Claudia Suzanne is that contradiction in terms, a famous ghostwriter. After ghostwriting more than 100 titles, both fiction and non-fiction, she knows her stuff. If you want to know it, too, you can sign up for one of her semester-long Ghostwriter Certification courses. She teaches them in-person down in San Diego, and over the phone for everyone else. The cost is $930 plus an $89 materials fee; there’s a payment plan option.
Here’s a list of topics covered:
- How to do an A&R
- How to find the “gold” in any manuscript
- How to determine BISAC selection
- How to advise the three types of authors on publishing options
- The scope of responsibility for the various ESPs
- The variances between the author’s writing process and the ghostwriting process
- How to chart nonfiction
- How to apply a content template (not MS Word formatting)
- How to maintain the author’s voice
- How to do multiple “spins” (while maintaining the author’s voice)
- The variances between passive, static, and active voice; when and how to convert; and when to not
- The variances between and basic principles of line and copy editing
- How to build a nonfiction proposal and query letter and research a submission list
- The variances between plot and character driven novels
- PMA+A
- The elements of fiction writing
- The parameters of fiction A&Rs
- How to map a plot w/characters
- Meet-in-the-Middle
- How to ghostwrite supplemental scenes while maintaining the author’s voice
- How to ghostwrite full novels while maintaining the author’s story, characters, vision, premise, theme, intent and “tells”
- The variances between “show” and “tell”; when and how to convert; and when to not
- How to create a compelling submission synopsis and query letter and research a submission list
- How to create a personal resume and credit list while maintaining client confidentiality
- How to find clients and how to get clients to find you
- How to set reasonable fees, bid projects, and write equitable contracts
- How to assess clients and control the initial contact to land the gig
- How to establish and maintain authority and avoid or handle problems as they arise
I would love to take this course, but haven’t had a chance yet. I do know the classes fill up quickly, so if you’re an aspiring ghostwriter, you should head to Claudia’s website to register. (And don’t mind the painful collision of font colors—she’s a writer, not a web designer.)