10 Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Ghostwriter

So, you're thinking of writing a book--but lack the time, ability, or both to do so? Like many would-be authors, you may be considering hiring a ghostwriter. 

The question is--how? Do you post on craigslist--and then try to weed through dozens or even hundreds of responses? Or Google to find the right person? Regardless of how you winnow your list, I suggest you ask the following questions of a potential ghostwriter:

1. How many published books have you ghostwritten or coauthored? 
Be wary of ghosts who only have a few credits to their names. You want an experienced ghost who has ghosted books before--in general, the more, the better. At the minimum, you want a ghost who has authored and published his or her own books.

2. How many different publishers have you worked with? 
The more publishers a ghost has worked with, the better. Every editor and every house is different, so a ghost who has worked with different ones has more experience pleasing different editors--and meeting their requirements--than someone with less experience.

3. Have you worked with authors who have chosen POD, or print-on-demand, publishers as opposed to traditional publishers? 
Many authors decide to use a POD publisher instead of pursuing a traditional publisher. If that's the case, hire a ghost who has worked with clients who chose that route. An experienced ghost can also advise you on the right publishing package to buy from a POD company--and which things, like YouTube videos costing thousands of dollars to help "promote" your book--that are a waste of money.

4. How much do you charge? 
I've seen a trend (disturbing to a ghost like myself) of clients wanting to pay as little as possible for a book. Well, you get what you pay for. Depending on the scope of work, experienced ghosts typically charge in the range of $20,000 to $50,000+ to ghostwrite a book. If you think you'll find someone who will do it for significantly less than that (and forget about working for a "share of royalties" or some other nebulous promise), you can expect less-than-professional work. (Can't afford that? Consider writing your book on your own, and hire a developmental editor instead.)

5. Can you show me samples of published work? 
While your voice is unique and a ghost will capture it, you want to see samples of his published work.  

6. What's your background? Have you written about the subject of my book before? 
One of the reasons I ghost books about health, wellness, fitness, nutrition, and psychology is because I've been writing about those subjects for more than 19 years. As a result, I have a deep background in these topics, and as an ACE-certified personal trainer and I know much more about fitness than the average writer. If you're writing a book about real estate, you want a ghostwriter who knows what "comps" and "curb appeal" mean. If your book is a memoir, you want a ghost who specializes in true-life stories. And if you're writing a cookbook, you may want a ghost who has experience developing recipes or meal plans. 

7. How do you typically work with clients? 
Some ghosts like to spend a lot of time on the phone with clients; others (like me) work almost exclusively via email. In general, the more phone time and back and forth, the more your ghostwriter will charge. Make sure to ask how the ghostwriter typically works with clients, and consider whether that jibes with how you want to proceed.

8. Can I see your ghostwriting contract? 
An experienced ghostwriter will have a standard contract; make sure you read it carefully before you sign and pay a retainer.

9. What kind of work can you perform for me? 
In some cases, you may provide all of the material your ghostwriter needs to write your book. In others, you may want your ghost to do background research, conduct interviews, and do other work in addition to writing. If that's the case, you'll want a ghostwriter who has a journalism or freelancing background. If your ghost can conduct independent research for you, that will save you time in the long run. 

10. Can you give me the names of former clients?  
An experienced ghost should have plenty of satisfied clients who will recommend him or her. (At this point in my career, 95 percent of my work comes from personal referrals.) If you're planning to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a book, it's worth it to vet your potential ghost. If you're not happy with what you learn, continue your search for the right ghost for your project.

**Kelly K. James ghostwrites books for a variety of clients, primarily those in the health, wellness, fitness, nutrition, and psychology fields. She's also the author of Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks, Second Edition: Make Money Ghostwriting Books, Articles, Blogs and More. 

10 Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Ghostwriter

Do you dream of writing a book--but lack the time, ability, or both to do so? Like many would-be authors, you may be considering hiring a ghostwriter. 

The question is--how? Do you post on craigslist--and then try to weed through dozens or even hundreds of responses? Or Google to find the right person? Regardless of how you winnow your list, I suggest you ask the following questions of a potential ghostwriter: 

1. How many published books have you ghostwritten or coauthored? 
Be wary of ghosts who only have a few credits to their names. You want an experienced ghost who has ghosted books before--in general, the more, the better. At the minimum, you want a ghost who has authored and published his or her own books.

2. How many different publishers have you worked with? 
The more publishers a ghost has worked with, the better. Every editor and every house is different, so a ghost who has worked with different ones has more experience pleasing different editors--and meeting their requirements--than someone with less experience.

