Need Some Expert
Publishing Advice?
Christian Ghostwriter • Editor • Publisher
If you’re exploring ghostwriting, editing, or publishing, this page answers key questions and shares valuable insights drawn from real client experiences. These little tidbits of the trade appear in no particular order.
I’m still finding that many people don’t know how the publishing process should go, so to help you go through the process so that you don’t end up spending more money than you need to, here is a brief outline of the process:
1. The author or ghostwriter writes the book. If you’ve hired a ghostwriter, there will be some “back and forth” as the revisions get done and the manuscript gets finalized.
2. If you’ve written the book yourself, you would then hire an editor to edit it. If you’re using a ghostwriter, the manuscript should be final, editing and all.
3. If you’ve written the book yourself, once the editor has edited the book, you would review it and ask for additional changes if needed.
4. Once the manuscript is final, the book goes to the publisher for layout (formatting) and covers. Do not send the manuscript to the publisher before the manuscript is final. Asking the publisher to make revisions to your manuscript will cost you extra money that you don’t need to spend.
5. After the publisher formats the book and does the covers, they will send the book to you for approval.
6. You will review the layout and covers the publisher has sent to you. Any changes at this stage should be restricted to typos that weren’t caught earlier in the process.
7. Once the book is final, it gets published.
If you don’t know the answer to something, ask questions, and I will answer them. :) Over the past 37 years, I’ve talked to thousands of people (at least), and I don’t know the answers to the questions on people’s minds if they don’t ask them. If you think I’m going to lie to you, then I would question why you’re considering hiring someone you think is not going to be truthful, especially to produce a Christian book.
Do I write papers for students? That’s not only a “no,” but a “heck no.” My creative talents are focused on books. Students have to do their own work, just like I did when I was in school. End of story.
Don’t use AI to write your book. Autogenerating a book with AI just screams that the author doesn’t care what goes into the product. Besides, AI is loaded with redundancies and generalizations. Using AI for research and ideas is fine; using it to write your book is not good practice.
Contrary to popular belief, the traditional publishing process hasn’t changed, and it remains very different from independent publishing.
To be traditionally published, you still need a literary agent to sell your manuscript to a publishing house. If your book is acquired, you’ll sign a contract and receive an advance against royalties. Once that advance is earned back through book sales, you begin receiving additional royalties. The publisher covers all production, distribution, and upfront costs. You do not pay to be published.
Much of today’s confusion comes from the fact that many traditional publishers now operate independent (paid) publishing divisions. An author may submit a manuscript to one of these divisions under a well-known publisher’s name and assume it’s a traditional deal, but it’s not. These programs still require the author to pay for production, and they do not offer the same level of marketing or acquisition standards as agented, traditionally published books.
Bottom line: if you can submit your manuscript without an agent and you’re paying for publishing, it’s independent publishing regardless of the brand name attached to it.
Look for my reviews here on the site, not scattered across LinkedIn, Trust Pilot, Reddit, Facebook, X, and whatever other social media platforms are out there. When I first started my own business in ghostwriting, editing, and publishing, my first website was essentially an online business card that I built with FrontPage. It had my contact information on it, a bulleted list of services, and that was it. When I started getting reviews, I added them to the site. That’s what everyone did back then.
While I maintain a LinkedIn profile and Google Business profile, it’s unrealistic for me to find all the clients I’ve had over the past 30+ years and ask them to post the reviews they gave me on every platform imaginable. For that reason, every client review I’ve received over the years remains on my website, just as they did when I built that first site with FrontPage all those years ago.
Choose services based on what your manuscript truly requires. Proofreading can’t fix structural problems. Copy editing can’t repair plot holes, poor flow, unclear teaching, or a weak narrative arc. And when a manuscript really needs ghostwriting, no amount of editing will make it the book it’s meant to be.
But the reverse is also true: If your book genuinely only needs the services you’re asking for, that’s exactly what I’ll recommend. I don’t upsell. I don’t inflate the scope. I match the service to the manuscript’s real needs, nothing more and nothing less. Your calling deserves excellence, not shortcuts or unnecessary expenses.
Do your research before hiring a ghostwriter from a site that claims to have written books for famous Christian authors, evangelists, well-known ministry leaders, musicians, etc. Over the years, I’ve seen such websites appear, advertise aggressively, and then vanish for whatever reason. Many well-known Christian authors write their own books or collaborate with folks they have known for years.
When you’re seeking editing, formatting, or publishing services, complete your manuscript before contacting me for a quote. I can offer a price based only on what you’ve finished. So, remember to finish your manuscript first and then visit my contact page to discuss how we can work together.
