Gulf Shore Writer

Services Provided

We write on a wide variety of topics including most business services from web site content to business letters, ad copy to newspaper articles and columns, magazine features and columns, press releases and image pieces. We've done both fiction and non-fiction. We have reviewed and commented on hundreds of business plans. We're particularly proficient at explaining complicated subjects, such as technology, to non-technical people. Our strengths include translating technology to marketing and sales and also in the other direction. Some days we've felt like translators and not many do that well.

If we don't have the expertise in-house, there's a good chance we know someone who does have it. We don't generally do graphics design but we know how to work with people who do and can often recommend someone to handle the pieces that we're not great at.

Ghost Writing Services

How Do We Do Ghost Writing Projects?

The first thing we recommend for a ghost writing project is a meeting to cover what the project is all about, its scope and size, along with significant terms and conditions, including payments and milestones. There is no charge for this meeting. This needs to be face to face if geographically possible, typically in the Atlanta area.

First, we need to determine if the principal and writer feel comfortable working together and how we go about that. If the book is to be of a personal nature, content can be gathered in a number of ways, typically from existing writing or notes, interviews in person or by phone, recordings/transcriptions by the principal, and emails where questions and answers can go back and forth without both parties participating at the same time. The principal must make a certain amount of time available on a timely basis for interviews and questions if the timeframe for the book production is to be maintained. The first discussion is needed for whether to publish as an eBook, as a print on demand or an attempt to find a traditional publisher and/or agent.

What typically happens next is that a scope of work and payment terms gets agreed to and deliverables identified. It proceeds to an outline for the book next, possibly followed by a brief summary of each chapter to be written. Breaking the work into phases like this allow each party to get comfortable with working together and the results being purchased. These pieces of work are typically paid for by an upfront installment or it may be set up as a monthly retainer in some cases. Also as a possibility, the writer can work strictly by the hour with some monthly guarantee.

A typical amount of payment if done by the page is $50 per page for a double spaced manuscript page which would typically contain 250 to 300 words. If interviews are required, the rate is $50 per hour for that portion. It's highly recommended to use a separate editor for a final draft to submit to a publisher, especially for a traditional agent/publisher. It's never a bad idea to use an editor. Depending upon the specific services rendered, the cost runs around $6-12 per page for this for electronic, hybrid or paper edits.

The fees for the actually publishing itself are not included here as it depends upon a lot of variables including page size, page count, binding type, paper quality, editing costs, cover designs, cover types, if pictures or colors are included on anything but the cover, the quantity to be purchased and the shipping costs of the books, to name the major ones. We can assist with any and all of this if required but it is at an additional cost depending upon the options chosen. Some eBook types may require additional formatting depending upon the eBook publisher. Not all use the same formats.

Once the initial meeting is held, a simple contract will be drawn up specifying payments, deliverables and time frame.

A simple example:

A 250 page book is required with all content stemming from the principal and the writer will take that material and produce the pages.

Ten hours of interviews conducted by the writer at $50/hour = $500.

250 pages of double spaced manuscript pages (approximately 250-300 words/page) at $50/page = $12500.

A final edit is required for print/traditional publishing at $8/page = $2000.

Total cost of manuscript, written, edited and ready for print = $15,000.