3. Have you worked with authors who have chosen POD, or print-on-demand, publishers as opposed to traditional publishers? 
Many authors decide to use a POD publisher instead of pursuing a traditional publisher. If that's the case, hire a ghost who has worked with clients who chose that route. An experienced ghost can also advise you on the right publishing package to buy from a POD company--and which things, like YouTube videos costing thousands of dollars to help "promote" your book--that are a waste of money.

4. How much do you charge? 
I've seen a trend (disturbing to a ghost like myself) of clients wanting to pay as little as possible for a book. Well, you get what you pay for. Depending on the scope of work, experienced ghosts typically charge in the range of $20,000 to $50,000+ to ghostwrite a book. If you think you'll find someone who will do it for significantly less than that (and forget about working for a "share of royalties" or some other nebulous promise), you can expect less-than-professional work. (Can't afford that? Consider writing your book on your own, and hire a developmental editor instead.) 

5. Can you show me samples of published work? 
While your voice is unique and a ghost will capture it, you want to see samples of his published work.  

6. What's your background? Have you written about the subject of my book before? 
One of the reasons I ghost books about health, wellness, fitness, nutrition, and psychology is because I've been writing about those subjects for more than 19 years. As a result, I have a deep background in these topics, and as an ACE-certified personal trainer and I know much more about fitness than the average writer. If you're writing a book about real estate, you want a ghostwriter who knows what "comps" and "curb appeal" mean. If your book is a memoir, you want a ghost who specializes in true-life stories. And if you're writing a cookbook, you may want a ghost who has experience developing recipes or meal plans. 

7. How do you typically work with clients? 
Some ghosts like to spend a lot of time on the phone with clients; others (like me) work almost exclusively via email. In general, the more phone time and back and forth, the more your ghostwriter will charge. Make sure to ask how the ghostwriter typically works with clients, and consider whether that jibes with how you want to proceed.  

8. Can I see your ghostwriting contract? 
An experienced ghostwriter will have a standard contract; make sure you read it carefully before you sign and pay a retainer. 

9. What kind of work can you perform for me? 
In some cases, you may provide all of the material your ghostwriter needs to write your book. In others, you may want your ghost to do background research, conduct interviews, and do other work in addition to writing. If that's the case, you'll want a ghostwriter who has a journalism or freelancing background. If your ghost can conduct independent research for you, that will save you time in the long run. 

10. Can you give me the names of former clients?  
An experienced ghost should have plenty of satisfied clients who will recommend him or her. (At this point in my career, 95 percent of my work comes from personal referrals.) If you're planning to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a book, it's worth it to vet your potential ghost. If you're not happy with what you learn, continue your search for the right ghost for your project.

**Kelly James-Enger ghostwrites books for a variety of clients, primarily those in the health, wellness, fitness, nutrition, and psychology fields. She's also the author of Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks, Second Edition: Make Money Ghostwriting Books, Articles, Blogs and More. 

Goodbye, Byline is Now in Print--Get Your Copy Now!

Want to learn how to add ghostwriting to your freelance repertoire? Wondering why content marketing is so hot (and how you can do it, too)? Do you want to make more money as a freelancer (and hey, who doesn't)? I first published Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks in 2010 because I couldn't find a book on ghostwriting that told writers what to expect; how to find clients; how to market themselves; how to work efficiently with clients; and how to address (or avoid entirely) common ghostwriting mistakes. So I wrote it! (Here's the story behind the book and how I wound up going POD, or print-on-demand, for the first time.)

Well, last year I updated and expanded the book, including new templates, new rate information, and new advice and strategies from successful ghostwriters, content marketing writers, and other successful freelancers. It's been selling steadily on Kindle (don't have a Kindle? Get it on Smashwords here) but I know there are are readers like me who prefer the "real" thing--the print version. It will be available on Amazon shortly, but if you can't wait for your copy, buy it here. 

And stay tuned for more posts on marketing yourself as a writer, regardless of what types of nonfiction you write. 

Want to Write a Book Proposal But Have No Clue? Help is Here!

Want to write and publish a nonfiction book? Your first choice is probably a traditional publisher, which pays you an advance for the right to publish your work. (Or you may choose to go POD, or print-on-demand, where you pay a company to publish your book--or opt for an electronic version instead.) 

Well, if you want to sell your nonfiction book, you'll have to write a book proposal. A proposal typically contains the following elements: 

                  The overview of the concept and a brief statement of your qualifications;

                  The audience, which describes the target market (in other words, who will buy your book);

   The “about the author” section where you highlight your “platform”;

                  The competition analysis, where you list books that are similar to yours and describe how your book is different from (and better than) competing titles;

                  A marketing and promotion section that describes how you will use your platform and media connections to help sell the book;

                  An outline of the book, which includes brief chapter summaries and other material the book will include (i.e., foreword, appendix, and index); 

                  At least one sample chapter; and

                  Relevant attachments, such as magazine articles you’ve written about the topic. 

