FEES: Cheap vs Expensive Ghostwriters
JUST TELL ME HOW MUCH TO WRITE MY BOOK-
The choice between a cheap ghostwriter and an expensive one depends on various factors, including your budget, the project's importance, and your expectations for quality.
Here are a few things you MUST consider when hiring and working out a fee with your chosen ghostwriter.
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: Read each word below: this will help you understand and give you the answers you need for your book and the important bit for you - your book fee.
TIME COMMITMENT:
The whole process of writing a book can take and should be given at least 6 months. 3-4 months of writing and a couple of months to finish and polish the manuscript. That is 6 months of someone’s time writing your book. A good ghostwriter will focus and write your book ONLY during that period. If your fee from your ghostwriter is say - £40,000 this is ONLY £9.25 PER HOUR for the time committed period.
An amazing Ghostwriter will work on your book ONLY during that period whereas other ghostwriters will work on more than a few projects at once. I NEVER work on more than two projects at any given time. If you want dedicated time commitment the fee might feel high but the pounds per hour for such huge expertise isn’t that high.
THEN EXTRA STUFF
There is a huge amount of time also involved in
Research for each chapter can take weeks
Interviewing for detail, tone and style
Recording and replaying time and again interviews
Practising your written voice for your book
Refining your voice for the book
Edit 1.
Edit 2.
Edit 3.
Final edit and approval
Consulting and advising all the way through your project
Phone calls back and forth
Text messaging back and forth
And more
If I am your ghostwriter I can easily become extremely fanatical about getting your book right. This will devour me and my time.
HOW MUCH FOR GHOSTWRITING MY BOOK?
OK, this is tough to put a fee here and say this is it. Here is why. Any number I put here is a guess but it will give you a guide. This guess probably will not apply to your book. This rough guide is based on MY FEES.
From £30,000. This is a rough guide and can climb far higher. Here’s why.
My advice is if price is the biggest issue when hiring me or hiring a ghostwriter maybe put your project on the back shelf for now. Getting the most incredible book price cannot be your driving force when choosing or you might live to regret paying a cheap ghostwriter.
I always take into account
Size of book. Is it going to be 600 pages or just 100 pages?
Will it be 30,000 words or 150,000 or even higher?
Depth of content. Is it going be be heavy in detail and packed with stories and content?
Is it going to be much lighter in detail and content with fast-paced stories?
Is it going to be purposely minimalist in its approach and detail?
Will it be focused on one single story or the lifetime of stories?
Are you seeing how it can mount up?
So the fee for ghostwriting your book isn’t that cut and dry.
BUT …
Once we go over everything I need to know I will be able to give you an accurate price/quote that won’t change.
Here’s Some Additional Reading For You.
I discovered a website online that will deliver you a 15,000-word book (around 100 pages) for around £600. You’re right I said - £600! For someone like myself who understands the whole process of ghostwriting a book, I had to ask myself a ton of questions.
How can they offer it so cheap?
Why would anyone spend 3-6 months writing a book for someone for just £600 or just £3 per day for work? It just makes no sense and here’s why.
The time involved in ghostwriting a book is huge. The time writing for myself is vast. As a ghostwriter that same book size takes double the time at least. The reason for that is rather than refer and use my own information I have to use the author and reference research to put together the big picture. There is no question it is half a year of life used. So to offer that kind of service you are definitely hiring a certain type.
They must have multiple ghostwriting projects at the same time
They live in a very cheap country and can afford to do everything much less
They are probably using AI to write your book (not good)
They have nothing else to do and do not need the cash.
They simply do not know what they are doing and will take your money and - RUN!
And frankly - I don’t know. All I would say is if you want a ghostwriter who knows what they are doing and will deliver a strong compelling book you have to pay a decent fee.
Cheap vs Expensive Ghostwriters
Anyway, here are some considerations for both options:
The Cheap Ghostwriter: - You will get what you pay for and maybe even less
Affordability: Obviously, one of the main attractions is cost. Cheap ghostwriters may be suitable for projects with tight budgets.
Limited Experience: Lower-cost ghostwriters may have less experience or expertise in certain genres or industries. This will impact the quality of their writing.
Communication Challenges: Cheaper options might not provide as much communication or collaboration, potentially leading to misunderstandings or misinterpretations of your vision. This means - rewrite and time lost.
The Premium Ghostwriter
High Quality: Generally, more expensive ghostwriters often come with a higher level of writing skill, communication experience, and writing professionalism. They are more likely to deliver a polished and well-crafted manuscript for you.
Extensive writer and author experience: Experienced ghostwriters may have a better understanding of the art of being an author and the ghostwriting process, resulting in a more refined book.
Better Communication: Higher-priced ghostwriters often offer better communication and collaboration throughout the project, ensuring that your ideas and vision are accurately captured in words.
Best book Option: It has to be said the very best option for hiring a ghostwriter has to be the one with the vast writing experience and expertise.
Considerations for Both Cheap and Expensive Ghostwriters:
Budget: I understand your budget is a significant factor. While you may want the best quality, it's essential to find a balance between your financial constraints and the level of expertise you require. But then you need to ask yourself - will I get my best book from a cheap ghostwriter? I have met clients who have had their books written 3 times due to poor choice of ghostwriter based on fee.
Project Importance: If the project is of high importance, such as a book that represents your personal brand or a crucial business document, it is absolutely worth investing in a more expensive and experienced ghostwriter. If you want the best - it might be a cliche - but you really have to pay for the best. Cheap cannot be worth the risk or reputation in a bad book.
Research and References: Regardless of cost, thoroughly research potential ghostwriters. Check their portfolio, experiences, and authorship proofs, and ensure they have the experience needed for your industry.
Ultimately, the key is to find a ghostwriter who aligns with your vision, budget, and the importance of your book project. It's also crucial to have clear communication and expectations from the beginning, regardless of the cost. Remember that investing in a higher-priced ghostwriter will pay off in terms of the quality and impact of the final book.
Ghostwriter | Videos | Mentor
Alan Forrest Smith
Ps leave a comment I’d love to know what you think