Today is December 24, 2025, and I just spoke with a senior adult who shared an experience involving a service that offered ghostwriting at a price that sounded too good to be true. Professional ghostwriting typically involves months of work, thoughtful collaboration, revisions, and consistent communication with the author. Ghostwriting means hiring a professional to do the same difficult work an author would be doing if the author were actually doing it. There are no shortcuts to producing a well-written, publishable book. Extremely low pricing may not reflect the time, care, or expertise required to deliver high-quality ghostwriting.
I share this information for general educational purposes only, to help authors make informed decisions. If you would like to work directly with me for professional ghostwriting, editing, and publishing services, please visit my contact page, and we can discuss your project.
Many authors come to me carrying deeply personal and sensitive subjects. These often include mental health and emotional health struggles such as depression, anxiety, addiction, grief, trauma, loss, burnout, faith crises, and the journey toward healing and hope. You are not alone in this. In my work, sensitive topics are the norm, not the exception. My approach to ghostwriting and editing is grounded in respect and discernment. I listen carefully, move at a pace that feels safe, and handle each project with compassion and professionalism. Whether you are writing about depression, anxiety, addiction, emotional pain, trauma recovery, or deeply personal life experiences, my role is to help you communicate your story clearly and responsibly without losing your voice or the heart behind your message. Your story matters, and it will be treated with care, dignity, and integrity every step of the way.
Authors often ask how I maintain their voice while ghostwriting or editing. The key is starting with your real words, which come through best in voice recordings; videos; phone interviews; or, in the case of editing, the manuscript you’ve worked hard to create. Sometimes, when authors see their voices in print, they realize they don’t quite sound the way they hoped. What works beautifully in spoken language doesn’t always translate seamlessly to the written page. My role is to honor your voice while shaping it into clear, natural, engaging writing that reads well and connects powerfully with readers.
A novel, by nature, is a work of fiction. Your testimony, autobiography, or memoir is not a novel unless you choose to have me write it as a fiction piece (which is actually getting to be more common than you might think…lol).
I would encourage you to read the entire Bible and become familiar with it before you hire a Christian ghostwriter. I’ve read the Bible many times in many different translations, and if you’re not familiar with it, you might be surprised by what it says when we start working on your book project.
Please get agreement from your spouse on any project before contacting me. Make the decision to begin a publishing project together as a one-flesh married couple from the beginning. It’s nearly impossible for one spouse to get buy-in from another spouse once he or she tries to start the process independently.
Jesus is the very Word of God, and He is the most important part of your book. He’s the most important part of your life. And yet I’ve received manuscripts with nearly every single scripture wrong. If you are writing the book yourself and want to hire me for the editing and publishing once you’re finished, please take the time to copy and paste scriptures correctly from your favorite Bible app. You can find any translation you want on biblegateway.com.
Those who contact me for ghostwriting need to be aware of how involved the process is. It’s not “bim, bam, boom, and out pops a book.” The book may be done in one draft, or there may be revisions, and authors have to be able to review the work I send them and give me any changes they want to make to it. Handing the project off and expecting an instant book is not reality.
Be more concerned with your message than the number of pages you have. That way, you’ll have a book that reads smoothly and is easy for your audience to understand rather than a book convoluted with redundancies just because you were trying to fill space to get a bigger book.
Before we embark on your journey as a new Christian author, take the time to align your life with God’s Word and seek healing where needed. Trustworthy Christian friends and family can be a valuable support system in this process. Remember, authenticity and transparency are essential, and your book should reflect the true you.
Don’t “Christian lie” (lie in such a way that it sounds acceptable). Some examples include saying “My book is around 30,000 words” to try to get the price down instead of giving me an accurate word count for editing and publishing services; saying “I’m doing something different” when people don’t want to pay for certain services (I’ve asked folks what this means and no one’s ever given me an answer); or saying “I’m just getting started and I’m contacting other people” to try to backtrack out of a conversation instead of just saying “It’s not what I’m looking for at this time.” Just tell the truth.
I have a deep respect for seniors who desire to leave a legacy through a book. My own mother is in her nineties, and I understand how precious a person’s life stories, wisdom, and memories can be. Writing a book can be a beautiful way to preserve those stories for future generations.
However, there are times when an elderly caller may be experiencing memory challenges or cognitive confusion—repeating conversations, losing track of details, or struggling to make clear decisions about the project or finances. In those situations, I am not comfortable proceeding with a book project unless a trusted family member or legally authorized representative is involved to:
- Coordinate communication and project decisions
- Review and approve drafts
- Oversee payments and financial matters
This is not about capability, intelligence, or value. Many older adults are sharp and fully able to manage their own work. But when cognitive challenges are present, my priority is to ensure that no one is taken advantage of, misinformed, or financially burdened.
That is why I do not accept payment from anyone who appears confused or unable to make informed decisions about the project. This protects the author, the family, and the integrity of the work.
Please leave a message if you don’t get me on the phone right away. Unfortunately, I get way too many spam calls to return phone calls based on Caller ID alone.
