Ghostwriting Process

The Ghostwriting Process in 10 Easy Steps

Step 1 - First Contact

There are two things I take into consideration when I am approached with an idea for a book:

1. Does it have a good chance of being published?

2. Is this a subject I am passionate about?

Writing a book is a huge committment, so it has to be an enjoyable one, preferably with an end result. I will never take on a book that I don't think has a chance of being published.

Step 2. The Big Discussion

If I am excited by your idea, I will suggest meeting up or chatting over the phone to chat further about it. As ghosting is such a collaborative process, it is fundamental that we get on well together from the outset. A personality clash will not make for a successful book!

Step 3 Your Options

If you decide to proceed with the process, I will present you with a couple of options:

Option 1: The Proposal.

A proposal is essentially a marketing document that provides the publisher with a good overview of the book, why it will sell, who will buy it etc. It might also include a couple of sample chapters and a short summary of each chapter to give the publisher an idea of the flow and style of the book.

The proposal has a number of advantages:

1. It showcases your idea to a publisher, and you don't have to write the entire manuscript upfront. If the publisher likes the ideas presented in the proposal, then it is likely that they will commission the book - once this occurs, then the real writing begins.

2. It also means you don't have to invest too much time and money into a project that may not go anywhere.

Please do keep in mind that I do charge for writing the proposal, and there is no guarantee that the book will get published.

Option 2: Writing the entire manuscript

Very rarely do publishers expect you to have a full manuscript written before they commission a book. However, many people like to have a book for their own personal pleasure.

Self-publishing is becoming more and more common and is certainly not as taboo as it used to be! Indeed, there are many previously published authors out there that have decided to self-publish, purely because they don't want to wait so long for their book to get on the shelves! (Publishers have the right to take up to two years to publish a book.)

In this instance, I would charge for the writing of the whole manuscript, and I do warn you, quality comes at a price!

Step 4 Beginning the Process

Once you decide which option to take, the information gathering process begins. For the proposal, I will need you to provide me with some material on the subject, so I can put together a knowledgeable and attractive pitch for the publisher. I will also need to interview you at this stage so I can get to know you and write in the style that best captures your voice.  

If you choose to self-publish, then the interview process will begin immediately, followed by the actual writing of the book.

Step 5 The Writing Process

So, as soon as you are happy with the proposal, I will send it on your behalf to personal contacts at publishers who publish books relevant to your subject matter. Like any other business, the publishing world is all about contacts, and if you have any contacts, yourself,  then all the better! The publisher might take days or weeks to respond to the proposal and, hopefully, when they do, it is good news!

Step 6 The Publisher says Yes!

When a publisher commissions a book, they will issue the author (i.e. you) with a contract ,detailing royalties, advance etc. (although do be warned that publishers rarely give an advance for non fiction books). They will also issue a deadline for the first draft of the book, usually between three and six months.

At this point, you and I will sit down together and work out a fair and reasonable price for writing the book. There are lots of different ways payment can be arranged, so it is easy to sort something out that suits your needs and your budget!

Step 7 The Real Work Begins

The writing process is a flexible one, but as we have a deadline to work towards it is best to lay out a plan from the very beginning.

For example, with one of my clients, we decided to meet once a week for interviews. I would then write a chapter based on the interview and extensive additional research and send it to him. He would then provide me with feedback and I would continue to work on the chapter until he was absolutely happy with it.

However, I am all too aware that people have very busy work schedules and may not be able to afford the time, but the process is flexible and is designed to work around you, so if you want to do a few hours of interviews in one go, or prefer me to write a large chunk of the book before you see it, then that's fine too!

Step 8 First Draft

Once you are happy with the first draft of the manuscript, we send it to the publishers who will pass it onto an in-house or external editor for their review. The draft is refined based on their comments and feedback. When the manuscript is ready to go to print, the publisher will send us final proofs: the last chance to make any changes before it goes on the book shelves!

Step 9 Credits and Confidentiality

Of course, it is always nice for the ghostwriter to be credited in the acknowledgements or even the front cover of a book, but this is your book and whatever decision you make is fine with me. Client privacy and confidentiality is fundamental and I have no desire to risk my own reputation by being indiscreet. Seeing your book on the shelves of a major retailer or advertised on Amazon is job satisfaction enough for me!

Step 10 The Curtain Falls

So, your book is out and, hopefully, flying off the shelves! Although the process may be over, I always like to keep in touch with my clients to see how they are getting on, and continue to offer advice and guidance where it is needed.