GREAT LAKES
EDITING SERVICES
info@GLediting.com
Popular Non-Fiction Services
Thoughtful and articulate non-fiction writing informs, intrigues, impacts, and inspires its readers. At Great Lakes Editing Services, we consider it an honor to be able to work alongside non-fiction writers from various backgrounds, ranging from first-time authors to seasoned professionals, as they craft their ideas, insights, and stories into engaging prose. Wherever you or your client may be in the writing process, we're here to help guide your project forward and transform your literary aspirations and dreams into a reality.
Ghostwriting Services
Writing is a daunting and time-consuming process that can frustrate even the most eloquent and prolific authors. Turning your insights and experiences into a book — be it a collection of personal anecdotes, an inspiring self-help guide, or a popular intellectual work — can feel formidable without having the right guide. At Great Lakes Editing Services, our ghostwriting services can help you transform your ideas, observations, and story into clear, effective, and personable prose. From brainstorming the topic, structure, and intended audience of your book to drafting, revising, and editing your manuscript, our team will work alongside you every step of the way.
Breaking down the Ghostwriting Process
Step 1: Consulation Meeting
Upon receiving your inquiry regarding our ghostwriting services, we'll schedule you a free online consultation meeting with our Chief Editor to determine what your literary goals are and what services would best address your project's specific needs, schedule, and projected budget.
Step 2: Create a Book Plan
After our consultation meeting, we'll review your information, determine what ghostwriter or author coach would be be suited for your project, and create a schedule tailored to your particular literary needs and goals along with a project contract and finalized quote for your entire project.
Step 3: Draft Preparation
Once your project is under contract, your ghostwriter will research and prepare the first draft of your manuscript, which will be delivered for your review and approval in predetermined segments. Depending on the specific details of your project, this stage may involve one or several interviews.
Step 4: Draft Revision
Upon the completion of the first draft, your ghostwriter will integrate your suggested changes and conduct a second pass of your manuscript, focusing more intensely upon issues of style, syntax, and word choice. Once this second draft is finished, you'll receive the manuscript for review.
Step 5: Final Cleanup
After receiving your review of the second draft, your editor will add any final changes as well as make another pass to catch any grammatical errors, format inconsistencies, or typos. Once complete, your manuscript will be ready for copy editing (recommended) and then typesetting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is ghostwriting?
Ghostwriting is a collaborative process where a professional writer is hired to create published content for a client. Like any professional relationship, ghostwriting can take many different forms. In some cases, a ghostwriter may be hired to shape, revise, and refine an already existing manuscript or compile multiple different manuscripts into a single cohesive work. Other times, a ghostwriter might coauthor a book with a client or even write an entire book on behalf of a client. All of this is tailored to the specific needs and goals of the client.​​​
Do I need to have written anything before hiring a ghostwriter?
No, not at all! While a ghostwriter can adapt your previous written material into a book, quite a few clients will contact us without having written anything. Once you have a good idea of what you'd like your book to be about, we can offer consultation to figure out what ghostwriting services would best fit your literary needs and goals.​​​
What types of books does a ghostwriter work on?
At Great Lakes Editing Services, we specialize in memoirs and autobiographies, philosophical and theological works, inspirational works, self-help books, investigative or informational writing, and other non-fiction projects centered on the Humanities and Social Sciences. If you have a certain non-fiction project in mind, feel free to reach out and we can see up a free consultation meeting and see if we can help!
Would my book project be confidential?
At Great Lakes Editing Services, every ghostwriting project contractually guarantees the confidentiality of the client with a non-disclosure agreement. Additionally, none of the material used in the ghostwriting process is to be disseminated without the express consent of the client for any reason.
Do I have to list my ghostwriter as a coauthor?
Absolutely not. Unless otherwise stated by the client, every ghostwriting contract with Great Lakes Editing Services relinquishes all the creative rights of the ghostwriter. The final product is one hundred percent the intellectual and creative property of the client.
Does anyone have to know I used a ghostwriter?
Nope, not at all. Unless otherwise stated by the client, every ghostwriting contract with Great Lakes Editing Services relinquishes any legal claims to authorship of the ghostwriter and prohibits the ghostwriter from expressly claiming any role in the creation of the book.
Do I have to pay my ghostwriter a portion of any royalties?
Unless otherwise agreed upon by the ghostwriter and the client, the ghostwriter is contractually not privy to any financial profit that comes from the selling of the book.
How long does ghostwriting take?
The amount of time a ghostwriting project can take depends upon several factors, including the intended size of the book, the amount of material the client may have already written, the amount of research needed to complete the book, and the schedule of the client. Generally speaking, a small- to medium-sized book (30,000 to 50,000 words) may take any where from two to four months to complete, whereas a larger book (70,000+ words) may take five or six months (sometimes more). That being said, for a more specific timeline for your particular project, please contact us and we can give you a better idea.
How much does ghostwriting cost?
