Q: WHAT IS A GHOSTWRITER?
A: Your invisible collaborator. Think incognito. I may write or edit your book. But I don’t get credit for it. Ghostwriters earn a fee. You earn the praise.
If you choose to write your manuscript, I can give you honest feedback, edits, and structural tips to make the next draft an easier read.
If you get stuck while writing your manuscript, I can help you get the writing flowing again by suggesting structural fixes, identifying areas to flesh out, or pointing to spots that need tightening. We can also explore ways to keep you inspired and at your most creative.
If you don’t want to write the book, I can use raw material from interviews with you to draft your book.
Q: Who uses a ghostwriter?
A: Many people use them, including:
Founders
Thought leaders
Celebrities
Scientists
Inventors
Coaches
Speakers
Doctors
Politicians
Q: WHY SHOULD I WRITE A BOOK?
A: Your memoir can share stories you want friends and family to know.
For experts and CEOs, books are the new business card. They establish instant credibility. And they help you attract new clients.
With legacy books, you can share your wisdom and inspire others, making the world a better place.
Q: HOW DOES GHOSTWRITING WORK?
A: The work process varies depending on how much you’ve written.
If there’s no manuscript, I first gather the raw material for your book by interviewing you and perhaps others. You may also wish to share rough ideas, notes, or other materials including research. Expect the work process to involve back and forth emails as we revise and the book manuscript grows.
If you’ve already written a manuscript, I will first evaluate it to identify your book’s special strengths and areas that require attention. At this point, it’s important to spot and fix any deal breakers or content disruptions. From there, I edit by restructuring, tightening, and fleshing out where needed.
Q: ISN’T writing A Book Labor intensive?
A: Yes, indeed. It is a lot of work. But working with a ghostwriter simplifies the process. A memoir can take up to 12 months, which includes interviews, (maybe) travel, writing, and editing. A short business book of less than 200 pages can be completed in about 6 or 7 months. The length of the project depends on several factors, including the client’s availability for interviews and reviews. Each contract will include a final deadline that we mutually agree on.
Q: What if I’ve already started writing but need help to get moving again?
A: Congrats! It’s great that you’ve gotten started. To help you regain momentum, we could work together this way:
I’ll read the first 25–50 pages of your book manuscript. I analyze it and make recommendations to enhance market viability, structure, and flow.
I’ll mentor you weekly during 90-minute sessions where you ask questions and/or we review what you’ve written. This approach gives you instant feedback.
Q: If I work with a ghostwriter, whose ideas show up in my book?
A: Your ideas will. As your ghostwriter, I am committed to making your vision come to life.
Q: IF YOU GHOSTWRITE MY BOOK, WHO IS THE AUTHOR?
A: You are the author. You get the byline. As the ghostwriter, I don’t expect to be named in your book.
Q: How Can I ensure the book you write sounds like me?
A: My goal as a ghostwriter is to capture your voice and thought process. The book will be based on either your manuscript or interviews with you. So I will know how you sound and think. During the review process, you will be able to suggest edits to ensure the book sounds just like you.
Q: Who holds all rights and royalties?
A: As the named author, you retain 100 percent of all rights to your book. This includes not just the copyright, but also the print license, plus all film, TV, foreign, and adaptation rights.
Q: DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TOTAL COST UP FRONT?
A: No, the fee can be paid in monthly installments over the course of the work process or in full. My fee covers all work minus out-of-pocket expenses (like travel, proofreading, and transcriptions) that get billed separately.
Q: HOW MUCH WILL IT COST FOR YOU TO WRITE MY BOOK?
A: You can expect the fee to run five digits for most books. The exact fee will depend on many factors, including book genre, topic, number of interviews, travel, and extra research.
Q: What is a certified ghostwriter?
A: Certified ghostwriters are a rare breed. We all went through Cal State—Long Beach’s Ghostwriting Professional Designation Program, the first academically-sponsored ghostwriting training in the world. The year-long masters-level course teaches: ghostwriting theory, writing techniques, editing, and book industry insider knowledge.
We are trained to:
maintain the author’s voice, style, intent, and perspective
highlight the strengths of your book
determine market positioning to enhance your book’s chance of selling
uncover unseen deal breakers that could prevent your book from ever getting out of the slush pile
line edit to optimize punch, drive, flow, and reading pleasure
help you evaluate today’s publishing options
Do I need a book proposal?
It depends. If you plan to self publish, you don’t. But if you plan to submit your nonfiction book idea to a literary agent or publisher, you will need to create a book proposal. The good news: They usually won’t expect a complete manuscript at this point. But you will have to tell them who you are and what qualifies you to write the book.
A non-fiction book proposal includes:
an industry analysis
competing titles in the market niche
a synopsis of the book
a chapter outline
two to three sample chapters
any existing or upcoming promotional appearances, websites, or social media you will use to promote the book
Q: Should I self publish?
A: Two factors to consider are time and money. Should you decide to self publish, you may get your book to market quicker than going the traditional route. Self-published authors may pocket 80 percent of their sales and they control the publishing process. But of course, they also shell out money on the front end to self publish.
Going with a traditional publishing house has more cachet. You may get an advance. And authors can get up to 10 percent of a book’s cover price. But they do not control the publishing process. The publisher does. And it may take between one to two years before you see your book in print.
Which route you choose will depend on your specific publishing goals.
Q: Do you offer book coaching for people who want to write their own books?
A: Yes, I do. Feel free to ask me about it.
Q: IF I WANT TO EXPLORE WORKING WITH YOU, HOW DO WE GET STARTED?
A: You can email Sandra at sandra@juniperghostwriting.com.
Or book a Zoom call on her Calendly.