Don’t assume that I or anyone else lives in a particular state based on the prefix of their phone numbers. In the old days, when everyone used landlines, we had to change our phone numbers every time we moved. No one has to change their cell phone numbers when they move, and many of us don’t.
Every now and then I get questions about whether I will sign an NDA, so I’m going to give you my take on the subject. Let me start by saying I don’t talk about anyone’s work with anyone. I work alone, and I prefer to talk about other things besides work anyway. Having said that, I’ll sign an NDA for anybody who sends me one. I don’t keep my own on file, mostly because I think two independent people working on a book together is vastly different from leaking trade secrets about a multimillion-dollar company to competitors, costing them millions of dollars. I’ve worked for companies like that, and I signed NDAs all the time because they were part of the hiring paperwork.
That said, most publishing professionals don’t have giant bankrolls because we’re small businesses, which means it’s not realistic for us to sign NDAs that impose hefty financial penalties if information gets leaked, even though, as I said, I don’t talk about my work with anyone. So that boils the NDA down to “I won’t tell anyone about your book,” which I won’t, and if you want me to sign something that says so, I will do it. My best advice, however, is simply to work with people you deem trustworthy. I wouldn’t have tons of wonderful reviews if I talked about confidential subjects with others.
If you’re a small, independent publisher looking for a ghostwriter or editor for one of your authors, please send that person directly to me. I prefer direct communication instead of trying to talk through a third party.
Leave the worry about the schedule to me. If I can’t take on your project for any reason, I’ll let you know. Otherwise, you can rest assured that I’m here and ready to work on your book.
Your book project is of utmost importance to me, just like all the other projects I undertake. As a full-time ghostwriter, editor, and publisher of Christian books, I often work with more than one client at a time. I’m eager to collaborate on your next Christian book project, so please contact me so we can begin the process of creating something wonderful together!
The decision of whether your book is “worth publishing” ultimately rests with you as the author. Seek guidance from God to discern His will, and if you believe He’s leading you to publish your book, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. I’m excited to assist you in bringing your vision to life.
If you decide to hire me for a developmental edit, rest assured that it automatically includes copy editing and proofreading, as well. Some authors hire different editors for each stage. If this is you, remember that heavy editing should be completed before light editing. This approach ensures a smooth and cost-effective process.
Complete all writing and editing work before you contact me for formatting services. Making significant changes after formatting can cause layout issues, so get everything ready before the final steps.
When it comes to proofreading (checking for errors), it’s best to do it last, either before sending your book for formatting or before publishing it. To ensure a polished result, I recommend both.
Most ghostwriting projects begin by completing the first 10,000 words of the book, as stated on my process page. So, before committing to a ghostwriting project, make sure you have enough content to fill at least 10,000 words. It’s crucial for a successful collaboration.
Keep in mind that ghostwriting takes time and dedication. It’s a comprehensive process, involving ongoing interaction and questions between the author and me.
While I can estimate turnaround times for editing and publishing projects, predicting the timeframe for ghostwriting is more challenging due to its unique nature. Each project varies based on client availability and communication. Your patience and understanding are truly appreciated during the ghostwriting process.
I can handle all aspects of my work from my office, so traveling is not required. If you need to discuss a project or schedule an interview so I can ghostwrite your book, I have convenient phone apps to facilitate the process.
For those of you accustomed to using Google docs, I recommend investing in MS Word. It’s an industry standard and the MS Suite offers additional useful software, plus One Drive storage. It’s a valuable tool for any author.
If you’re sending me a .pages file, please remember to save it in a Word format before sharing it with me. This way, I can work with the file easily.
When searching for the right professional to work with, focus on their ability to do the job rather than searching for specific “signs.” It turns the entire process into a game of “I’m waiting for them to say the word I have planted in my head.” Mature communication is key to our successful collaboration, especially in ghostwriting, where constant exchange is vital.
As you grow in your walk with the Lord, you’ll find the Spirit guiding you more and more. Trust in the knowledge He imparts to you, and rely on what He teaches you through His Word and prayer.
Handwritten manuscripts on lined paper require ghostwriting services, as they can’t be edited directly. For editing jobs, please provide your manuscript in an MS Word or a compatible format.
When dealing with large publishers, remember that editing is often an additional cost, not automatically included in their packages. So, make sure you receive the editing services you’re looking for. I provide all levels of editing. Contact me with a word count and at least some idea of the kind of editing you’re looking for, and I’ll give you a quote.
You don’t need an agent to contact me or other professionals in this industry for editing or ghostwriting services. Agents are necessary primarily for traditional publishing deals with major companies. If you require editing or ghostwriting assistance, please reach out directly.
Ready to turn your writing journey into a published reality?
- Email Directly: christianghostwriterworldwide@gmail.com
- Call or Text: 800-899-2497