Ghostwriting: For Fun & Profit

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Summary: Do you believe Clinton wrote his book, not with out a ghost.
Review: 60% of all non-fiction books are writen by ghostwriters. Does one imagine that the popular celebrities or politicians write their own books, no way. This book is filled with information for writers who want to earn a interesting and rewarding life at ghostwriting. It is also a great tool for those that are looking for a ghostwriter. This is a book on how to become a professional ghost written by one. It is not a book on editing or a directory for people looking for ghostwriters check the information on the back cover.

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Summary: Great Stuff In This Little Book
Review: I found Ms. Shaw's book so helpful and encouraging I've taken the step and asked for work, found ghosting clients and started writing for this lucrative field. While I teach writing at a community college and have freelanced for a number of years I wouldn't have had the courage to ghost without the help of the no-frills guidebook.

This isn't a career for everyone, thank heavens, but if you're toying with or determined to make a living as a writer (and you're a good writer) I highly recommend the tightly written manual. I especially appreciated Chapter 3's "How To Begin." The writing is strong and clear, like Shaw's other books.

The book should be on every writer's bookshelf. It's an excellent resource for writers--especially with the sample contracts, how to determine fees and of course the ethical aspects of the business.

I've already recommended it to others.

Best yet? I've just received my fifth check from a ghostwriting client. Would it have happened without Shaw's book? No way.

Rating:
Summary: Great Stuff In This Little Book
Review: If you have ever thought about ghostwriting but really don't understand the industry or what the opportunities are then you will want to take a look at this book. Author Eva Shaw has been a ghostwriter for almost thirty years. In "Ghost-Writing for Fun & Profit" she shares the benefits of her experiences and offers practical tips and advice for anyone exploring the possibility of entering this field. Areas covered in the book include the various types of ghostwriting, payment methods and when one method is better than the other, typical rates, references, getting clients, agreements, copyrights, royalties, personalities, interviewing, selling the book, selling the idea, and the mechanics of actually ghostwriting an article, speech, book, or other item. Full of practical down-to-earth advice, Dr. Shaw has created an indispensable guide to the ghostwriting business. "Ghost-Writing for Fun & Profit" is a highly recommended read for anyone interested in this business.

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Summary: Good information marred by poor execution
Review: The author of this book has many interesting and helpful points to make, but they are mired down by such statements as "ghost writers pour over research ..." and by inconsistent, often incorrect, punctuation, diction, and spelling. These errors are so prevalent they really get in the way of the useful information she has to share.

As a ghostwriter myself, I found Shaw's book to have some nice nuggets. However, mining them was harder than it should have been. A stronger editorial eye would have helped this book. There are even mistakes in the Table of Contents and Acknowledgments. The author is clearly a professional, but this work is so unpolished it is not a good advertisement for her skills.