THGM Writing Services

New scholarship for first year writing students in 2022

March 25, 2022 By Leave a Comment

We are offering a new US$500 scholarship to American and Canadian high school seniors this year. Any first-year post-secondary writing-related program qualifies.

Let your young writer friends know: if they’ve applied for a first year writing-related program, they can now apply for the THGM MUSE Scholarship. The deadline is May 30.

The scholarship awards US$500 (or C$630 if they are studying in Canada) to one high school senior. They must be enrolled in (or have applied for) a writing-related program at the post-secondary level. Examples of eligible programs are: [Read more…]

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10 New Year’s resolutions for writers and authors in 2022

December 17, 2021 By 8 Comments

Welcome to a new year – 2022. Despite that pesky virus, it’s the perfect time for fresh beginnings. If you are a writer or author, here are some New Year’s resolutions for you.

Technically, there is nothing special about New Year’s Day. It’s just the day we start counting over.

There is no reason why you can’t make resolutions to change your life today, tomorrow, next week or on June 17.

But, as we start to count over, many people take advantage of that event to also make over their lives. And why not? Any excuse to make ourselves better is a good excuse. [Read more…]

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Infographic: Do I need a ghostwriter? How to tell if you should hire a ghostwriter

July 14, 2019 By 1 Comment

Many authors hire ghostwriters. But how do you know if you should? This handy flow chart will help answer the question: “Should I hire a ghostwriter?”

Surprisingly, not everybody needs to hire a ghostwriter. Some people write their own books, screenplays and business materials.

But people come to ghostwriters for a variety of reasons. This flow chart will help you determine if you have one of the common reasons that people need to hire a ghostwriter. [Read more…]

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How a ghostwriter can help you get your book published

June 2, 2019 By 1 Comment

Want a publish-ready book manuscript? Here’s how a ghostwriter can get you ready to publish.

Some people come to us thinking that we’ll publish their book. We won’t. But we can make their manuscript publishable.

Getting published is always a challenge, unless you self publish. But even then, you need a publishable manuscript. You need a book that people will want to read.

That’s where our ghostwriters come in. [Read more…]

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The 1 trait every ghostwriter needs

November 3, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Just one thing separates a ghostwriter from other writers. Without this trait, you simply cannot ghostwrite.

A lot of writers get frustrated when their big dream doesn’t come true. Not every writer finds their beat writing fiction. Not every writer becomes a bestseller. Not every writer makes enough as an author to pay the bills.

So they turn to ghostwriting. [Read more…]

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How to save on the cost of hiring a ghostwriter

May 20, 2018 By 1 Comment

How much does it cost to hire a ghostwriter to write your book? Here is your complete guide to getting the best bang for your buck.

How much does a ghostwriter cost? There is no question that ghostwriter fees are expensive. It is a highly skilled, labor-intensive job. But there is a very wide range of pricing.

I have known people to pay upwards of $50,000 to have a book ghostwritten. That is not good.

I have also known people to pay very, very little…and that is not good, either. [Read more…]

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Ghostwriting and folding egg whites in batter: a tale of two Julia Childs

June 20, 2017 By Leave a Comment

How do you blend the idealist writer in you with pragmatic demands of  ghostwriting? Kristin Johnson draws inspiration from none other than Julia Child.

In ghostwriting, how do you blend your own ability and insights with your client’s story and voice? You could learn from America’s greatest ghostwriter, who has a hit musical named after him.

Also, you can learn from Julia Child (we’ve already discussed in this post on how Joan Rivers can help you become a better writer), and from the movie “Julie/Julia,” starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. [Read more…]

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What’s it like to be a ghostwriter?

November 26, 2016 By 2 Comments

Do you wonder what is a ghostwriter, and what it’s like to be one? In this post, we spill the beans.

I’ve seen this question from time to time in forums and social media groups, so I would like to provide a complete answer: What’s it like to be a ghostwriter?

The short answer is that being a ghostwriter is many things.

I’ll assume you already have some idea what it’s like to be a writer, and most likely you already write. So I won’t cover that off.  Rather, I’ll compare what it’s like to be a ghostwriter with what it’s like writing for yourself. [Read more…]

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Authors, pro tips on how to sell the rights to your book

December 16, 2015 By 7 Comments

As an author, you have more rights than you might think. Get more out of your writing; sell your rights.

Most authors don’t think too much about their rights. They think about copyright, for sure. They often mail themselves a copy of their manuscript, making sure that the date of mailing is very clearly displayed in the cancellation, as proof of copyright.

Most authors also register their work with their national copyright registry. Many authors even believe that registering their work grants them copyright. It doesn’t; registration is just registration. Copyright is created when pen hits paper or fingertips hit keyboard.

The main reason we work with ghostwriting contracts is to establish that the copyright belongs to the author, not our writer.

But once the work is complete, there are many additional rights that you own and might be very valuable to sell. [Read more…]

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The difference between authors and writers

December 3, 2015 By 4 Comments

What is the difference between a writer and an author? Well…it’s complicated.

