17 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
17 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

A little out of the box...

by Tinkerbell
15 replies
Okay, so I had a crazy idea.

This is about ghostwriting, but a little different from what you're used to seeing where people contact a ghostwriter for custom work. Instead, what if...

...as a ghostwriter, you decided you would create 4 manuscripts. Each manuscript would take, say, three months to complete, and each one would be at least 200 pages and could be published as a "real" book - hard cover or soft. Of course they could be sold as ebooks, too, if wanted.

You decide your four manuscripts will be on the following topics: relationships, weight loss, self-help, and parenting. You put up a website, announcing your ghost projects, and (here's where it gets "out of the box") you sell authorship rights to the manuscripts (before they are written).

That's where I've got in my idea so far. What are your thoughts? Anyone have something constructive to add?

Tina
#box
  • Profile picture of the author 1960Texan
    Originally Posted by Tinkerbell View Post

    Okay, so I had a crazy idea.

    You decide your four manuscripts will be on the following topics: relationships, weight loss, self-help, and parenting. You put up a website, announcing your ghost projects, and (here's where it gets "out of the box") you sell authorship rights to the manuscripts (before they are written).

    That's where I've got in my idea so far. What are your thoughts? Anyone have something constructive to add?

    Tina
    Unless you've already got a reputation as a well-known, successful ghostwriter, I think it would be easier to sell authorship rights after the manuscripts were completed. Even then, you are probably looking at massive re-writes to satisfy the agenda and style of those interested in buying rights to the books.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1415816].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Tinkerbell
    1960Texan,

    Thanks for your response. You may be right. What if we agreed the agenda and style of the buyer was simply to have a well-written book published with their name on it? In that case, do you think an announcement to a group of people who had expressed an interest (yes, would require building a list) like this would work?

    "This quarter I will be creating a manuscript on the topic of pick-up artists. An expose with tips on protecting yourself from being drawn into the game. If you would like to claim this book as your own, blah, blah, blah..."

    This could be followed up with a complete outline, etc. I'm still in think mode here. Anyone else want to comment?

    Tina
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1416513].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author bazzais
      If I was going to dedicate a year to writing (4 x 3 months) I would want to have sold something before I started or have some kind of backup.

      Infact I would spend 3 months making the first and see if it works.

      If I were you I would shorten my business plan, suck it an see if it works kind of thing.

      Ta

      Baz
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1416541].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mdcnet
    I like the idea.....but as stated above, maybe see if you can cram the first product out fairly quick and see where you get with it.

    Set up your site to show the other topics as 'under construction' and 'available for purchase/negotiation/input' or something so that if someones interested maybe you could have a pre-written outline tucked away in case a prospective buyer wants to discuss details and give his/her own input for the book.

    Good luck!!!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1416554].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Bev Clement
    What about getting the book published? Not everybody wants to go the self-publishing route, or want to be bothered with print to order. What guarantees would there be the manuscript would be accepted by a publishing house.

    What sort of costs would be involved?
    Signature
    Your Own Product Created By Top Ghostwriters
    WSO - Diet Niche - Massive PLR Package Run Your Own Diet Membership Site
    15 Health PLR Books...Price Starts At $10
    Writing Course For Higher Pay Days
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1416558].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Tina

      If you chose those four categories because you were comfortable with the topics and/or are reasonably expert in them, why not approach authors who have had some recent success with a book (or ebook) in those subjects and offer to supply them with a ready-made follow-up.

      They'd more than likely have some kind of customer base already and the idea of a related product they wouldn't have to spend time writing may well appeal. You could perhaps sell it to them on the "strike while the iron's hot" principle.

      Send them a brief synopsis of the intended product with a sample of your writing style and you may be able to obtain a sizeable advance to fund you through until completion (or you could even negotiate a percentage of the sales).

      Might be a better plan than writing the books first and then hoping to sell them to interested parties.


      Frank
      Signature


      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1416609].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    I like the idea and would like to stretch it some. Why not put up a site where authors (screened to be competent writers meeting certain standards) could submit their manuscripts on various topics and where clients looking for ghostwritten material could come and bid on the book or pay a flat out fee?

