You’re ready to write your book. You have a message to share, a story to tell, or something you know will inspire others, and it’s time to get it into the world.
But you’re busy. You’re working hard and barely have time for everything you’re already committed to. And honestly, you’re not really sure where to start with this book thing, even if you did have the time.
Maybe you’ve tried listing out a table of contents, gathering resources and notes, or even writing the first chapter. You’ve discovered that although you’re great at what you do every day, this book thing is new, and you don’t know what you’re doing.
You know that if you’re going to do this thing, you need help. Real, professional, let’s-get-’er-done help.
What is ghostwriting?
Ghostwriting is when one person (the ghostwriter) helps another person (the author) write their book—in a very specific way. I’m a ghostwriter, and let’s imagine you’re the author…
You have an idea, story, or message you want to share. You can talk about this stuff forever, but when you try to write it down… it kinda sucks. Or you don’t even get to that stage because you’re too damn busy to sit down and make it sound good.
In ghostwriting, you don’t need to slog through the actual writing. Instead, you tell me all your stuff. You don’t need to worry about structure or what to put first. You just get on the phone, talk me through your ideas, and answer my bajillion questions.
Then, I use my skills and experience writing 16 non-fiction books to organize your ideas, so you’re confident readers will follow what you’re saying and want to keep turning the pages. Once we’re confident we have a structure that works, I write for you using your actual words, stories, and manner of speaking.
It’s all your stories, experiences, and ideas. I translate them into written form, structure them into a powerful book, and create a manuscript you can publish and hold in your hands as a finished book.
“I am actually excited about my book now! This is going to be fun.”
How does ghostwriting work?
Together, we’ll share your message in an inspiring, entertaining, and easy-to-read book that will resonate with readers.
It’ll contain all your words, ideas, stories, and messages, but I’ll do the hard work of crafting the content into a compelling structure, putting the words on the page, and editing them until they shine.
We’ll do it in three phases.
Phase one: We brain-dump everything
I’ll ask you to complete a Jump Start questionnaire, in which I invite you to think about your target readers, how this book will fit with your business goals, and what you’re really looking to achieve. This will give us a jump start on our work.
We’ll have a series of Zoom calls in which I’ll ask questions, hear your ideas and stories, and learn about your message. You don’t need to know if your ideas are any good! We’ll work that out together. We’ll take as many calls as needed to get the content, but experience tells me you can expect this to take about eight one-hour calls.
Phase two: We make a rock-solid plan
I’ll write a detailed, paragraph-level outline, and together, we’ll edit it to ensure we have a solid foundation for our writing.
Then, I’ll write what I call a soundcheck, which is a small sample of writing using your words, mannerisms, and style. We’ll edit this to zone in on the right tone of voice and ensure you’re comfortable as we move forward into the heavy writing.
Phase three: We write and edit until it’s brilliant
I’ll write your content into engaging, effective chapters that share your messages through storytelling techniques. I’ll send you one chapter at a time, so you can see our progress as we go.
For each chapter, we’ll go through two rounds of edits, adjusting the writing so it feels true to your voice and compelling for readers.
We’ll end with a full, ready-to-publish book manuscript that you’ll feel incredibly proud of. I’ll offer advice on publishing options, so you can publish your manuscript and finally hold your book in your hands.
“I loved the brain dump sessions and collaboration. It helped me work through questions and consider how a reader would interpret the information.
”And... my book became an Amazon bestseller!”
What do I get when I work with a ghostwriter?
When we work together to write your book, you’ll partner directly with me. There’ll be no other writers involved. It’s just us, working one-on-one to write the book you envision.
We’ll sign a non-disclosure agreement, meaning all our work is confidential. You can share your ideas, methodologies, thoughts, and stories, confident they’ll stay private as we workshop them into the format you want to share.
At the end of our work together, you’ll get a full, finished manuscript that includes:
A title page,
A dedication,
A table of contents,
Acknowledgments, and
All text matter, including introduction and part titles, as required.
You can add other elements—it’s your book, after all—but this is everything you need to move into the publishing process.
The final manuscript will be delivered as an MS Word file, formatted in Times New Roman font, size 12 point, double-spaced, flushed left (ragged right), with one-inch margins. This is the most useful format for moving into the publication process.
You’ll own all rights to the manuscript. You will not owe me any part of an advance or royalties from book sales. This gives you the freedom to publish, share, and use your book exactly as you want after our work together.
How long does it take to ghostwrite a book?
I’ve ghostwritten 16 books and, in my experience, you can expect the ghostwriting process to take about nine months from idea to ready-to-publish manuscript. Our final timeline will vary based on your availability to schedule calls and provide editing feedback.
We’ll continue to set mutually-agreeable deadlines for milestones, so you always know what to expect and when.
I’m usually booked up in advance, so please see below for my current start-date availability.
“Every day I think what a great decision it was to ask for Liz’s help.”
Share your story.
Share your experiences.
Leave a legacy that helps the world.
About Green Goose writing
I’m Liz Green, the editor, book coach, and ghostwriter behind Green Goose Writing. I help people who want to write a book they know will inspire others but are stuck trying to get the words on the page.
They’re used to getting things done and are frustrated that, for some reason, their book just isn’t working. But they know now is the time to push through and do this.
I help them finally finish their book and feel proud of sharing their experiences with the world.
“Working with Liz is a dream. Her writing is great—very clean and professional. However, what surprised me is how insightful she can be.”
How much does ghostwriting cost?
You can find ghostwriters charging every imaginable rate. They vary based on the writer’s experience, how in-demand they are, their interest in the subject matter, and, frankly, their confidence in their ability to produce a manuscript you can be proud of.
I believe in transparent pricing. You don’t want to waste your time inquiring with a writer who charges pennies because they don’t have any experience or with one who won’t get out of bed for less than Lady Gaga’s annual income.
My current rate is $75,000 USD for a business, self-help, or memoir book of up to 60,000 words.
We split this into installments. A $1,000 USD deposit on signing of our agreement secures your space in my schedule, followed by ten monthly installments of $7,400 USD.
If this doesn’t work with your budget, you can find other great writers with various rates at The Association of Ghostwriters. If you’re interested in writing your book yourself but with my help, you can also explore editing and coaching options. Whatever your budget, you can write your book.
“After our first call, I felt assured Liz was the right person to work with. (I really trust my gut when it comes to people). My only concern was the investment required. I had to put a value to my project and decide whether to move forward... and I did.
”I’d never done this before but Liz made everything easy, achievable, and doable. I loved our brain dump sessions. They went almost like talks between friends in a coffee shop. Now, I feel great that the vision in my head a year ago is written. I’m excited about the next steps (even if I’m also nervous).
”Yes, the price is not low, but if you’re looking for quality, dedication, and thoughtful work, that is what you’ll get.”
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you have created. I am truly awed. Worth every penny.”
How do I book You as a ghostwriter?
You must find a ghostwriter who’s a good fit for your personality, needs, and book. We both need to feel excited about working together. Here’s what the process looks like moving forward:
Click the green button below to message me about ghostwriting. If it seems like we could be a good fit to work together, we’ll schedule a video call to discuss your book idea and answer all your questions.
If we’re on the same page and are excited to move forward, I’ll send you an agreement outlining the details of our work commitment.
We’ll both sign the agreement, you’ll send your deposit, and we’ll start work on our agreed date to finally make your book a reality.
“I am absolutely thrilled with our work. Admittedly, I was a bit nervous at the beginning, but I was struck by Liz’s attention to detail, professionalism, and knowledge.”