Running a ghostwriting agency, I get this question all the time. “What is the difference between a writer and an author?” It is an important distinction to be made on a practical level, if for no other reason because our ghostwriting contracts sometimes make the distinction. [Read more…]

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Ghostwriter contracts 101 – ghostwriting agreements clause by clause

November 19, 2015 By 7 Comments

Ready to hire a ghostwriter? You might wonder about the ghostwriter contract and the fees. Here is what you should find in a ghostwriter contract.

So, your search for a ghostwriter is complete. Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work. What comes first? The contract, of course. Make sure that the agreement covers everything important. Better than reading a sample ghostwriting contract template, here is a quick guide of what to watch for in a ghostwriting contract. [Read more…]

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The mega list of careers for writers – writing jobs or freelance work

October 7, 2015 By 12 Comments

Who knew there were so many career paths for a writer to take? Here are 37 jobs for professional writers, either as employees or as freelancers.

What image comes to mind when you hear the word “writer”?

Some people immediately think of a novelist, perhaps locked away in solitude working on their masterpiece, like Hemingway or like “Alex Rover” in Nim’s Island.

Some people think right away of bloggers coming up with some new angle in their chosen niche each day.

Others might picture an intrepid journalist, writing news or sports or entertainment stories for the masses. [Read more…]

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8 Must-Have Items to Pack for a Writers Conference

June 8, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Kristin is off to the Santa Barbara Writers Conference, and – ooh, look what she’s packing!

It’s that time of year. To quote Alice Cooper, “School’s out forever.” Unless you happen to be packing your bags for the Santa Barbara Writers Conference, as I am. [Read more…]

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Writers, authors, bloggers – beware these health risks

May 26, 2015 By 51 Comments

A writing career is fraught with peril – just ask Alex Rover. Here is your complete guide to writer health risks and remedies, with real-life examples and links to scientific sources.

Everybody knows the health risks involved in being a fireman – smoke inhalation, burning to death, and being forced to pose for a beefcake calendar. [Read more…]

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New Nigerian scam targets writers

April 1, 2015 By 22 Comments

A new Nigerian scam targets writers. Here is how to recognize it, even if they say they’re from Ghana. Or Vietnam. Or Finland.

If you get an email from Nigeria, it’s a scam, right?  Not necessarily.  Nigeria is a big country – 173 million people, most of them real and honest.  And the “Nigerian scam” is so famous by now, that anybody trying to pull a scam would make sure NOT to say they are from Nigeria, right? [Read more…]

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Confessions of a political ghostwriter

February 25, 2015 By 1 Comment

Most of what politicians say or write are their own thoughts to a large degree.  But that doesn’t mean they write their own words.

Have you ever wondered how politicians can be everywhere and do everything all at once?  If there is an official opening or a community barbecue, there they are!

When the legislature is in session and there’s a vote or a debate, there they are!

When Committees hold hearings or debate legislation, there they are!

When a local business or community group wants a meeting.  When a constituent has a problem with a government department.  When a national association does the rounds of legislators…there they are!

And yet they respond to dozens or hundreds of letters every day, send out bulletins to their constituents and make speeches.

They can’t be everywhere at the same time, or can they? [Read more…]

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Freelance writers, this is your guide!

February 19, 2015 By Leave a Comment

If you read only one book to boost your freelance writing career, you should read Start Here. You get the top tips from 40 successful freelance writers

Perhaps you are struggling to keep focused or stay organized. Perhaps you need more clients – or even the same number of clients, without working so hard to get them. Perhaps you need to overcome fear or inertia, or you need better marketing or ways to make more money from your freelance writing career. [Read more…]

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Who hires a ghostwriter, for a book or speech or…?

January 28, 2015 By 7 Comments

Everybody knows that some people hire ghostwriters. But it might surprise you to discover who some of those “some people” are.

This might seem an odd question – “Who hires a ghostwriter?” – and yet there do appear to be some popular misconceptions about who hires a ghostwriter. Most people have a vague idea of who works with them, but few people are really aware of how widespread their services are. [Read more…]

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Six ways to get the most from your ghostwriter

October 2, 2014 By Leave a Comment

You want to hire a ghostwriter.  You want to get the most out of her.  How can you make yourself that ideal client that gets the best from his ghostwriter?

When you hire a ghostwriter, you are hiring an extension of yourself.  No matter how good a ghostwriter might be, the final product will be a reflection of you and how you feed your ghostwriter.  The “perfect” ghostwriting client feeds the ghostwriter exactly what she needs to deliver exactly what you want.

This is your guide to feeding your ghostwriter, so that you get exactly what you want. [Read more…]

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16 ways to drive a ghostwriter stark raving mad!

September 3, 2014 By 5 Comments

Have you ever asked yourself, “I wonder what’s the best way to torture a ghostwriter?”  If so, here are 16 handy ways to drive your ghostwriter stark raving bonkers.

Over the years, I’ve worked with hundreds of clients.  Many of them have been for small projects, such as writing or editing a press release.  Or writing a best-man, father-of-the-groom or maid-of-honor speech (I love writing those!).  But many have been for major projects, and when I say “major”, I generally mean writing a book or occasionally a screenplay. [Read more…]

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