It’s been a while since we exercised our client-vetting skills, which is what this Is This Client Worth It segment is about. If we see real scenarios and how it turned out, we might get better at vetting potential clients.
Let’s consider this scenario:
The client reached out via an established contact. He needed a ghostwriter for his book. His book was a tell-all account of his time in the Navy and it included attempted murder, hazing, and various forms of harassment. The client also related that he had spent time as a woman, which he wanted to mention in the book.
The project was sizable. The client was not a writer. Rather, he had a pretty decent outline and was making himself available for phone conversations. He was personable and had a great way of describing his story and some of the details.
The project fee: half the royalties.
What would you do?
I turned it down.
Not one of the details of this client’s life or story turned me off. In fact, I sincerely hope he was able to get his story written. However, he’d do it without me.
The deal killer:
Royalties as payment.
No. Absolutely, hell no.
Writers, please never agree to write for royalties alone. Royalty promises on an unpublished, unsold story are as useful as a promise to share lottery winnings. There’s no guarantee. There’s also no contract.
I countered this potential client with a big pushback. No to royalties only. If he wanted me to write it, he’d have to pay my hourly rate.
This is a case in which the answer is pretty easy. It’s no. Always no. I have turned down a number of these requests, as I’m sure some of you have. The more equitable deal is one that guarantees pay for your work. If you and the author negotiate for some royalty payout, that’s just gravy on the meatloaf. It shouldn’t be the entire meal.
Writers, have you ever agreed to something like this? How did it work out?
What are some of the more questionable client requests you’ve had to refuse? Or did you take them? How did that turn out?
If I ghostwrite a book for anyone, I’m not putting in the work to never get paid. Few books earn out advances, much less earn royalites, and less so every year. If I ghostwrite a book (something I rarely do anymore), I prefer to be hired by the publisher — which means the idea is already under contract — than the writer, who will probably make my life hell and flake out most of the time. Sometimes there’s a percentage of royalties involved ABOVE the payment for writing the book; other times it’s a flat fee.
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.
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.