ghost writers?

Question

ok i have a book i want to write but i suck at writing so i need a ghost writer to help me write this like i will tell the person everything. cuz its a true story i want this person to write in to a fiction book. Know anyone who can complete this task?

Answer 1

An earlier responder said that ghostwriting is where a famous name is put on the written work of a non-famous writer in order to sell it. This is incorrect.

I have ghostwritten books in the past, and ghostwriting is where a writer creates a manuscript based on another person's ideas or knowledge. The person who had the original idea is credited as the author and the writer is paid for on a "work-for-hire" basis, where they generally give up all rights to the story they have written for the other person in exchange for payment. Sometimes, this can include a percentage of the story's royalties or profits, but usually it is a cut-end payment, i.e., that's all the writer gets.

If someone is looking for a ghostwriter to fictionalize a true story, the best way to find one is to advertise on a public bulletin board that might attract such writers—such as myself on this one! Hah hah!

The fees for that sort of thing vary, depending on just what the terms being offered to the writer are. As an example, my fees for book writing (a manuscript of over 17,000 words, or any length that is published or included in book form) are as follows:
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As told to, with author credit, or original work:

$1,000.00 plus $30.00 to $75.00 per hour, plus 1/3 of advance and 50% of royalties and ownership of manuscript rights if sold as a book. Expenses and research are extra.

No author credit, work-for-hire:

$2,000.00 plus $30.00 to $75.00 per hour, or negotiated flat fee*. Expenses and research are extra.

Optionally, the following rates may be applied for the type of materials listed above:

25¢ to $2.00 per word based on complexity of task, or daily rate of $100.00 to $150.00 plus expenses. Weekly rate of $500.00 to $600.00 plus expenses.

*Flat fee is payable as 25% down payment on beginning project, 25% on completion of one-half of project, 25% on completion of three-fourths of project, and 25% on completion of project.
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This is about standard for this sort of writing for a professional writer. Some are a little less, some are more, but generally, that's what you'll end up paying for a writer who can take your ideas and information and incorporate it into a manuscript of publishable quality. Keep in mind that NO writer can guarantee that you'll be able to sell the story to a publisher; that's a game of luck, persistence, and uncertainty. The only exception to that is if a publisher is the one doing the contracting of the ghostwriter, or if the "idea person" has already managed to get a publishing contract for their proposed story, and now they have been directed to find a ghostwriter.

Bottom line, you're going to end up spending at least $5,000 to get your story written into a book-length manuscript (generally 40,000 or more words, which is the minimum for a novel-sized book), and it's by no means certain you'll get it published and recoup that investment.

That being said, to the person who posted this question, if you're bound and determined to get your true story turned into a fictional book manuscript, contact me and I'd be happy to talk to you about doing it.

Answer 2

The reason this is usually only done by celebrities is that you have to either (1) convince the writer that it will sell well, or (2) pay the writer for his services up front. Pay well, I might add. Writing an entire book is no small task. I'd be very surprised if you found anyone willing to undertake it for less than $10,000. If you have that kind of money, then put a notice up on the bulletin board (probably electronic these days) at the local college's English Department, and you will find someone hungry enough.

Answer 3

Um what you are talking about is called a collaboration.

Ghost writing is when another writer writes a story on his own and to get it sold they put your famous name on it.
(with your consent of course, and a share of the profits)

Answer 4

I don't know but maybe you could even just post an ad somewhere?

best of luck to you