Ghostwriters are individuals who provide a writing service at a paid fee to a client. A client may request to have any type of content written, such as an article, manuscript, website content, SEO or blog, to name but a few.
Ghostwriters work anonymously and are paid for their effort and time but do not take any credit for the work written on behalf of their client. Most ghostwriters operate strictly under NDA where the terms, conditions and compensation are stipulated and agreed upon, and signed by both the client and the ghostwriter.
The client (author) who receives credit and royalties for the work completed on his / her behalf by a ghostwriter is indicated as the sole-owner and creator of the work, and not the ghostwriter hired by the client.
Though the practice of hiring a ghostwriter might seem strange, it’s common in the world today. As a matter of fact, manuscripts (as well as many popular books of fiction), such as the biographies or memoirs of most well-known public figures, are written by ghostwriters. You might think it strange and impossible, but after 12-years in the industry of writing and publishing I’ve stood witness to several well-known authors who do not write their own books.
Why?
The art of writing is not for everyone and takes time to master. Furthermore, the skill to create a ‘good book’ or ‘excellent website content’ is often a difficult and tedious process, that few individuals know how to successfully execute. Other times, a well-known author is to busy with book tours, book promotion and marketing to fit in the time to write the next book in their series.
Individual who want to share their unique story with the of the world, but do not enjoy writing or don’t have the time to do so, hires a ghostwriter to do the writing on their behalf.
Ghostwriters are accustomed to many different writing styles and can be hired to write website content, articles for a business, or even blogs. Since it is basically a freelance profession whereby the client could hire the ghostwriter for a specific task, and once the task is done, the contract between both parties is complete.
Today, freelance ghostwriters are often the go-to source for quality work, depending on what you are willing to pay of course. The more professional and accomplished the ghostwriter, the more expensive a ghostwriter’s fees will be.
Even well-known authors make use of ghostwriters, not only businesses. Sometimes the author might share some credit with the ghostwriter by means of acknowledgement in their book, but this is not a compulsory part of the agreement. Ghostwriters are paid to deliver professional content as per the client’s direction, nothing more.
A SEO ghostwriter who specializes or understands SEO knows all the tricks of the trade. Having SEO optimized content on a website help customer find a client’s website more easily via improving their overall visibility and website ranking on search engines.
TIP: Hire a professional SEO ghostwriter who is well-trained or versed in writing SEO content. SEO is not cheap if you want quality and results.
Cost varies from country to country, the type of ghostwriter needed, specialty, qualifications, but most of all, experience. The below chart is estimates according to data and statistics for an advanced to senior ghostwriter with 5+ years experience. Junior to intermediate ghostwriters are tiered at about 25% – 50% of the values below. It is though, recommended to hire an advanced or senior ghostwriter if you are writing a book of great importance, such as your memoir.) Values indicated below are averages:
CHART: ADVANCED TO SENIOR LEVEL GHOSTWRITERS (5+ YEARS EXPERIENCE)
The fees your ghostwriter charge will always depend on the ghostwriter experience, skills & prestige. Furthermore, there are some excellent ghostwriters from 3rd world countries who may also charge rates similar to USA / EU ghostwriters.
Considering an average of 500 words per page, you can estimate the turn-around time, (depending on the writer’s experience), as:
CONSIDER:
Since each ghostwriter is different, the time allowance and turn around can vary. Turn-around time greatly depends on a ghostwriter own unique approach and work ethic, as well the amount of research involved.
It is best to consult with your ghostwriters about turn-around times before entering into an agreement. During my 12-years of experience, I have found the following minimum and maximum time-frames to apply:
It is important to note that you will not be allowed revision upon revision or editing of your manuscript by a ghostwriter. A ghostwriter is a ghostwriter, not an editor. They can only write your work to the best of their ability, with most ghostwriters allowing anything from 1 to 3 revisions or improvements on the work they submit to you. Once a manuscript is also complete, you can not request amendments or revision after a set period of time, usually 1-month.
A ghostwriter may charge additional fees for extra revisions or amendements outside of your contracted Agreement. It is always best to establish the amount of revisions before the contract start, and to include this information in the contract.
If content writing is not for you, then a ghostwriter can help take your idea to realization and providing you with well-written quality material for whatever purpose you may need. Keep in mind what your vision is and a ghostwriter will help you bring it to life.
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