Marcia Layton Turner
Cracking “Voice” with Ghostwriting Clients
By Jeff Raderstrong I was in an interview with a potential client, discussing a book she wanted to write on young leaders in politics. I asked her some of the standard questions I usually ask at this phase of the process: “How would you describe your voice? How would you want me to capture your…
Tips for Hiring a Ghostwriter
By Erick Mertz Finding the right professional service provider for your needs is often tricky. This can be especially true when it comes to hiring a ghostwriter for your writing project. What makes hiring a ghostwriter so tricky? One reason is this: published rates are difficult to find. Then on the off chance you are…
How Does the Money Part Work with a Ghostwriter?
By Laura Schaefer I recently updated my website and asked a friend for her feedback. She said this: “It easy to understand the value you bring to the project of writing a book. What I don’t understand is how much potential money I would make if I wrote a book, and what percentage of that…
Marcia’s 13 Favorite Things for Writers – 2023
I’m a big fan of Oprah’s “Favorite Things” List, which she publishes in her quarterly magazine each November. In it, you’ll find luxurious clothes and slippers, high-end appliances, electronics, facial creams and treatments you never knew existed, decadent desserts, as well as toys and gifts anyone would be thrilled to receive. Well, I’m a much…
Even Geniuses Need Writing Collaborators
Guest Blog Post By Jennifer Locke “My Shot.” “You’re Welcome.” “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” What do these songs have in common? Answer: They were written by certified MacCarthur genius Lin-Manuel Miranda. And, perhaps, they were reviewed by John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats before the rest of the world was exposed to these earworms.…
What People Misunderstand About Ghostwriting
What People Misunderstand About Ghostwriting I’m listening to a money mindset program called Your Wish is Your Command, by Kevin Trudeau, at the recommendation of one of my business coaches, and I was surprised that within the first few minutes of the first CD in a 14-CD set, the topic of ghostwriters came up. Actually,…
Scribe Media on the Rocks
“Ghostwriting and publishing services firm Scribe Media abruptly shut down yesterday, laying off its staff,” reported Erin Somers today on Publisher’s Lunch, summarizing an apparent sudden change of fortune for the venture. Scribe’s approximate 100 employees were apparently notified by email Wednesday night that “Based on unforeseen business circumstances and faltering business based on unavailability…
Find a Ghostwriter Without Getting Scammed
Ghostwriting agency scams are well-developed and capable of swindling almost anyone. The number of authors who have reached out to tell me they’ve been scammed by a fraudulent ghostwriting agency has increased exponentially in recent weeks. (Many get in touch after seeing this article I wrote on the topic.) In the last month, I’ve heard…
Guest Blog Post: Why Write a Book to Build Your Brand?
By Mike Wicks Search for advice about sales, marketing, growing a business, or even installing new windows, and almost certainly, one of the hits on Google’s first page will be a book on the subject written by an expert. You might then check it out, peruse the reviews, read some sample pages, and possibly purchase…
“Ghost Karma”: The Key To Creating Your Dream Ghostwriting Business
By Laura Elliott, your go-to ghost 👻 One night at sunset, after our outboard motor had failed, a good Samaritan named Tom towed our dinghy behind his. We were in the waning days of summer camp—our annual boating adventure on the Salish Sea. The sweet inland passage, home to the San Juan Islands on the…
10 Tips for Interviewing Trauma Survivors for Their Memoirs
By Jennifer Upton Being a ghost writer of memoirs involves meeting with clients in person, getting to know them, and recording their histories. When I first started ghost writing memoirs, I naively thought most of my work would involve constructing family trees and describing nostalgic tales of yesteryear. I had no idea the vast majority…
What Happens When you Work with a Ghostwriter
Guest blog post by Ginny Carter You have a book that begs to be written, but there’s a problem. You don’t have the time, and if you’re honest, you aren’t sure where to start. So, you decide to hire a ghostwriter. That’s a great first step, because you’re acknowledging that you could do with some…