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Topic: Reasonable or ridiculous?
| Author | Message |
| louise | Posted – 7/7/2008 1:07:12 PM | show profile I've been asked to ghostwrite a how-to ebook for a company that will sell it directly from their website. We haven't discussed money yet because we're negotiating a major sticking point. They want me to agree to write the thing and then basically pretend it never happened. I can't use it in a portfolio. Can't use them as references. Nothing. Is this a standard request in ghostwriting? |
| mkelly | Posted – 7/7/2008 1:37:43 PM | show profile Not that I advocate burning bridges, but once you agree to this, write the book, get payment, and the check clears-- what exactly will they do to punish you if you do cite the book in your portfolio? Sue? Deny that they ever worked with you? (Despite the contract you'll have with their name on it.) |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 7/7/2008 9:52:54 PM | show profile There are certainly some ghostwriting clients who don't want the writers fingerprints on the product in anyway. Personally, that doesn't bother me as long as the fee is high enough. I might quote them two fees: one based on their conditions, and lower ones if I can use their sample in my portfolio, if that is important to you. But yes, what their asking is not unreasonable. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 7/7/2008 9:55:15 PM | show profile It's really not a good business practice, especially in ghostwriting, to blithly ignore agreements with clients. Even if they don't sue, would you really want to use as a reference a company that you screwed over? You think they are going to praise you? --Not that I advocate burning bridges, but once you agree to this, write the book, get payment, and the check clears-- what exactly will they do to punish you if you do cite the book in your portfolio? Sue? Deny that they ever worked with you? (Despite the contract you'll have with their name on it.).-- |
| westsidestory | Posted – 7/7/2008 11:11:20 PM | show profile This is fairly common; I have one past client that really wants the world to believe she actually wrote her book. Get over the pride thing and ask for LOTS of money, and at least a third up front. |
| mkelly | Posted – 7/8/2008 8:19:39 AM | show profile >>It's really not a good business practice, especially in ghostwriting, to blithly ignore agreements with clients. Even if they don't sue, would you really want to use as a reference a company that you screwed over? You think they are going to praise you? Excellent point, which is why I didn't say you should blithely ignore a client agreement. I'm just curious what they can do to enforce this policy. For example, if I ended up ghost-writing a bestseller, when the next gig comes along (after I get good references from all my other clients), I wouldn't necessarily refrain from saying, 'Oh yeah, I wrote this too,' and flipping a copy of the bestseller on the new client's table. But anyway, as others have said, money is a wonderful way to salve the wounded writer's ego. Especially when it's up front. |
| louise | Posted – 7/8/2008 10:50:58 AM | show profile Thanks for all the responses! I'm relieved to know that I wouldn't be a total fool for agreeing to it ... as long as the money is right. :) |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 7/8/2008 11:03:01 AM | show profile I suppose you could mention it in an offhand way, but I wouldn't bring along a copy and flip it on the table because that begs the question of why you don't include the stuff in your promotional material. And then you have to hope the client you are pitching don't either 1. Think you are making it up. Or 2. Figure out you are breeching your confidentiality agreement with your other client (would you hire someone who did that -- I wouldn't because I know if he screwed someone else he'll screw me too). So mentioning it in an offhanded way could hurt you as much as help you. --Excellent point, which is why I didn't say you should blithely ignore a client agreement. I'm just curious what they can do to enforce this policy. For example, if I ended up ghost-writing a bestseller, when the next gig comes along (after I get good references from all my other clients), I wouldn't necessarily refrain from saying, 'Oh yeah, I wrote this too,' and flipping a copy of the bestseller on the new client's table.-- |
| beenthere | Posted – 7/8/2008 8:08:03 PM | show profile See if you can get acknowledged as a researcher. Then at least you can use it in your portfolio, although you won't be able to disclose that you wrote it. It's a half truth, but it's better than nothing. We do this sometimes with the ghostwriters we use. |
