| Frequently Asked Questions |
How much do you charge?
That depends on the project. I can work by the word, the hour or for a flat
fee. Typically, small projects are charged by the hour, articles are charged by
the word, and large projects are charged a flat fee. However, that’s
negotiable. I find that it’s best to evaluate each new project to choose the
best fee structure for both of us. Please call me for current rates.
I also reserve the right to charge a rush fee (generally 25% of the total project
cost) for jobs with deadlines of 48 hours or less.
When will I pay you?
I require one-third of the total project fee up front, for new clients and for
projects over $2,000. The remainder is due once the copy has been accepted
and approved. For projects over $4,000, I require regular installments
throughout the project, depending on length and total project cost.
What if the project gets canceled part way through?
If a project is canceled (killed) for any reason after I have completed my
portion of it, I am entitled to full payment of our agreed-upon fee. For
example, if you are creating a newsletter and I have delivered all the articles,
but the layout is not yet complete, I would be entitled to full payment.
However, if a project is canceled prior to delivery of the written product, I
am entitled to full payment for all hours I have invested up to that point.
How many rounds of revisions will you do?
I include two rounds of revisions with each project. After that point, I will
either charge additional revisions at my hourly rate or we can negotiate an
additional fee for the remaining revisions.
What if I need someone to do layout (graphic design) work too?
No problem. Just ask and I’ll find one for you. Writers and graphic designers
often team up together on client projects. Chances are I know someone who
can meet your needs.
Why do you write magazine articles and marketing copy?
When I began my writing career, one of the graphic designers I contacted put
me in touch with a local writer who was up to her eyeballs in work. She had
just started writing for a startup magazine, but didn’t want to lose her regular
clients, so she was working 24/7 to keep up. That magazine was Millionaire
Blueprints, and I’ve been writing for them ever since. That experience got me
interested in writing for other magazines, so now I do both.
If I hire you to write an article and it gets published by a magazine,
does that mean you get paid twice?
No. Though many magazines do pay writers for the articles they submit, if you
asked me to write an article about you or your business, we would decide at
that time where payment should come from. In some instances, you’d pay me
to write the article and then we’d offer it to publications free of charge. In
other instances, you’d simply provide the story. Then I’d write it and attempt
to sell it to a magazine, usually a national one. It all depends on the story and
your purpose for having it written.
What kind of people do you ghostwrite for?
I like to work with experts who know their topic inside and out, and either
don’t have the time to write or they’re not professional writers. That’s not to
say I don’t conduct additional research, interviews and whatever else is
needed for the job, but the primary information and ideas should come from
the expert.
What kinds of projects do you ghostwrite?
My area of expertise is small business, but I have a wide range of interests and
I’m curious about many subjects. However, I do have to believe in the
project and be truly interested in it, otherwise the passion that’s needed to
sell the work won’t come through in the writing. If you have a topic you’d
like to write about, let’s talk. If it’s not a good fit for me, perhaps I can help
you find someone who is.
How long does it take you to ghostwrite a book?
Ghostwriting a book can take several months to a year, depending on the
length of the book and your schedule. The process generally begins with
interviews and information gathering. From there, I begin to work on the
content, and together we edit it step-by-step to create a work that matches
your vision.
Does your name appear on the cover?
That depends on you. Generally with shorter projects the ghostwriter is never
mentioned. However, with books, several options exist. The ghostwriter’s
name can appear on the cover after words like “with,” “and” or “as told to.”
If you prefer to have your name on the cover alone, it’s also common to
mention the ghost on the acknowledgements page.
The third option is that the ghost receives no credit at all. This option may
come with a slightly higher fee, unless you are willing to let the publisher
know you used a ghost and to be a reference for future projects with other
experts. (Because a ghostwriter’s main source of finding work is through word-
of-mouth referrals, so if no one knows I worked for you, that’s one less
avenue that will bring future projects my way.)
Do you ghostwrite fiction?
No. While I dabble in fiction for my own purposes, I don’t feel it’s the best
arena for ghostwriters and/or at least not for me. Fiction is an entirely
different animal. While you may be able to dictate plot points and have a
complete vision of how the story should unfold. Fiction is created on the page
through voice, synergy and serendipity. The process of writing fiction (for
most authors) is wholly different from that of writing non-fiction. Experts
need writers to help them put their ideas onto the page, but writing fiction
well is a gift that should be cultivated by one person alone.
A word of caution…If you have an idea for a work of fiction and you’re
searching for a ghostwriter, beware. In order to sell fiction (unless you’re
already an established author), you need to finish the entire book before you
can present it for sale to agents and editors. Therefore, you could spend a lot
of money only to find that the writer didn’t write it quite the way you hoped
and/or no one wants to buy it. Some ghostwriters may take on these projects,
but unless they come highly recommended from well-respected members of
the publishing industry, you may be wasting your money. A better option is to
join a writer’s group and start learning to write fiction yourself.
Will you edit fiction?
Generally, no. While I enjoy reading and editing fiction, I am not qualified to
edit it professionally. A true editor of fiction must be knowledgeable about
theme, story concept, pacing, voice, conflict, resolution and character
development, as well as current market conditions (for the sale of fiction to
publishers). I have only a basic grasp of all of these elements, and still have
much to learn, as I write my own fiction.
The best approach to this problem is to keep writing and receiving critique
from other writers until you strike gold. If you can’t wait that long however,
ask respected agents or editors for a recommendation to a book doctor who
can help you with this process. Always be wary of anyone who offers to edit
your book for money, there are respected and valued professionals out there
in this field, but there are also many scam artists who just want to separate
you from your cash.