Considering the amount of time and work that goes into a project, professional ghostwriting can be quite an investment, with some in-demand ghostwriters charging upwards of one hundred thousand dollars per book. While every project is different, broadly speaking a small- to medium-sized book can run somewhere around $15,000-25,000 with a large book costing $30,000-40,000. However, these numbers can vary depending on a number of factors, so please reach out to us and we'll be more than happy offer a more precise estimate once we have a grasp of your project.
Do I need to pay for the entire project upfront?
Generally speaking, most clients pay an agreed-upon advance (around 25 to 50 percent of the total project cost) upfront once the contract has been signed, with the remainder paid once the manuscript has been completed and received final approval from the client. However, we also allow smaller milestone payments to paid out based upon when certain portions of the manuscript have been completed. Let us know what budgetary constraints or preferences you might have, and we can arrange a plan that works for you.
I'm curious about working with a ghostwriter, but I'm not entirely sold yet. Do you offer any sort of free consultation?
Totally understandable. At Great Lakes Editing Services, we offer all prospective ghostwriting clients a free online consultation meeting with our Chief Editor (typically forty-five minutes to an hour in length). During the consultation meeting, our Chief Editor will get to know you, your project, and your specific literary needs and goals as well as answer any questions you may have about the ghostwriting process.
What's the next step after the consultation meeting?
After our initial consultation meeting, we'll compile a book plan that offers a general layout of the proposed structure of your manuscript as well as a rough schedule for what the ghostwriting process will look like. In addition to the book plan, we'll provide a project quote for the cost of the entire project.
Do I need to pay for the entire project upfront?
Generally speaking, most clients pay an advance (around 25 to 50 percent of the total project cost) upfront once the contract has been signed, with the remainder paid once the manuscript has been completed and received final approval from the client. However, we also allow smaller milestone payments to paid out based upon when certain portions of the manuscript have been completed. Let us know what budgetary constraints or preferences you might have, and we can arrange a plan that works for you.
How will my ghostwriter know what to write?
Following your initial consultation meeting, we will work with you to develop a book plan that outlines the goals and intended audience of your book as well as the main themes and chapters. Once the book plan is established, the ghostwriter will use the plan to guide how they investigate the topic of your book. This may include collecting media resources, reading relevant books or research articles on your topic, or conducting interviews.
Will my book really sound like me?
Professional ghostwriting involves much more than just putting a client's name on the finished cover. An experienced ghostwriter can capture the authentic authorial voice of their client through the tone and style of the manuscript. This is why part of the ghostwriting process involves building a collaborative relationship with the client through meetings and interviews. At the end of the day, our goal is to help you write the best book you could possibly write, meaning we want your book to encapsulate your ideas, observations, and experiences in your own voice.
How will I receive the first draft of my book?
Depending upon the size of the project and its book plan, the first draft of the book will typically be delivered chapter-by-chapter or section-by-second.
What do I need to do during the review process of the first draft?
During the initial review of the first draft, the client has the opportunity to read through the content the ghostwriter has created and offer their input. At this stage in the process, your ghostwriter will want to address any issues you have with the structure, content, and general tone of the manuscript as well as integrate any specific changes you want to make.
What if I really don't like the first section I'm reading?
Our top concern at Great Lakes Editing Services is guaranteeing the satisfaction of our clients. This means making sure that your book project achieves your goals. As such, we heavily encourage our clients to be candid and forthright during the initial draft stage (if not brutally honest). If you really dislike how a section of your draft has turned out, please let your ghostwriter know right away so that can reformulate their approach to your project to better fit your literary needs and goals.
What if I decide that my ghostwriter isn't the right fit for me?
Because high-quality ghostwriting is a collaborative process, sometimes it can take time for a ghostwriter to acclimate themselves to their client. However, if at any point during the process you feel that your ghostwriter is not the right person for the job, our ghostwriting contract includes a termination clause, including at least a partial refund of payment remitted for services not rendered.
Why does my project need a second draft?
Once your ghostwriter has drafted your book manuscript as well as received and entered your suggested changes from your review, they will then make a second pass through your entire manuscript. Whereas the first draft focused on researching and producing the content for your book, the second draft focuses on polishing the format, tone, style, and language of your manuscript, giving it a more finished quality.
What is copy editing and does my book manuscript need to be copy edited once it is finished?
Copy editing is the process where an editor focuses on improving the readability and clarity of a piece of writing by addressing issues with grammar and word choice. We recommend all of our ghostwriting clients to have their book copy editing following the final approval of the manuscript. One of the benefits of copy editing is having a fresh set of eyes read through your manuscript, which will offer both you and your ghostwriter some insights into any final adjustments you might want to make before sending the manuscript off to be typeset and published. At Great Lakes Editing Services, we offer copy editing services at a reduced rate to our ghostwriting clients, but you are free to shop around for such services as well.
What's the next stage of the publishing process once my book manuscript has been finished?
Your next steps in the publishing process will depend on several factors. If you're working with a literary agent or have a publishing contract with a specific publisher, at this point they will take over the process and begin scheduling typesetting, proofreading, cover proofs, and other final details. If you're self-publishing and already have arrangements set in place, your contacts or liaison at your publisher will likely spearhead the next stages of your book. If you have not yet determine where or how to publish your book, your ghostwriter can advise you on acquiring a literary agent or finding a publisher throughout the ghostwriting process.
