Hire a Ghostwriter, or do it myself? - Writers Forum

Bwick · 08-01-2004, 06:32 PM

Hello all. Forgive me for just jumping in like this on a first post, since I know I am an unknown entity. I would like advice or direction about ghostwriting and biographies. I hope this isn’t too long, but I figure I need to give plenty of background information for my questions.

My parents have asked me to find a ghostwriter for my grandparents, who have an interesting story to tell. There is a market for the book, and I have narrowed the list of publishers down to a small number who specialize in this area. My parents seem to think that the freelancer would work on spec; I have argued with them that most published and proven ghostwriters want a contract to be paid in advance.

I am also considering writing this book myself, although I have never written anything as long as a full-length book before. I have always toyed with the idea of freelancing and now feel like I cannot let this opportunity pass. However, my primary obligation is to my grandparents to find a hard-working author who can deliver the finished book in a respectable length of time.

These are my questions:

1) How absurd is it to attempt a full length biography on one’s first attempt? Should I shelve this silly idea and just find a professional?

2) How do most reputable ghostwriters work regarding full-length biographies? I understand that each author is different, and that I should ask the freelancer how he or she expects to be compensated, but is there a way to find a “going rate”? I would appreciate any advice or pointers to another site that may describe the general process of hiring a freelance writer/ghostwriter. Mostly I don’t want to insult anyone, and I don’t want to come across as naive or unprofessional in my ads requesting the author’s services.

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to enjoying this forum.

~~bwick

eleutheromaniac · 08-01-2004, 10:27 PM

1) I would need to see an example of your writing. It is possible to write well without great skill or talent, but the less you have the harder it will be.

2) The only thing I can tell you about 'going rate' is that you get what you pay for. I can imagine the prices range wildly based on the writer, the genre, and, of course, the piece itself. A biography would be relatively easy to write, so I imagine it wouldn't cost as much. Shop around.

gabriella · 08-02-2004, 09:04 AM

To me, mini biographies from class are the hardest things in the world to write, and would sooner sleep on a cactus tree. I shudder just thinking about a full length book. But I think that you should do it, for the fact that they're your GRANDPARENTS. You can put so much more into the biography that way. I say go for it, and treat it like you would a job as the queen's chamberlain. But, ask someone else to do it if you have problems finishing a novel, problems with self-discipline, if you procrastinate... I'm sure you're grandparents want to be able to hold the finished product in their hands, so before you plunge into it (since you're doing this for someone else) you need to really know if you CAN write the book. You need to really like the genre you're writing, and you need to know that you can keep at it for as long as it takes to finish it.

Bwick · 08-02-2004, 11:27 AM

Thank you everyone, for your replies.

I haven't ever written a novel, and haven't written much of anything creative since my first year in college (over 10 years ago). However, I am paid to write (it is a part-time job, and it stems less from my writing experience than other qualifications. Anyway...).

In approaching this project, my initial thought was that I would better be able to woo a good writer if I had a publisher interested in the manuscript. In looking at the proposal submission requirements for the most promising publisher, I noted that they require two or three sample chapters. This is what got me started in thinking I should write the book myself, if I am going to need to write the sample chapters in order to get a publisher to look at the project.

I have pretty well decided that I will write the sample chapters and let the response to them help me to decide. For one thing, it will test my ability to overcome procrastination. Gabriella, I do love you line about treating this project as I would "a job as the queen's chamberlain." My biggest problem is procrastination.

I still have a few more questions, if you don't mind.

1) If a publisher loves the idea, but hates me as an author, will they tell me that, or just reject the whole project?

2) Do you have any recommendations for books on the process of writing a biography? I will be going to the library later this week to find some to read, but I was wondering if there was a well-loved manual or guide that is commonly recommended?

Thanks again!

~~Bwick

eleutheromaniac · 08-03-2004, 06:39 AM

1) It depends on the publisher.

2) I think all of those "learn how to be a writer" books are crap. If you do want to get a book, just grab a book that will teach you basic stuff, like proper grammar and sentence structure, etc. And of course, this is a great place to learn how to be a better writer. Brfore you send anything to a publisher, post it here and get some advice first.