Process
Your manuscript will be created in 3 main stages.
Free 30-minute Discovery Call
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We'll chat to see if we're a good fit and address all your questions.
Stage 1: Development
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Approx. 3 months - 18 two-hour calls total
​We'll talk about your book's core concept, target audience, ROI goals, title & subtitle, narrative structure, chapter-by-chapter outline, desired publishing path, and other strategic considerations. Once we've laid the foundation, we'll dive into our content interviews.
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3 Foundation Calls​
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1 Table of Contents Call
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4 Chapter Outline Calls
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10 Content Interview Calls
You'll leave Stage 1 with:
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A comprehensive written plan for your book​
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​All content interview recordings and transcripts
Stage 2: Writing
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Approx. 3 months - 4 two-hour calls total
​I'll use our recordings and transcripts to write the first draft of your manuscript. The content will be shared with you in 4 consecutive chunks so you can check out your work-in-progress and give big-picture feedback as it comes together.
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25% Progress Call
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50% Progress Call
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75% Progress Call
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100% Progress Call
You'll leave Stage 2 with:
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The full first draft of your manuscript
Stage 3: Revisions
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Approx. 3 months - 10 two-hour calls total
​Once you have your first draft, we'll work through 3 rounds of revisions: a Developmental Edit, a Line Edit, and a Copy Edit. I'll then have a professional 3rd-party proofreader do a final pass through your manuscript to ensure nothing slips past our attention. Once we've locked the content, I'll transfer ownership of copyright of your manuscript and all associated materials to your name.
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10 Revisions Calls
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1 Developmental Edit
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1 Line Edit
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1 Copy Edit
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1 Proofreading Pass
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Transfer of copyright
You'll leave Stage 3 with:
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The final draft of your manuscript
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Eternal copyright ownership of all associated content
Assistance With Next Steps
Whether you seek traditional publishing, self-publishing, or hybrid publishing, I can help you transition toward the next steps of your journey. I'll provide strategic knowledge about the best options available to you and refer you to my contacts in the publishing world. There's a bewildering number of excellent choices out there, so it helps to know who's who.
And when your book comes out...
We celebrate, dammit! WOOOO!!
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What movie are all these GIFs from?O Brother, Where Art Thou?, the Coen brothers classic.
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You mentioned that you offer HUGE discounts. Tell me more.I offer a total of $15k off my $60k package, which you can access through two steps: Get $10k off by agreeing to credit me in the acknowledgments section at the back of your book so I can showcase your project in my portfolio. (You don't have to call me your "ghostwriter." Other authors have called me their co-author, book coach, writing partner, etc. You can choose a term you're comfortable with!) Refer another author to my business. If they end up signing my contract, you'll get a $5k rebate!
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How are your calls handled?All calls are conducted online and recorded via Zoom.
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How can I pay you?Payments can be made via credit card, debit card, and bank transfer. Invoices will be sent to your email address with step-by-step instructions to make payments easy.
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What if my manuscript ends up exceeding 50,000 words?A word-overage charge of $300 per 1,000 words will be added to your final invoice. If you anticipate needing a considerably longer manuscript, we can discuss working this into the original scope of your contract.
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What if I end up needing additional calls?All out-of-scope work will be added to the following invoice at an hourly rate of $150.
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Do you hold specialized knowledge in any specific areas?Yes! These are my areas of specialty: - spirituality, meditation, yoga, personal development, energy work, and all manner of woo - pop psychology, complex trauma, somatic healing, subconscious rewiring, neuroscience 101 - sexuality, relationships, attachment, kink, ethical non-monogamy, dating culture, sex ed - travel, international affairs, Japanese culture, Thai culture, foreign languages, linguistics - entrepreneurship, marketing, startup culture, business coaching, wealth empowerment - feminism, women's issues, women's rights, female empowerment, and all things girl boss - tarot, witchcraft, magic, psychic abilities, supernatural forces, and secrets of the occult
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What are the 3 stages of the process like for authors?Stages 1 and 2 tend to be a lot of fun. All you have to do is prepare for our calls, offer relevant content during interviews, and provide big-picture feedback. Stage 3 requires more effort and nitty-gritty involvement. You'll be asked to dive into your manuscript, suggest specific changes, and help me cut any fluff during revisions. While this can feel like a lot, it's all necessary to the process. Intricate, detailed edits will take your manuscript from good to great.
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What are some typical reasons people write non-fiction books?Most authors write non-fiction books because they want to: - lay out their personal or professional ethos for the world - offer innovative solutions to modern problems - connect with audiences that share their interests and beliefs - inspire transformational shifts in the lives of their readers - help others get past obstacles they've conquered in the past - create a cohesive, digestible embodiment of their work - leave an eternal legacy via memoir I can help you with all these aims and more.
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Will the book royalties I earn make me stinking rich?Nope! People make very little money off book royalties these days. Most authors publish their books as part of a larger brand strategy that generates income in other ways.
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How do you compare to other ghostwriters?I take a thorough approach to the manuscript creation process, offering more calls per project than many ghostwriters. I also offer highly relational, personalized book coaching, never working with more than 3-4 authors at a time. I'm picky about who I work with because I know my best writing is created when I share my author's passion for the material at hand. If we end up collaborating, it's because I believe in your mission and am dedicated to helping you shine. My unique background makes me a potential fit for authors writing about spirituality, psychology, culture, entrepreneurship, and more. Check my About page for more details.
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What hours are you available?I'm available by text, email, or Zoom (by appointment) Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT (California time). Author contracts include 30 minutes of correspondence time per week. Additional correspondence will be billed as out-of-scope work.
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Do you ever travel to authors for in-person work?Yes. I'm open to traveling for in-person collaboration, especially during the interview phase. Authors must cover all travel and accommodation expenses in addition to hours worked. Please let me know if you're interested in meeting in person at the outset of your project so I can include it in your scope.
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What if I need to pause the project?If you need to pause the project, a monthly retainer fee of $5,000 must be paid to keep the project active. If you choose to stop the project altogether, future availability can't be guaranteed once you're ready to restart.
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Do I have to credit you on my book cover?Nope! You're the author and your book is your intellectual property, not mine. That said, we ghostwriters always appreciate when authors credit us in the acknowledgments section at the back of their book, as this allows us to showcase the project in our portfolio. We also love to brag about our authors and their work! Giving us the green light to share our involvement in your project allows us to splash shout-outs all over social media during your book launch. While this is entirely your choice, please note that I offer a hefty discount of $10k to authors who agree to provide credit when they sign their contract.
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Who owns the copyright to the books you ghostwrite?Copyright ownership is transferred to the author at the end of the project after the final payment has been made.
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What if I need to make big changes to the content during revisions?If more than 10% of the first draft needs a complete rewrite, a renegotiation of scope will be needed.
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Can you read my blog / books / other existing materials in preparation for writing my manuscript?Yes. All out-of-scope preparatory work will be billed at an hourly rate of $150.
Peggy has been instrumental to our success at Mermaids of Arabia. She has a
beautiful way with words that captivates and engages our audience and we’re
very lucky to have such a creative writer working with us. I won’t let her go!
—Josephine Adams, CEO and founder at Mermaids of Arabia