Ghost writing fees - you get what you pay for

Ghost writing fees are often misunderstood.

Recently, after quoting my fees to several individuals and receiving the same astonished response: “I didn’t know it would cost that much!” I felt it was time to explain and clarify exactly what a ghost writer does and why ghost writing fees are comparable to those of a medical doctor, attorney, architect or any other professional who performs quality services for their highly specialized work. Before delivering a quote to a prospective client, I send them, in addition to my resume and testimonial sheet, a generous supply of writing samples in many genres.

These documents serve as a way of giving that person some evaluation tools that will help them in the decision-making process.

If a prospective client has high standards and expects quality work—and if this individual is also literary or at least knows the difference between mediocre and quality writing--they are happy to pay my fees.

Would an attorney or a medical doctor apologize for their rates or lower them if a patient or client thinks they’re too high?

This may not be understood by a person who does not know what is involved in the ghost writing process.

Perhaps the most important part of the ghost writing process is sensitivity to the voice and language of the client. Their message must be carefully positioned in order to be delivered with clarity and precision.

When buying a new vehicle or a home (both of which, unlike one's intellectual property, depreciate or deteriorate), most people will not hesitate to pay the price for which they are appraised.

As with any high ticket item, I feel it is important to let clients know that I also provide financing options.

For my document, "What does a ghostwriter do?" click here.

For more information about ghost writing fees, click here.

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