FAQ's About Ghostwriting
Does my ghostwriter sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement?
Absolutely. Protecting your anonymity and intellectual property is our highest priority. We sign a comprehensive, legally binding NDA before any conceptual drafts are developed. See sample Ghostwriting Agreement.
How will you capture my specific tone and voice?
Through iterative refinement and in-depth collaborative interviews. I study your cadence and perspectives to ensure every page sounds authentically like you, translating your spirit into print. Authors with an established platform, podcasts, videos, or recorded conference presentations should supply those for context.
Clarifying the path from conviction to professional publication. Our process is built on elite collaboration, absolute discretion, and a commitment to your unique voice.
Who owns the rights to the final manuscript?
You do—entirely. As my client, you retain 100% of the copyright and intellectual property rights. You are the author of record on all platforms and registrations. That notation appears in Item 2, "Ownership and Assignment of the Book," on every Ghostwriting NDA. If you choose to purchase an ISBN (highly recommended), that International Standard Book Number is registered under the author's name and appears on all major retail sales platforms like Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
Still have specific questions? We're here to clarify the path to your published legacy.
How long does a book-length project typically take?
Timelines vary by the depth of research and manuscript length, but most full-length projects are completed within 12 to 18 months across predefined, milestone-driven stages. All those details are delineated in the Ghostwriting NDA. Any changes, such as page count, chapters, illustrations, or charts and graphs, may require addenda to the agreement. All changes are discussed and approved prior to any additional charges.
What is the typical pricing structure for these services?
Prices for ghostwriters vary based on their expertise, industry experience, and volume of work. Ghostwriters structure agreements based on approximate word count and bill a fee per word. Experienced ghostwriters have higher fees, but more experience, thus better finished work; you really do get what you pay for in this business.
Ghostwriters who are employed by existing professional authors may bill as much as $1.00 per word for a 70,000-word manuscript. Understandably, $70,000 is more than most first-time writers can commit to for a new project. In the case of first-time authors, our fee is $.25 - twenty-five cents per word - for the completed manuscript. Remember, the final word count may not be what you provide at the beginning. Most first-time authors need significant edits, which reduces the word count. Your ghostwriter may also suggest additions for clarity, flow, and readability.
You can reduce the word count and learn a lot about clarity and quality content by reading and applying the notes on the SELF-EDITING CHECKLIST from Bestselling author, Jerry Jenkins, before submitting the manuscript. Jerry has written over 200 books and has been published by over 50 publishers. I learn something from him every time I read it. Follow the links on the checklist for more ideas from one of America's most loved bestselling authors.
How much time will I need to commit to the process?
The process is collaborative yet efficient. We typically hold weekly or bi-weekly interviews, totaling roughly 25-35 hours of your focused time over the course of the entire project. That is an estimate; the total number of hours depends on the page count, writer's experience, and quality of written content. If you are a new author and have what you consider to be a completed rough draft, the process will take about 16-18 months for a book that produces 200-250 finished pages.
If your book is picked up by a traditional publisher, that time is subject to change and beyond the control of the author or ghostwriter. They will employ their own editors, proofreaders, and artists to craft the book they believe will sell. Be advised, it may or may not resemble the original in title or content. If you choose to go with traditional publishing, and you are fortunate enough to land a publishing offer, don't wear your feelings on your sleeve; you will be making changes.
If you are sensitive to that process, or you believe your book cannot be improved or changed, I recommend you consider another profession. Brutal? Yes. Honest expectations? Absolutely. If you have always wanted to write a book, but you've waited 5 years to begin, you will need a different life process - like a six-month sabbatical - to complete the process of writing a book. If you work 60 hours a week and have other obligations, family and professional, you need a ghostwriter who can do more than offer advice; you may need a fully ghostwritten project. That is time- and cost-prohibitive for most first-time authors. See the Legacy Projects page for information about the publishing process for other recommendations to get published.
Can you help me navigate the publication process?
Yes. From query letters for traditional agencies to navigating elite self-publishing strategies, I offer guidance on how to bring your finished work to market effectively. While no ghostwriter can guarantee that a project will be picked up by a publisher, I can offer tips on how to present your book in its best form, how to submit a query letter, what publishers might be best for your genre and audience, and which ones to avoid.