That depends on the project. I can work by the word, the hour or for a flat
fee. Typically, small projects are charged by the hour, articles are charged by
the word, and large projects are charged a flat fee. However, that’s
negotiable. I find that it’s best to evaluate each new project to choose the
best fee structure for both of us. Please call me for current rates.
I also reserve the right to charge a rush fee (generally 25% of the total project
cost) for jobs with deadlines of 48 hours or less.
When will I pay you?
I require one-third of the total project fee up front, for new clients and for
projects over $2,000. The remainder is due once the copy has been accepted
and approved. For projects over $4,000, I require regular installments
throughout the project, depending on length and total project cost.
What if the project gets canceled part way through?
If a project is canceled (killed) for any reason after I have completed my
portion of it, I am entitled to full payment of our agreed-upon fee. For
example, if you are creating a newsletter and I have delivered all the articles,
but the layout is not yet complete, I would be entitled to full payment.
However, if a project is canceled prior to delivery of the written product, I
am entitled to full payment for all hours I have invested up to that point.
How many rounds of revisions will you do?
I include two rounds of revisions with each project. After that point, I will
either charge additional revisions at my hourly rate or we can negotiate an
additional fee for the remaining revisions.
What if I need someone to do layout (graphic design) work too?
No problem. Just ask and I’ll find one for you. Writers and graphic designers
often team up together on client projects. Chances are I know someone who
can meet your needs.
Why do you write magazine articles and marketing copy?
When I began my writing career, one of the graphic designers I contacted put
me in touch with a local writer who was up to her eyeballs in work. She had
just started writing for a startup magazine, but didn’t want to lose her regular
clients, so she was working 24/7 to keep up. That magazine was Millionaire
Blueprints, and I’ve been writing for them ever since. That experience got me
interested in writing for other magazines, so now I do both.
If I hire you to write an article and it gets published by a magazine,
does that mean you get paid twice?
No. Though many magazines do pay writers for the articles they submit, if you
asked me to write an article about you or your business, we would decide at
that time where payment should come from. In some instances, you’d pay me
to write the article and then we’d offer it to publications free of charge. In
other instances, you’d simply provide the story. Then I’d write it and attempt
to sell it to a magazine, usually a national one. It all depends on the story and
your purpose for having it written.
What kind of people do you ghostwrite for?
I like to work with experts who know their topic inside and out, and either
don’t have the time to write or they’re not professional writers. That’s not to
say I don’t conduct additional research, interviews and whatever else is
needed for the job, but the primary information and ideas should come from
the expert.
What kinds of projects do you ghostwrite?
My area of expertise is small business, but I have a wide range of interests and
I’m curious about many subjects. However, I do have to believe in the
project and be truly interested in it, otherwise the passion that’s needed to
sell the work won’t come through in the writing. If you have a topic you’d
like to write about, let’s talk. If it’s not a good fit for me, perhaps I can help
you find someone who is.
How long does it take you to ghostwrite a book?
Ghostwriting a book can take several months to a year, depending on the
length of the book and your schedule. The process generally begins with
interviews and information gathering. From there, I begin to work on the
content, and together we edit it step-by-step to create a work that matches
your vision.
Does your name appear on the cover?
That depends on you. Generally with shorter projects the ghostwriter is never
mentioned. However, with books, several options exist. The ghostwriter’s
name can appear on the cover after words like “with,” “and” or “as told to.”
If you prefer to have your name on the cover alone, it’s also common to
mention the ghost on the acknowledgements page.
The third option is that the ghost receives no credit at all. This option may
come with a slightly higher fee, unless you are willing to let the publisher
know you used a ghost and to be a reference for future projects with other
experts. (Because a ghostwriter’s main source of finding work is through word-
of-mouth referrals, so if no one knows I worked for you, that’s one less
avenue that will bring future projects my way.)
Do you ghostwrite fiction?
No. While I dabble in fiction for my own purposes, I don’t feel it’s the best
arena for ghostwriters and/or at least not for me. Fiction is an entirely
different animal. While you may be able to dictate plot points and have a
complete vision of how the story should unfold. Fiction is created on the page
through voice, synergy and serendipity. The process of writing fiction (for
most authors) is wholly different from that of writing non-fiction. Experts
need writers to help them put their ideas onto the page, but writing fiction
well is a gift that should be cultivated by one person alone.
A word of caution…If you have an idea for a work of fiction and you’re
searching for a ghostwriter, beware. In order to sell fiction (unless you’re
already an established author), you need to finish the entire book before you
can present it for sale to agents and editors. Therefore, you could spend a lot
of money only to find that the writer didn’t write it quite the way you hoped
and/or no one wants to buy it. Some ghostwriters may take on these projects,
but unless they come highly recommended from well-respected members of
the publishing industry, you may be wasting your money. A better option is to
join a writer’s group and start learning to write fiction yourself.
Will you edit fiction?
Generally, no. While I enjoy reading and editing fiction, I am not qualified to
edit it professionally. A true editor of fiction must be knowledgeable about
theme, story concept, pacing, voice, conflict, resolution and character
development, as well as current market conditions (for the sale of fiction to
publishers). I have only a basic grasp of all of these elements, and still have
much to learn, as I write my own fiction.
The best approach to this problem is to keep writing and receiving critique
from other writers until you strike gold. If you can’t wait that long however,
ask respected agents or editors for a recommendation to a book doctor who
can help you with this process. Always be wary of anyone who offers to edit
your book for money, there are respected and valued professionals out there
in this field, but there are also many scam artists who just want to separate
you from your cash.
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| alyssa@alyssaradcliff.com 301-997-8212 |
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Freelance Writer * Editor * Ghostwriter