Sound like a lot of work? It is. My book proposals usually take four to six weeks to write, depending on the subject matter and amount of research I have to do, and run between 30 and 60 pages. One coauthored proposal, which included detailed chapter summaries, weighed in at more than 120 pages. (I did get paid $15,000 to write it, but it was still an enormous amount of work. And then it didn't sell...bummer.) 

If you're new to writing proposals, I have good news. My colleague Jennifer Lawler, a veteran author, freelancer, and editor is offering her popular online class, Write your Book Proposal e-Course, which starts in September. I've known Jennifer for years, and she's not only smart and successful, she loves helping would-be authors make the transition from wanna-be to published author. She's also the person behind Be Your Own Book Doctor, so get in touch with her to learn more about how to get your book in print and/or pixels.

**Want to write and get paid for it? Check out my latest two books, Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets and Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, second edition. If you prefer print (like I do), order directly from ImprovisePress.com. Use the discount code, IMPROVISEPRESS (all caps/no breaks) for 20 percent off of your order! 

More Straight Talk (and Real Numbers) about POD Sales

I had only published books with traditional publishers until two years ago, when I opted for POD, or print-on-demand, to publish Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books. I had high expectations for the book--there were no other good books out there on successful ghostwriting--and was excited about trying out this new publishing model. 

At the time, I didn't realize that the “average” number of sales for a POD author is 100 copies. I expected to sell way more than that! So, how am I doing? 

I've posted before about how many copies I sold during the first year after it was published. But to recap, during the first year, I sold:

• 159 print copies through CreateSpace (including expanded distribution, where readers ordered the book through their local brick-and-mortar bookstores);
• 50 e-books;
• 50 copies through a special sale; and
• 36 copies as “hand-sales,” or copies I sell at speaking gigs, writers' conferences, or directly to readers who want a signed copy, etc.

That's a total of 295 copies, which means I nearly tripled the “average” number of POD sales in my first year after it came out. I grossed $1703, but I spend about $900 total to publish the book. (That included what I paid CreateSpace, what I paid my proofreader, and sending copies of the book to my 20-something sources.) So my net profit on the book was about $800.  

And as I write this, 2 years after publishing the book, I've sold 451 copies, which breaks down like this:

• 261 print copies through CreateSpace ($1,213); 
• 101 e-books ($706); 
• 50 copies through that special sale ($350); and
• 39 copies as “hand-sales" ($429).

Do the math. My gross is $2,698, which means after two years in print, my net profit on this POD book is about $1,798. Yikes. That's not much, is it? However, the book has led to other work, including a feature on ghostwriting for Writer's Digest, hosting Webinars, and several speaking gigs. The book has also continued to build my platform and attract new ghostwriting clients, which is one of the reasons I published it. 

Would I go POD again? Probably not, but that's a topic for another post. Next post, I'll share my latest royalty statement from a traditional publisher. Stay tuned! 

Readers, I always debate sharing "not-so-great" news, like the real (and relatively low) numbers in this post. But I think it's important that authors know what to expect when going POD. Have you found this post helpful? Any other questions about POD you'd like me to answer? Comment below and let me know. :) And if you're seriously considering POD, check out my latest e-book, Dollars and Deadlines' 7 Biggest Mistakes POD Authors Make--and How to Avoid Them (SmashWords edition).  

Caveat Emptor, Would-Be Authors: Avoid Common POD Publishing Mistakes

I was happy to be asked to speak on self-publishing options at a conference two weeks ago. When I talk to a potential ghostwriting client, I often find that they have a lot of misconceptions (and just plain old misinformation) about print-on-demand, or POD, publishing. So that leads us to the topic of today's post (and of my latest ebook for writers, Dollars and Deadlines' 7 Biggest Mistakes POD Authors Make--and How to Avoid Them). (Here's the Kindle version.) 

The biggest mistake is that authors don't realize that POD publishers are in it for the money--and their primary customers are not book buyers. Their customers are book authors. 

POD companies make money in two ways—by selling the author services upfront (whether it’s a whole “package” that includes a cover, interior layout, and distribution, or à la carte, where the author cherry-picks the specific elements he needs), and by printing books. And because the number one buyer of most POD books is the author of said book, authors are the ones keeping these companies in business.

Get it? A lot of would-be authors do not.

Let's look at a real-life example. If CreateSpace charges me $3.65/book for my POD book on ghostwriting, GoodbyeByline, Hello Big Bucks, I guarantee that it costs significantly less than that to print one. Let’s say it costs $2 to print each copy (and I bet it’s less than that). That means that for every book CreateSpace publishes, it nets $1.65. Considering that the average number of POD books sold is less than 100, that’s not a big money-maker for POD companies. They tend to make their money upfront, on the services they sell to authors.

