This document discusses key elements that should be covered in a ghostwriter contract, including rights, pricing, timelines, and research. The main points are: 1. A ghostwriter contract should clearly outline what rights the client is purchasing, such as film, audio, and foreign rights, and transfer ownership of the work from the writer to the client. 2. Pricing in the contract should specify total cost and payment schedule, with milestones often based on completion of chapters or sections rather than strict deadlines. 3. Timelines are difficult to lock in given clients' busy schedules, so contracts should provide flexibility rather than fixed due dates for deliverables. 4. Research requirements and confidential

1. GHOSTWRITER CONTRACTS
Everything you need to know about…

2. WHY A GHOSTWRITER CONTRACT
What should a ghostwriter contract do for
you?
 You want to know what you get.
 You want to know what you pay.
 You want to remain flexible.
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3. THE MAIN REASON THGM USES CONTRACTS
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4. RIGHTS IN A GHOSTWRITER CONTRACT
What are your rights?
 A writer is owner of his or her own words.
 A ghostwriter contract transfers that right to
the client.
 This is the main reason THGM Writing
Services uses contracts.
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5. RIGHTS IN A GHOSTWRITER CONTRACT
What kind of rights should you claim?
 Film rights
 Audio rights
 Foreign rights
 All rights
Make sure your contract covers all rights.
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Services

6. PRICING A GHOSTWRITER CONTRACT
How will the project be priced?
 How much is the total contract worth?
 What size increments does the client pay?
 When is each instalment due?
 Are instalments based on a schedule or on
milestones?
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7. PRICING A GHOSTWRITER CONTRACT
THGM Writing Services uses milestones.
 We work at the writer’s and the client’s pace
 We make sure the writer can eat along the
way
 We protect the client from having to empty
the world’s largest piggy bank on the table
 We keep our administrative work to a
minimum
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Services

8. LENGTH OF MANUSCRIPT
How long will the manuscript be?
 Measure chapters, pages, words or
characters
 Words are most “accurate” and predictable
 Specify a range, not an exact number –
quality over quantity
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9. LENGTH OF TIMELINE
THGM Writing Services keeps timelines
flexible.
The client is living his life, filled with
 Complications
 schedule changes
 unexpected events
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10. LENGTH OF TIMELINE
Some busy clients:
 Respond instantly to new draft chapters
 Take a month to get back to the writer with
an “OK” or a list of changes required to a
chapter.
 Disappear for three months or five months.
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11. RESEARCH IN THE CONTRACT
What research is included?
 Specify what research is needed
 Specify a rate for unforeseen research
 To protect the client, there should be a cap or
control on the amount spent on research
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12. RESEARCH IN THE CONTRACT
Can you keep a secret?
 We can!
 Specify what confidentiality is included
 Specify what credit, if any, the writer gets
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13. VALUE OF A GHOSTWRITER CONTRACT
How well will a ghostwriter contract work?
 It protects your legal rights
 It does not ensure a great manuscript
 Make sure to choose a good writer
 Make sure to choose a writer you can work
with
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14. VALUE OF A GHOSTWRITER CONTRACT
Read more details at:
http://thgmwriters.com/blog/ghostwriter-contracts-
101/
Need ghostwriting? We can help!
Email us at info@THGMwriters.com
Or visit us at www.THGMwriters.com
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