I basically offer two types of services:
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  1. Ghostwriting: You bring your ideas and experiences, and I bring my writing skills. Together we craft a book that is clear and engaging and sounds like it was written by you.
  2. Developmental Editing: You want to do the writing but don’t know how to turn your notes into a book. Or maybe you’ve already written it but know it needs help.

I specialize in Christian non-fiction, but have worked on novels, memoirs, leadership, business, and self-help books. I’ll gladly work with someone who doesn’t share my faith but will have to decline projects that actively contradict my beliefs.

I’ll let you know upfront that I’m not cheap (though I am on the lower side of professional ghostwriting fees). This isn’t one of those cut-rate ghostwriting services that you can find online. It all comes down to how good you want your book to be. This is what makes me worth my rates:

  • Over fifteen years of experience and eight books written, everything from content writing to speeches and sermons to creative non-fiction and memoirs to a 400-page novel.
  • A traditionally published author (i.e. not self-published) who has navigated the publishing world.
  • The ability to ask probing questions and draw your message out of you.
  • A back-and-forth relationship that ensures your book represents you.
  • Writing that is clear, concise, and engaging.
 
That said, to prove my value I’m offering a free, no-obligation critique of your project and first five pages. In the past, I charged $75 for this service and clients have said it was well worth the price. 

​Two more things you should know about me: 1) I don’t write crap and won’t let you either. Not every book needs to be five-star quality, but if you aren’t willing to put a massive amount of effort into your book, I’m probably not for you. 2) I’m a really nice guy but a relentless editor and writer. You’ll need a thick skin. Why? See #1. 
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Please note: I am not a copyeditor. I specialize in capturing the big idea and communicating it in a compelling way, not fixing grammatical issues. 

​Ghostwriting

It begins with an idea or a story you want to tell.

I help you refine your idea and develop a structure. Over the course of several interviews, we develop the content and I write it in your “voice,” which is to say that it will sound like you.

At the end of the process, you’ll have a clear, engaging manuscript that is ready to be copyedited.

So how much will it cost?

It’s not a simple answer. The price is affected by the nature of the project, its length, and how much work you’ve already done. However, most medium length books (180-220 pages) will run $30,000-40,000. Memoirs tend to be longer and require more work, so they usually run $40,000-50,000.  




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Developmental Editing

You just need some help to make it as good as you believe it can be. 

I’ve developed the skill of absorbing massive amounts of information, organizing it, and communicating it in clear and engaging ways. This makes me the perfect person for helping you take your writing to the next level.

Note: Not sure what your book needs? See below for a three-step process that allows you to “stack” my services to save money. 

​I offer several different services:
 
1.    Coaching: $150 an hour 
       OR $700 a month for up to 5 hours

Think of this like hiring a craftsman to train you as you build your house. The more work you do, the cheaper it will be, but I’ll always be there to lend a hand. If you want to speed things up or are struggling with a particular item, hand it off to me.

I can also be hired for content writing under this arrangement. 


 2.     Developmental Editing: Starting at $.05 a word

Do you have a lot of words on the page but struggle to get them into a coherent order? I excel at finding themes and creating working outlines. I’ll go through your book on the paragraph level (as opposed to line editing), rearranging, deleting, and commenting on what works and what doesn’t.
 
This package includes three meetings: one at the beginning, one with my findings, and a third one that you can use within one year. 


3.     Concept Evaluations: $750-$1,250 

If you have the idea and maybe some of the writing but just can’t bring it all together, then you need a concept evaluation. Over a series of interviews, I’ll help you clarify your topic and coach you through getting started. If you’re willing to do the work, you should be ready to start writing when we’re done. As a bonus, you can meet with me again about the same project, up to one year later.
 

4.      Manuscript Evaluations: $750-$1,750 

If your book is already written, but you know it isn’t quite right, hire me for a manuscript evaluation. I’ll read your book (up to 120,000 words), make notes on what’s working and not working. We’ll meet (in person, phone, or videocall) for one long session to discuss what I find. As a bonus, you can meet with me again about the same project, up to one year later


What if you don’t know what your book needs?

I can make a good (but non-binding) guess after ten minutes. But an accurate bid requires an in-depth evaluation. Here’s my process. I’ll work my way through the steps below, each one representing a critical tool for crafting a great book, and you can stop at any point you like.
 
The first step is manuscript evaluation (#4 above), where I read the entire book, make 10,000-foot-view observations, and recommend a basic structure and direction.
 
The second step would be the developmental edit (#2 above). Using the recommendations from the evaluation, we’d determine the direction of the book and then I’d conduct a paragraph level edit, organizing the material and finding the gaps. If you stopped here, you’d receive copious notes and have a clear picture of where you need to go next.
 
The third step would be to either hire me to coach you through writing your own book (#1 above) or hire me to complete it as a ghostwriter. By this point, I’ll be able to write a firm proposal, with a 100% credit for the work already done in steps one and two.