And that can add up to a lot. At one POD company, you could choose the basic publishing package for $728; an “advanced” publishing package for $2,534, which includes a press release; or another “advanced” package that includes a video book trailer for $4,853.

And that's not counting all of the "extras" that POD companies push. You can easily spend thousands of dollars for everything from copyediting to publicity kits to reviews to press releases. There are a lot of uninformed authors out there, shelling out a lot of money, for books that are likely to sell fewer than 100 copies. Yikes! 

My advice to authors who are going to use a POD company? Do your homework and know what you need and what you're paying for. If you need copyediting or proofreading, for example, I suggest you ask around and hire a professional not connected with the POD company to do it. You’ll probably spend less and get a better result.

And save your marketing dollars. POD companies are not marketers. Yes, they’ll list your book on Amazon and in distributors’ databases, but that’s not the same as getting your book into brick-and-mortar bookstores. They can’t do that because they don't allow returns the way a traditional publisher does.

Yes, POD publishers are a smart option for some authors (including me). But make sure you understand what you're getting before you agree to work with one. 

For more on how to be a smart POD author, check out my ebook, Dollars and Deadlines' 7 Biggest Mistakes POD Authors Make--and How to Avoid Them) (Kindle version). It'll be the smartest $4.99 you've ever spent--and may save you hundreds or thousands of dollars on your next POD book. (Coming soon, another ebook for authors--this time on making more money from every article you write!)

Got questions about POD? Comment here and I'll do my best to answer them! :) 

Downers Grove Area Authors & Wanna-be Authors: FREE Publishing Program Sat May 5

I forgot to mention I have a book publishing program happening Saturday, May 5, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Here are the details: 

Calling all Authors (and Would-Be) Authors: Get your Book Publishing Questions Answered 

If you want to publish a book, you have more options than ever before. What are the pros and cons or using a print-on-demand, or POD, publisher versus selling your book to a traditional publisher? What should you know about e-books, the fastest growing type of book today? And how can you avoid many of the pitfalls that new authors make when they get their books in print? Come hear publishing veteran and local author, Kelly James-Enger, author of Writer for Hire: 101 Secrets to Freelance Success, talk about book publishing options today, and get your questions answered! The program will held on Saturday, May 5, starting sat 7:00 p.m. at the Caribou Cofeee at 5100 Main Street (just south of the train tracks), Downers Grove. Please spread the word! 

Tips and Advice from the 10th Annual Writers' Fest

I just returned from speaking at the 10th Annual Writers' Fest in Milwaukee. I heard agents, editors, social media experts, and other publishing pros talk about the changes in the industry, and how to succeed as an author today. Here's a roundup of tips and advice from some of the speakers:

• Looking for an agent? Literary agent Joanna MacKenzie is acquiring YA (young adult), literary thrillers, commercial fiction, women's fiction, and Chicago-based historical mysteries. 

• Kelly Bale, an editor at Sourcebooks, acquires nonfiction, including memoirs. Sourcebooks publishes a variety of subjects, including fiction, romance, and contemporary women's fiction. Its Landmark imprint publishes fiction including contemporary women's and men's historical novels. 

• Want to start blogging but don't want to have spend half your life keeping it up to date? Set up a microblog on tumblr.com, suggests parenting and technology expert Sharon Miller Cindrich, author of books including The Smart Girl's Guide to the Internet. 

• Do you write YA books? Sourcebooks' Fire imprint publishes YA books, and the imprint is "really taking off," said Bale. Editors there are especially looking for "issue-centered" YA fiction featuring young female protagonists. Sourcebooks' Jabberwocky imprint publishes children's book, including middle grade readers and picture books. 

• If you use LinkedIn, make sure that your biggest coup is listed first, adds Cindrich. You can include the rest of your amazing accomplishments in your bio.  

• Have you published a book through POD or as an ebook, but still hope to sell it to a traditional publishers? Well-written books that have garnered lots of attention also interest editors at publishers like Sourcebooks. It isn't a question so much of how many copies you've sold but the amount of interest and buzz it's generated, such as 35 positive Amazon reviews, says Bale. 

Next post, I'll have more tips from the conference. Stay tuned! 

***My new line of ebooks, all branded with the Dollars and Deadlines name, are geared toward new freelancers. I take the same approach that I do with this blog--I give practical, proven strategies and plenty of examples to help you achieve your writing goals. So far the most popular has been Dollars and Deadlines' Guide to Selling your First Article, but Dollars and Deadlines 10 Essential Freelance Templates is also selling well. And if you write for love more than money (nothing wrong with that), you need to read Dollars and Deadlines' 10 Truths Every Writer Who Wants to Get Published Should Know.