Publishing has undergone a transformation over the last two decades, much of which I have witnessed and participated in with the rest of the industry. I have seen NYT Bestselling authors get turned down by the same publisher that published their last bestseller(!), and I've seen unknowns get published and see incredible success; that's the industry as it stands.
Here are the discouraging but essential facts about traditional publishing:
1. Retail book sales are primarily online. If no one is looking for you, they won't be looking for your book. Most major cities no longer have a retail bookstore unless it's a used bookstore or one of the few remaining Barnes and Noble stores, most of which are more concerned with serving coffee than selling books. If you do not have an established platform with hundreds of thousands (or millions) of followers and can offer a virtual guarantee of sales to a traditional publisher, they likely will not offer you a contract, no matter how compelling the subject, title, or author's name.
2. If you have an established platform and a recognized name in a particular field. For example, if you're a doctor who is known nationwide for holistic health and alternative medicine and are a regular guest on Christian TV or the Today Show, you may have an audience for a book, but don't count on it. Only about 2% of your following will ever purchase even one copy, no matter how much they claim to love you. Do the math, and if that number is less than 20,000 books, it costs a publisher more to edit, create, and market your book than they will recover in sales.
3. Your life story may be compelling to your family, but unless it's truly unique, you're a well-known public figure, or your life is connected to world events, only your grandma and closest friends will care, and they won't pay to read it. Print-on-demand is the best route to guarantee your book will be published, and you will not mortgage your house to do it. We will have that discussion before you ever sign anything, spend a dollar, or commit to a project.
We have experience with traditional publishers and print-on-demand. We will recommend the best avenue for each author to give them the best chance to be published, seen, and succeed.
Is using a ghostwriter ethical – shouldn’t the work be original?
Is it ethical for a Christian to employ a ghostwriter? I can’t tell you how many times I hear this question. Here is my standard answer: Ghostwriting is a collaborative and transparent service where the ideas and core message belong entirely to the client. It is a standard practice among respected authors, leaders, and public figures who use professional writers to articulate their original insights with clarity and excellence. In this partnership, you provide the vision and truth, while we provide the editorial craftsmanship to ensure your original work reaches readers in its most polished form.
If you can write your own book, absolutely do so. Ghostwriters are not a substitute for individual creativity, story, life experience, or narrative. We do not exist to come up with storylines, characters, and book content and then sell them to people who have always wanted a book in their name, but do not know how to produce one. Ghostwriters assist in the process of creation and shaping a project; we are not a substitute for that process.
Roughly one-fourth of the Bible was ghostwritten. The book of Nehemiah was written by Ezra, who may have also written the book of Esther. Luke wrote Luke, but also Acts, and possibly Hebrews, and other epistles as a scribe for the Apostle Paul. Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible, and yet, Deuteronomy chapter 34 records Moses’ death (34:1-6). Who wrote that? An amanuensis did. Most likely Joshua, but it could also have been one of the seventy elders (see Exodus 24:9).
In other words, much of the Bible was “ghostwritten,” either with the help of the author or their consent. Paul’s four “prison epistles” (Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon) were written while he was chained to the wall of a Roman dungeon. Clearly, he did not write them himself. Luke, and possibly Timothy, wrote for Paul while he could not write himself.
Many famous writers throughout history employed amanuenses. John Milton was totally blind by age 44, and yet no one would suggest that he did not write the 10,500 lines of Paradise Lost. Milton dictated the poem line-by-line to friends, relatives, strangers, or anyone who would write for him. Ghostwriting is a time-honored practice used by many famous writers.
Ghostwriters work at the behest of authors, who have an idea but often not the time or experience to take the idea from a mental exercise to a completed manuscript. Ghostwriters are also (largely) not public speakers, topical experts who speak at conferences, or well-known media personalities like many of the people they write for. We use the writing skills God gave us to turn good speakers into good authors, making it possible to spread their messages even farther. The process involves months of interaction, redirection, and input from both the author and the ghostwriter. Rarely does a ghost write the entirety of the content, and no finished project goes to print without the author’s approval.
Do you write movie scripts or produce my script into a movie?
The film industry is a highly specialized industry and not currently part of our repertoire. However, if you fill out the Contact Us form, we will be happy to refer you to a ghostwriter who specializes in that unique field.