I would like to know how the typical "ghost writer" agreement works. 
I want to hire a writer to turn a series of taped interviews into a
book.  What should I expect to pay and how.  Flat fee, royalty,
other??

Thanks

jmhines123..

Thank you for your interesting question about ghostwriting services. 
Using a ghostwriter for your project is something that is commonly
done by individuals because either they simply do not have the time to
write or they don't feel they have the skill set to create a good
book.  The definition, according to dictionary.com, of a ghostwriter
is "One who writes for and gives credit of authorship to another".

There are several companies that provide ghostwriting services.  When
evaluating these companies and their authors, there are several things
you should do to ensure your success:

1.  Check the references and get a sample book from the author who
will be writing your book.
2.  Negotiate costs that cover the book in stages and avoid any
agreement to pay for the whole book whether or not you are satisfied
with it.
3.  Get a written proposal and be sure that it has a timeline
4.  Have your attorney review ALL contracts and agreements prior to
your signing.

Within any agreement for ghostwriting, you should be sure that it
contains a thorough description of what you are looking for (number of
words, pages, etc), copyright issues, and very importantly, what
determines a completed work.  There seem to be several issues between
ghostwriters and their clients regarding completions and time-lines. 
Be sure these are very detailed in any agreement you make with a
ghostwriter.


It appears there is a wide variance of fee structures for
ghostwriters.  Some charge a flat fee per project, per page fee, or
even an hourly fee.  It all appears to be dependent upon the person or
company.  The prices seem to range from $50-$75 an hour, $150-$200 per
page, and a minimum of $5,000 flat fee. It will all be dependant upon
the content of the book, the scope of work involved and other factors.

I have provided some information below on ghostwriting, both from an
author's point of view as well as from the writer's.  This should give
an a very good idea of what to expect.  I have not, however, provided
specific ghostwriting companies or freelance writers that provide
ghostwriting services.  There are literally 100's of individuals and
companies.  Several specialize in ghostwriting for specific genres or
themes.  I would suggest you contact several and discuss their terms. 
If you would like information on specific ghostwriting services, let
me know the basic content of your book and I can provide some
services.

Thanks again for your question and I wish you luck with your book! 
Please let me know if you need any further clarification.


Regards,

-THV

Search Strategy:
"ghostwriting" agreement
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References:

Don't Be Spooked by a Friendly Ghost
http://www.hodi.com/ghostwriting.html

What a Ghostwriter Does, and Why.
http://www.worldwidefreelance.com/articles/ghostwriting.htm

Ghostwriting Guide
http://www.wambtac.com/ghostwriting.htm

Online Freelance Editor
http://www.onlinefreelanceeditor.com/ghostwr.html

Thanks!