created Equal
Present a Professional Query to a Ghostwriter
What Is Ghostwriting?
William Hammett