How do I know if my ideas are any good?
Many clients have put off completing their dream project because they’re afraid their ideas aren’t any good. When you’re a newcomer to an industry, doubts and lack of confidence are understandable. You think your ideas could be great… but will the rest of the world? Not to worry – a good ghostwriter is neither a yes-man who offers no advice on the quality of your ideas nor a bulldozer who tramples over your pitches and takes too much control. We will evaluate the best way to bring your dream to life as you envision it while also offering tweaks and suggestions to make the best possible product. We want to both accomplish your dream and craft a marketable product.
How involved do I need to be in the process?
As involved as you want! We’ve had clients give us a rough idea with a few key points and then free rein over the rest of the project. Likewise, we’ve had clients who want to go over every word choice. Both approaches are okay. You establish the dynamic that makes you most comfortable.
How long will it take?
For small projects, such as blogs and web content, the finished product can be delivered in under a week, depending on the topic. Speeches can take a few weeks, since they’re more personalized and often require more revisions. Manuscript critique and evaluation can take several weeks, depending on the length of the existing material. For longer projects, such as a full-length narrative, the time frame could be six months to a year.
What’s the average cost for a project?
You can get an idea of the cost of shorter projects by checking out our pages on web content & blogging, wedding vows & toasts, and custom speeches. Longer projects can run from $5,000 to $25,000, depending on the subject matter, length, amount of required research, and what’s already been done by the client. When it’s unclear how long a project will take, we’ll charge an hourly rate of $70.
However, keep in mind that we offer discounts and sales, so don’t be afraid to mention how you learned about us, whether you’ve worked with us before, or that you’ve heard of a specific deal. We also offer discounts to members of the military.
Is ghostwriting legal?
This is one of those “Yes! But…” scenarios. Yes, ghostwriting is perfectly legal and a useful tool for people in all walks of life, but there are always instances in which either writers or clients abuse the process. Since it is a clandestine profession, fraudsters will take advantage of the secrecy to scam clients. Likewise, some areas should be off limits to ethical ghostwriters, such as writing academic papers for students. Keep an eye out for red flags that indicate a possible con or just plain bad ghostwriting.
Can you help me get published?
This depends on what you mean by “get published.” Can we help you prepare your project for publication by proofreading, formatting, and polishing it off? Yes. Can we compile the information you’ll need to seek publication, such as book proposals, query letters, lists of agents, and other tips? Yes. Can we help you self-publish? Yes.
Can we find an agent or publisher for you or publish your book directly like a large publishing house? No. We aren’t agents or publishers ourselves, we’re merely writers, editors, and formatters. We can only take you so far in the process. While Trellis strives to prepare you as much as possible for publication, we can’t directly interact with agents and publishers on your behalf. What you do with your writing after we’ve completed the project is up to you, but we’ll give you information and preparation so you’ll be confident as you take the next steps.
How many changes can I make to the project after seeing drafts?
Trellis will send you regular drafts and updates throughout the process, so you won’t be seeing the project for the first time at the end. This allows for ongoing changes and revisions to refine the writing to suit your needs. After a full draft is completed, we typically include a few full edits so you can ensure the finished product matches your voice and vision. For longer narratives, two full edits are usually included, allowing for structural changes, additional content, and other alterations. However, any further edits will only be provided at an additional cost.