    The owner would act as the facilitator taking a percentage of every transaction. And travlinguy could get a royalty on every brokered deal for coming up with the idea...
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1416633].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jbode
    3 months to create a product? ...are you kidding me

    Why not create some videos and sell them as DVD's it's easier, faster and more fun

    a good approach to this would be to sell resell rights or PLR to products you already have created IMO
    Signature
    WSO 5 WP Themes, Developer Rights Tons of Flexibility/Features Use For Anything!
    [WSO] Passive List Building Formula - Easy Consistent Cash
    10 Minutes Or Less Money Method
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1416635].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Tinkerbell
    Bev,
    Getting the book published would not be my specialty in this instance, but would be left to the author claiming the manuscript. I could offer additional materials for those who didn't want to go the self-publishing route, such as a written proposal and query letter to send to publishers.

    Frank,
    Thank you. That's more along the lines of what I was thinking. Um, do you know any authors who've had some recent success in those areas who might be interested in having a related product?

    travlinguy,
    Good idea, but I prefer to only be responsible for my own writing.

    jbode,
    I'm a writer, so writing is more fun to me. I dislike the idea of being in a video, and putting one together from screenshots and clips is a long, drawn out process I prefer to avoid -- like the plague. But if you're more comfy doing vids, go for it.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1416677].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Originally Posted by Tinkerbell View Post

      Frank,
      Thank you. That's more along the lines of what I was thinking. Um, do you know any authors who've had some recent success in those areas who might be interested in having a related product?
      Tina, if I were researching this, I'd start by looking at the Amazon and Clickbank top seller listings and I'd also plug a bunch of relevant keywords into Google to see what books or reports came up in the results.

      Then, I'd see if any of those products lent themselves to a follow-up I could write with authority on that would appeal to the same market (I'd buy a copy of any potential contender and study the content and style).

      After that, it would just be a case of contacting the author and setting out my proposal.


      Frank
      Signature


      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1416782].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author bazzais
        Personally I would spend 3 months writing articles for others on scriptlance or the like and gaining a 'reputation'

        There are so many web-masters out there that are in need of good content writers its just that the whole marketplace is littered with people who say they can write but in reality cant string a sentance together.

        You write like someone who could actually be beneficial to someone else's business.

        We dont really do ebooks here in the UK, infact I'd say it all goes over our heads. Use your writing skills to benifit someone who wants them and they wil pay you for it.

        Ta

        Baz
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1416813].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Tinkerbell
    Frank,
    <nod> Exactly. Thank you so much. I appreciate your thoroughness, too.

    Tina
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1416791].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Tinkerbell
    Baz,
    Well, I pretty much already have a reputation. Not a huge one, but here on the WF there are a number of folks who think I can write pretty good. I do write articles for others, and those articles are beneficial to someone else's businesses.

    What I am talking about here would also be beneficial to someone. Authors (people who have written a book) are experts in whatever area their book is about, right? Maybe not, but that's what a lot of people think.

    You said I should use my writing skills to benefit someone who wants them, and that is exactly what I am talking about doing here. Only instead of writing articles, I'd be writing entire books.

    Tina
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1416839].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bazzais
    Your written English is far better than mine. I just think its a big risk taking that long on a project that you hope you can sell rather than you have sold.

    In small chunks you could write alot of articles in 3 months and get paid for each one.

    If I was to spend that long writing an article I would try to find someone who wanted it first and would at least guarantee a sale at the end of it, I wouldn't want anyone to waste time.

    Ta

    Baz
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1416909].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Tinkerbell
    Baz,

    Not to worry. It wouldn't be as big a risk as you think because any author interested in having a manuscript they could put their own name on and claim authorship of that I write on their behalf would certainly pay a percentage upfront.

    In 3 months, I wrote an entire novel (95,000+ words) so yes, I could write a ton of articles (approximately 270). At $.07 a word (my normal rates), that's roughly $6,650. I could earn the same amount or more by writing a manuscript for someone who wanted the credibility of being an author but who didn't want to write the book themselves.

    To me, it's just another choice available: to write on one subject or topic for one person than to write on a possible 270 different topics for 270 different people, all with different expectations.

    And yes, before pursuing writing a manuscript for someone else, I would definitely make sure there was someone who wanted it first.

    Tina
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1416951].message }}

Trending Topics