GHOSTWRITER

Everyone has a story to tell, but few have the time, patience, inclination or skill to produce a compelling script. Perhaps you've had an experience you'd like to write about? Maybe a family saga to preserve for your children or grandchildren? Writing a book has been the dream of many, but the actual labor seems daunting and the job never gets started. Organizing the material, correcting the spelling and grammar, and making it readable just seems like too much work. Perhaps I can help. I've worked closely with authors of all types, with more than 50 million copies in print, and I've been able to provide my services to a wide range of individuals with varying needs. All of my assignments have been handled with total confidentiality and care. I prefer to work from your manuscript and build from your initial efforts, even though I've worked from taped interviews in the past. I will then rewrite, edit it for flow (the words remain your own) and enhance the scenes and characters from my research and imagination. You will then be presented with a chapter by chapter rough draft, which you will check for accuracy of content. It may also spark some new memories, or ideas, which would be great! I can add them to the manuscript.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
The cost of writing is difficult to estimate, as every project is unique. The price will depend, among other things, on the subject matter, the type of story required, and research material available. My fee is $60.00 an hour, and the average cost of most projects will be between $5,000 and $10,000. I also require an advance payment of $1200.00 to cover the first 20 hours of my work, and this advance also reserves a place for you on my waiting list. Providing a professional service means that I charge a fee for every piece of work undertaken. I cannot accept work unless I'm going to be paid for my time and effort. Writing projects must be paid for before the completed work is handed over to the client. It is impracticable and legally complicated for me to accept payment by way of percentage of future profits from any commercial project, and so I only work on a fee basis. Ghostwriting, which for my own reasons I undertake entirely and solely on the basis of work-for-hire, is done with absolutely no claim to copyright. You will own the final document outright, and I will in no way and at no time divulge my role in the creation of the manuscript. If you have a great idea for a novel, memoir, or nonfiction book--spend a moment thinking about the time and effort involved in preparing the piece. If you don't have the funds to cover even a deposit, then you may want to take a step back and reexamine your options.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
The time required depends on several factors, including the length of the book, the amount of research required and the availability of source materials. Work may be done via email, regular mail, telephone, or meeting with the client. I carry out research in libraries, archives, computerized databases and the Internet to support the theme in the project. It normally takes three to four months to edit, four to five months to rewrite, or six to seven months to ghostwrite a 250-page nonfiction book or a 350-page novel.
HOW AND WHEN DO YOU PAY FOR THE WORK?
After the deposit, you will be presented with product as each chapter (or segment) is completed. Any changes that you deem necessary will be made at this time, and you will be informed of the balance remaining from your last payment. You may cancel the work at anytime. All fees paid or due as of the "kill date" are non-refundable. I suggest you e-mail me at acappub@aol.com and we can start defining the project, and at this point I will advise if I'm interested, and when I'll be available. There is no charge for the initial consultation. We'll agree in advance whether you have the right to dictate changes of substance or style, and I'll have a reasonable chance to cure any problems. I will work with you and collaborate in every reasonable way, but I cannot guarantee that a publisher will buy any specific piece of work. At any time, if you aren't satisfied, you can remove me from the project, and I'll keep the money for the stages I've completed up to that point. I realize that the process of writing/ghostwriting a book seems complicated and confusing, most clients have many questions about the process, but I am here to answer yours at any time. I look forward to discussing your project with you soon.
Patrika Vaughn
A Cappela Publishing
www.acappela.com

TIP

IS YOUR WRITING ANY GOOD?
FIND OUT WITH A PROFESSIONAL CRITIQUE

I'll let you know if your work is up to publishable standards.
If it isn't, let a publisher tell you what it needs.
www.acappela.com/critiques.com


Writing TIP: At some point in your plotting, ask yourself what is the lesson or insight - the new way of seeing things - that you want the reader to glean. This is your theme.