Does Great Lakes Editing Services provide typesetting or cover design services?
Unfortunately, we do not at this time. But we can direct you to someone who does!
Have any additional questions about ghostwriting services? Let us know and we'll be happy to help any way we can!
Ghostwriting Reviews
NON-FICTION AUTHOR
PERSONAL MEMOIR
I'll admit I wasn't really 100% sold on hiring a ghostwriter for this project when I contacted your company. But after reading this first draft, I can see why people hire folks like you. This is going to save me months of work. . . . My wife made it through the first page and first thing she said was "Did you write this? It sounds just like you but it so smooth." Should have seen her face when I told her you all wrote the whole thing for me. Great job. Glad I called you guys.
LITERARY AGENT
THEOLOGICAL BOOK
While I'm sure my client has already expressed his gratitude, I would like to personally say how great this entire process has been working with you. From my own experience, I know how quickly these projects can quickly get away from someone, especially with an extremely involved author like my client. You juggled everything with the utmost tact and delivered a fantastic manuscript ahead of schedule, all while keeping my client actively involved in the process, just as he wanted. That meant a lot to him and, by extension, to me as well.
NON-FICTION AUTHOR
BUSINESS MOTIVATION BOOK
WOW! I can't believe how good this is. You know, during those interviews I kept wondering how you were going to cut and paste all of this together into an actual book. I don't know if you get this a lot, but as I was reading this, I kept having to stop as ask "Did I write this or did he?" because all of it sounded exactly like something I would I say. Like, I can see these are all my ideas and stories, but you just turned them into something coherent I'd actually want to read. . . . This is exciting! Nice work!
Standard Editorial Services
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Substantive and Developmental Editing
Do you have your book manuscript drafted but aren't entirely satisfied with your current product and don't know what direction to take it in? Sometimes the best remedy is a new perspective on your work. Our Great Lakes Editing Services team can help you critically assess and develop your manuscript with your target audience and professional goals in mind. We'll examine your draft in depth, point out areas of strength and weakness, and propose an editorial game plan to help accomplish your literary goals. From there, we'll work step-by-step through your manuscript, refining your key themes through collaborative brainstorming and supplementary research while improving the presentation of your ideas by addressing the structural, stylistic, and grammatical aspects of your work.
Author Coaching
Even the best non-fiction authors sometimes hit a roadblock in the creative process. Whatever literary snag may be tying your project in knots, our experienced editors are here to untangle the mess. Our author coaching services help authors confront the conceptual, structural, organizational, or stylistic issues inhibiting their creative process. After consulting you on the state of your writing project and the particular obstacles hindering your progress, we'll conduct a detailed review of your manuscript that offers a constructive assessment of the problems at hand as well as some possible solutions to those issues. From there, we'll work alongside you until you're comfortably back on track.
Copy Editing
What distinguishes our non-fiction copy editing services is our critical edge and astute attention to detail derived from our academic background. At Great Lakes Editing Services, our editors will not only address all of the grammatical, stylistic, and syntactical problems facing your project but will also help improve word choice, remedy typographic and consistency issues, and identify any potential factual, citation, or bibliographic errors. In addition, our copy editors will offer constructive input concerning any lingering issues impeding the presentation of your ideas. No matter what condition your manuscript may be in, our copy editors are well-equipped to handle it.
Proofreading
Much like our academic editors, our popular non-fiction editors leave no rock unturned when it comes to proofreading. Our standard proofreading service not only double checks for typos, spelling and punctuation errors, tense issues, and consistency problems but also ensures that all line breaks are placed properly, all headings are styled correctly, and no additional errors were inputted during the copy editing phase. Got an even more specific issue with a manuscript? Let us know and we'll make sure it is taken care of.
Indexing
Ask any author who has had to compile their own index and chances are that they'll describe their overall experience as . . . well, less than enjoyable (tedious and torturous might be more like it). Lucky for you, we actually enjoy indexing here at Great Lakes Editing Services. Whether its an author, lexical, name, subject, or textual source index, we're more than happy to take that off your hands. Every one of our indices is easy-to-use, well-organized, properly formatted, and offers an accurate roadmap for readers to navigate your book based upon their specific interests.
Additional Non-Fiction Services
Besides the general editorial services listed above, we also offer the following services upon request. For more information, feel free to reach out to us and we can begin discussing your particular project and goals right away!
Virtual Content Editing
Book Proposals
Manuscript Review
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Pricing
Regardless whether you're a project editor, literary agent, or independent author, you most likely already know that good editorial services can get quickly become quite pricey. At Great Lakes Editing Services, one of our missions is to offer reasonable pricing for top-notch editing services without sacrificing quality or cutting corners.
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Our passion is helping non-fiction authors tell their stories. Have a particular project you need done but are restricted to a limited budget? Let us know and we can navigate a way to get the job done right for the right price!
