Welcome to the Spiritus Books Blog
Subscribe to our blog and we’ll send you a bonus: Our handy guide Do I Need an Editor, Ghostwriter, or Author Coach?
Explore posts by topic:
All Blog Posts
- author coaching 1
- author spotlight 7
- book editing 2
- book writing 2
- courage 1
- fear 1
- ghostwriting 1
- guest author 2
- hiring an editor 1
- hybrid publishing 1
- leadership book writing 1
- maya angelou 1
- memoir writing 2
- poetry 1
- protest 1
- self-publishing 2
- traditional publishing 1
- voice 1
- who can edit my book? 1
- writers block 1
Search all posts:
What If I Can’t Afford a Ghostwriter?
Around 375 BCE, Plato wrote something truly profound. But since few modern readers understand ancient Greek, we needed Benjamin Jowett (1817–1893) to translate those words into something we could grasp: "The true creator is necessity, who is the mother of our invention." Today, we just say, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”
History lesson aside, many clients have told me something like, “I want to work with you. But I can’t afford it.”
I understand completely. I meet with about twenty clients before I find one with the passion and financial resources to hire me. But what about the other nineteen? Should they just give up on their dreams? Of course not.
Here’s what I tell those who aren’t in a place to hire me as a ghostwriter.
How Much Does a Ghostwriter Cost?
A ghostwriter is a paid professional who gives each client their time, expertise, and talent to complete a writing project to the best of their ability in exchange for compensation for their skills. Ghostwriters are paid in money; clients get to have their story told in the most engaging way possible.
But how much does a ghostwriter cost?
An Editor’s Perspective: Developing and Preserving an Author’s Voice
If you’re writing a book, you’ve probably heard about author “voice.” One of the most common concerns I get from new authors is, “I want to make sure whatever editor I work with preserves my voice.”
That’s critical to me too. In our work as editors and ghostwriters, our goal is never to dilute or arbitrarily change your voice. Instead, we want to amplify it—to sharpen it, soften it, or work to make it as clear and impactful as possible.
But I often see confusion around author voice, so I’d like to demystify it a bit here.
Why Your Ghostwriter (or Editor) Needs to Be a “Fit”
A while ago, I contracted with “Antonio” (not his real name) to ghostwrite his highly personal memoir about a traumatic life event. When we first met, Antonio told me I was the fifth ghostwriter he’d interviewed, and he still hadn’t found his ideal writing partner. Before we finished the first meeting, we both knew we felt instant “chemistry” and would make an outstanding writing team. But I urged him to conduct his due diligence.
The ghostwriter/author (or editor/author) relationship is an intimate one. The last thing you want is to share the most personal details of your life with a ghostwriter only to discover quickly that you can’t stand the person writing your story!
What Does It Take to Be a Full-Time Writer?
Last month, an upcoming college freshman interviewed me about how to become a full-time writer. While I can’t speak for every writer, I shared the following tips with him, which I believe have contributed to my ability to work for so many years in a profession I love.
Have You “Scottified” Your Manuscript?
I’m currently ghostwriting and incorporating my client’s themes into his book. He’s an academic heavyweight with years of business experience, something I point out to explain that he’s not lacking in IQ points or business acumen. However, he reached out to us, because he knows that writing is not something he claims as his strong suit.
Early in our work together, I’d send him a draft of a chapter, and then he’d expound on his concepts where I didn’t have enough depth. (Note: When ghostwriting for a subject-matter expert, the expert will always know more than the writer.) In a recent chapter, knowing that he’d written his notes in a stream-of-consciousness fashion, he added a final comment:
“Please Scottify.”ary-goes-here
Explore posts by topic:
All Blog Posts
- author coaching 1
- author spotlight 7
- book editing 2
- book writing 2
- courage 1
- fear 1
- ghostwriting 1
- guest author 2
- hiring an editor 1
- hybrid publishing 1
- leadership book writing 1
- maya angelou 1
- memoir writing 2
- poetry 1
- protest 1
- self-publishing 2
- traditional publishing 1
- voice 1
- who can edit my book? 1
- writers block 1
Search all posts: