Hi. The ghost writing would be for an individual and would be a kind of autobiographical book (but I guess it would be biography in actuality since I would be writing it). I am not sure whether it would definitely be published or not. Given that it is a biography, there is probably bound to be some involvement on the person's part - I think she has already drawn up a skeleton outline of the book and I would just write it.
Have you looked at her outline or talked about what the person wants to include in the work? If not, after looking at the outline I suggest you sit down with her and talk about her vision for the book. After that come up with your own outline (very sketchy at this point), word and page count, pictures and/or illustration if needed, ask her what and how she wants to be involved, when and how you should get chapters to her for approval, who is to attempt selling the book or getting an agent when done, decide on your out of pocket expenses, and then decide how long you think the whole thing will take you. There's a lot more, but that should get you started. Based on what you now know, and how you price value your time, present her with a fee -- I would suggest a nonrefundable flat fee (1/3rd up front, 1/3 when half done, 1/3rd when complete, with a slush fund of $_____dollars you can use for expenses (you'll hand in vouchers and she can see a tabulation whenever she wants) -- or some other way you find appropriate). Discuss credit for the work should it be published (e.g., author, co-author, project director, editor-in-chief). Try to get something as you want to be able to use it in you bio.
I don't think I would have to do any research on my part. I am not sure yet how long it would be, and I doubt I would be devoting all of my time to it.
To be safe, I would assume I was.
I haven't had a formal meeting about it yet because I thought that I might have to have some idea of what I might charge before I go along.
I've done this about 20 times, and it's very difficult even when everything is in place fom the start. And rarely are any two circumstances alike. Not knowing you, what you want out of this, the other person, etc., makes this a guess more than an estimate. However, I think you shoud assume that this project would occupy pretty much all your time during the next year, and only you can put a value on that. Will it interfere with a day job? Do you have family demands to think about? So much I don't know, but the bottom line is how much money is one year of your writing time and abilty worth -- $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, more. Everyone will have a different answer, but one thing's for sure -- don't undersell yourself. As I said, ghostwriting is no walk in the park.
I don't know if that helps at all? Any answers would be appreciated.[/QUOTE
In my opinion, ghostwriting is usually more difficult, time consuming, and aggravating than writing a book on your own. It gets even more difficult when you the primary source of your story is alive, as is this case here. My advice is not to think lightly of the project. You will have to get into the head of that person and see and understand things as they have and do. To do that takes time, effort, and yes, sometimes a lot of research (certain things you can't take for granted). It's not easy to take the thoughts of a person, understand them as they want you to, yet put them on paper in what will usually be an entirely different pattern. I only hope that the individual isn't a celeb or well know in some right -- if so, it's much more difficult (e.g., you would have to write in a fashion they would write -- it would have to read as if they wrote it).
