LIAM LIVINGS GHOSTWRITING SERVICES
Why hire a ghostwriter?
They say everyone has a novel in them! But getting your idea down on paper is harder than it at first seems. Well, I can help you get that novel out of your head, bring it from idea and onto a finished manuscript, ready for submission to agents and publishers.
I will work with you to retain your unique voice – how you phrase things and the sort of words you use – while ensuring the story is as publishable as possible.
I will ensure your story follows the required story structure of a novel.
I will work from whatever existing materials you currently have, to develop a full story. This could be letters, diaries, or an existing rough draft. Or, if you have nothing written down, I will schedule a series of recorded phone interviews which I will transcribe to form the raw material of your story.
What sorts of stories can I write for you?
I can help write your autobiography of the whole of your life, or a memoir about a particular period of your live.
I can even help you write a fiction story if you have an idea for characters and a plot. I can also finish an already written fiction story.
I can also write a story about a particular event in your life, so you will have the story to always look back on. This could include a wedding day, christening or naming ceremony, or other one off celebratory events.
Who has the copyright of the finished novel?
Depending on the agreement we make at the start of the project there are two options:
- You will retain the copyright, exactly as if you had written the story yourself. If you are in agreement, I would be happy with simply an ‘as told to Liam Livings’ or a thank you in the dedication about working with me on your book. You will then receive any royalties from the sale of the book.
- We have joint copyright which means neither of us can publish the book without the permission of the other party. With this option we would receive a share of the royalties from sales, this also affects the per page rates described below. This is dependent on the subject of the story and the client I'm working for.
This depends on the length of the story you’re wanting to tell, how much existing material there is, the type of story you’re wanting to write. A short story of 10,000 words using materials you have written, could be completed in 3 weeks, but a project of 100,000 word autobiography using phone interviews for source material could take 6 to 9 months. Once I know the sort of project you are looking for I can give you a more accurate estimate of time scale.
What is the process for writing your story?
I’ve developed a staged process for non-fiction and a slightly different one for fiction. For non-fiction it involves interviews, getting the story structure and chapter outline agreed by you, writing the story, receiving your feedback, revising until you’re happy.
For fiction, if there’s existing work you’d like me to add to, I read this, make notes on the characters, story line, then develop an outline for how the story can progress. Once that’s signed off by you, I would write the story, send to you for feedback, revisions until you’re happy.
What about getting your story published?
I am not an agent, or a publisher, and I don’t have a magic wand to ensure your story is published, but the best chance of having a novel accepted for publication is by having it written and in the most publishable condition possible. I can certainly help you with that. If you would like help submitting the finished novel to appropriate agents and publishers I am happy to discuss and quote for that as a separate piece of work.
If you don’t want to have it published traditionally, there are plenty of options to self publish in ebook and or paperback formats, using independent cover designers, editors, book formatters, who I am happy to put you in touch with once the manuscript is complete.
How much do I charge?
Depending on how much raw material there is – letters, diaries, existing story, nothing – and the type of story – memoir, fiction etc, I charge from £15 per completed page of the final manuscript (based on 250 words per page). This means if the final novel is longer you pay me more, if it is shorter you pay me less. This price includes interviewing, transcribing the interviews, structuring the story, working with you on a reasonable number of edits, formatting the manuscript to standard publishing format and delivering the final manuscript in .doc or .docx format for you.
For fiction, my rates are slightly higher, depending on how much existing content I need to review before writing the new words to your story. For fiction I charge writing for all workings out - such as my notes on character biographies, plot points and outline of new parts to be written – as well as writing in the final manuscript.
For both your and my benefit, I prefer staged payments throughout the project which I’m happy to discuss in more detail.
This price does not include any travel or other expenses I incur while writing your story – for example travelling to the event you wanted me to write a story about, or travelling to meet you for face to face interviews etc. These costs would be agreed with you before incurring them, and then added on top of the per page price.
What do others say about my ghostwriting skills?
‘The book is selling really well and it’s bloody marvellous darling. Thank you again for doing a wonderful job.’ (Client for memoir project)
‘Fun, outrageous and courageous...the best I've read in years.’ (Amazon customer review for the memoir book)
"It was a pleasure working with Liam. He offered me many excellent ideas for my novel. I have no hesitation recommending him to anyone needing ghostwriting services." (fiction ghostwriting client)