That toxic boss is EXACTLY the reason the price is higher. Thank you, Devon. I would love to know when it is ever appropriate to scream at anyone. Why do some people believe it’s perfectly fine to treat their trusted freelancer as a personal punching bag? Not acceptable at all.

I totally agree with you on the per-project fee. I used to do hourly, but then you run into clients who watch the clock more closely than the work they’re receiving. No thanks.

I have ghostwritten books. In all but one case I was paid in full. I regularly ghostwrite articles and marketing pieces for clients, but they have to have proven that they’re trustworthy. And happily, they have.

Depending on the size of the project, the time frame, how much time it takes from other work, etc., it has to pay for the time like any job. I don’t do hourly; I do a project fee that starts in five figures, and depending on various elements, goes up from there. A decent book project will take at least a year to draft, interview, research, put together, argue with the subject, etc., and the payment needs to be at least a year’s income.

Otherwise, it’s not worth it for me. At this point in the game, very few ghostwriting book projects are worth it for me. I no longer have the patience or the temprament.

But a year’s income is the STARTING point of the negotiations.

A toxic boss tried to guilt me into working for free several years ago and threw a screaming tantrum when I told her the fee and to contact my agent (I have an agent for nonfiction books), and I told her that her behavior was one of the reasons I charge so much.