HoW much?

“Why are ghostwriters so expensive?”

Some prospective authors bridle at the price of hiring an experienced ghostwriter to help with their book. They’d like me to justify the cost. I have two answers, one simple and the other more complex.

The simple answer is: “We’re not.” By that, I mean that we’re highly skilled and experienced professionals who have done this dozens of times, with a variety of authors, about a range of different subjects. You don’t expect an accountant, lawyer, teacher, or realtor to work for cut-price rates. Professional talent is professional talent, period.

The more complex answer is: “We’re not.”

This time, I mean we’re not expensive in terms of what you get for your investment. Getting a professional writer who can take your jumble of ideas and turn them into the book you want is just the start of it.

You also get:

• A confidante who spends hours listening to your innermost thoughts and visions.

• A cheerleader who spurs you on.

• A drill sergeant who tells you no when you need to hear it.

• A companion who’ll walk alongside you if things get emotionally difficult, which they often do.

• A logician who points out inconsistencies in your thinking, even if it pisses you off.

• A co-conspirator who shares the plotting and the excitement.

• A shoemaker’s elf who quietly disappears when the work is done.

You also get a book that will be a permanent asset to your business and your career. It can help you achieve many things. But you can only get an ROI if you start with an I…