Boo! Calling all ghost writers

Hi all,

I've been asked to discuss ghost-writing a book on a particular business
subject about which I have some surface knowledge, but I'm not the
topic-expert - the "real author", however, is very much an expert in this
particular industry. He has asked me what/how I would charge to ghost-write
a 100-150 page book. I've ghost-written speeches, articles, etc., but never
an entire book. Any advice on questions I should ask, how to set parameters
for charging, etc.?

Thx!

Paula

Learn to Twitter better

Twitter expert Allie Bell is speaker for Jan. 14 Press Women-SPJ event

"Better Twittering for the Mass Communicator,” co-sponsored by Arizona Press Women’s Central District and Valley of the Sun chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, open to the public, is the topic of a luncheon talk at 11:45 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Doubletree Guest Suites, 320 N. 44th St., Phoenix.
The PowerPoint presentation presented by Allie Bell of Glendale focuses on techniques to make Twitter an ally in mass communicating for journalists, authors and marketing and public relations specialists. Bell is managing editor of AZRE (Arizona Commercial Real Estate Magazine) and six other AZ Big Media publications. She also manages the company's social media efforts and participates in multiple online social networks.

Reservations are requested by Jan. 12 to apw.reservations@gmail.com or 480-778-8776. APW and SPJ members will be admitted free; non-members pay $5 at the door. Those attending can order individually from the luncheon menu.

Arizona Press Women is an organization of women and men who work as editors, writers, photographers, teachers and public relations specialists. APW sponsors regular meetings and workshops in Phoenix, Tucson and Payson, and an annual spring conference. For more information, contact westwoman@aol.com.

Writing for web sites, blogs

One of our freelancers might have an opportunity to write for a clinical trials web site and do some blogging for them.

However, she isn't sure how much to charge and wants to ask the rest of us what we would suggest. She has checked Craigslist and says the rates are all over the place. Not surprising, because a lot of potential "employers" on Craigslist want to pay virtually nothing.

I understand that $50 to $100 an hour for web site copy is the going rate, depending on experience. I'm not sure about blogging for companies. She isn't sure whether it's standard to charge by the hour, page or project. I told her I charge by the hour for that type of thing, but I understand some clients might not go for that.

Can anyone weigh in on this?

Go see American Pastorela

Journalist and playwright James Garcia's annual holiday spoof, American Pastorela, runs Dec. 4-13 at Third Street Theatre, 1202 N. Third St. in downtown Phoenix.

If you've never seen it, please go this year -- it promises to be the best yet. It's always a funny, topical and local take on the Passion Play; last year it dealt with border crossing and Light Rail. This year it revolves around Sheriff Joe. Read more: http://www.newcarpa.org

Now, taking on Joe is a harrowing prospect for anyone, let alone a man with the last name of Garcia. You have to give him credit for having some big cojones. That alone is worth buying a ticket.

James is an award-winning playwright, journalist and ASU instructor, and an all-around decent man with a wicked sense of humor. View his bio here: http://kjzz.org/inside/bios/news/jamesgarcia. Follow him on Twitter at jgplaywright.

Question on copyrights

Paula wants to know if anyone else has had experience with getting works copyrighted...

"I’m fidgeting around w/getting some works copyrighted and wondered if others had done so (I’m SURE they have...) and if they did it themselves or used an attorney, agent, etc?"

Please use the comments field to respond. Thanks!

Education/features writers, $1 a word

Thanks to RuthAnn for passing this along!

Phoenix Focus magazine is seeking experienced journalists interested in taking on freelance assignments on a variety of topics outlined in its 2010 editorial calendar. The magazine is published monthly online and is aimed at University of Phoenix alumni and is operated by the university's alumni association.

Writers will need to demonstrate the ability to identify appropriate sources for each assignment by completing a brief query in the form of a bulleted list outlining how they would tackle the assignment and a list of who they plan to contact as sources.

Pay is $1 per word for news/feature stories ranging from 1,500 to 1,800 words each and shorter faculty and alumni stories about 500 words each. Assignments will be given with at least a month's lead time to allow sufficient time for research and reporting.

Topics for 2010 include:

Why is the U.S. education system in trouble?

Overview of University of Phoenix's annual academic report

Spotlight on the College of Education including what teaching models are trending now, etc.

Health and education

The environment and its impact on jobs and careers

Entrepreneurs (College of Business)

Information Technology

Community and Volunteers

Contact Jenifer Flatley at Jenifer.Flatley@apollogrp.edu to apply.

(One 'n' is correct)

Betty Webb seminar

Joan send this along; APW is Arizona Press Women. I attended a Jana Bommersbach talk earlier this year and it was fantastic. This looks to be fun and informative, too.

Betty Webb Seminar -- from Facts to Novel
Date: November 19, 2009
Place: Doubletree Guest Suites, 320 N. 44th St., Phoenix
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Cost: Free to APW members. $5 for non-members.
Lunch: Dutch Treat off the restaurant menu.
RSVP: apw.reservations@gmail.com or 480-778-8776

Betty Webb is author of Desert Cut and other darkly popular Lena Jones mysteries—and the humorous zoo mystery The Anteater of Death. A new Lena Jones mystery, Desert Lost, is due out Dec. 1, 2009.
After her brief talk, Betty will lead luncheon attendees through the same steps she takes to turn factual articles into best-selling fiction novels. There will be handouts and some on-site writing, so be sure and bring pens and paper—and be prepared to be creative!
Betty has been a successful writer for 30 years, moving from advertising copywriting to journalism, book reviewing and writing mystery novels. She has also taught creative writing at Phoenix College. Before writing mysteries full time, Betty was a well-known local journalist. Writing articles ranging from hard news to features, she has interviewed everyone from U.S. presidents to astronauts who walked on the moon, as well as Nobel Prize winners, the homeless, the hopeless, the dying and polygamy runaways. Her Lena Jones mysteries are based on stories she covered as a reporter.
Betty is a member of the National Federation of Press Women and Arizona Press Women. Copies of her books will be available for purchase and signing at the meeting.
"If Betty Webb had gone undercover and written Desert Wives as a piece of investigative journalism, she'd probably be up for a Pulitzer... The factual details - supported by re-search cited in an Afterward - are eye-popping." — The New York Times