For our VIP members and students of the Plot Dude's Guide to Story, This morning the Plot Dude's Rug Room will start one hour early, at 9 a.m MST instead of 10. That is 9 a.m. MST! I'm prepping for another trip tomorrow, so we'll meet just a little earlier than normal. You know the drill by now, but if you're new to being a VIP member or a new student, come and join us! We talk everything writing and I answer your questions! It's usually a good time, and everyone gets a chance to share. In the meantime, keep writing. I love to see people finishing that first draft.

I'm about to throw up my hands for a sci-fi project, it's been 1 frustrating day so I've been looking for a Ghostwriting the project and I thought the problem was going to be I probably couldn't afford one lol No the two biggest problems have been somebody putting the information at the association for ghostwriters. that's not a ghostwriter and don't know any ghostwriters. Then I thought I found one and then she ghosted on me. So, the biggest problem hasn't been price surprising

I put this comment on a post here, but decided to make it a post of its own. Because this is important. Because ghostwriting for fiction is hardly ever the answer. Here it is, as written: So let me share with you something you should know in this process: I am a ghostwriter, and most of those projects cost just south of six figures. Ghostwriting is expensive, and something I would never do for fiction. The reason is, fiction is your story, first of all. It has all of you in it, and that is why we write. I don't write to know about the world, I write to learn about it and how to navigate in it as a human. I also write to give others hope, and I could go off on that all day. But the second reason is that you will never get your investment back when you hire a ghostwriter for fiction. The cost for a pro is around a dollar a word, and I won't even take on ghostwriting a fiction project. I can't, in good conscience, charge a fiction author $60,000 to write a manuscript they will likely sell 250 copies of. And, like above, it would then me my story, because it is impossible for me not to insert my own author voice in a fiction manuscript. So what do you do instead? Find an experienced co-author, someone who will keep you accountable, and can help you with some aspects of finishing the project. Or hire a book coach, who will do the same, but leave the writing part to you. They can help you with plot, characterization, pacing, and all the things that go into writing a novel. Take some courses. Improve your craft. Take your time. But most of all, remember why you wanted to write this project in the first place. it probably was not to make money. It was probably because you have a story YOU want to tell. There's no speedy solution, no easy button in this business that works long term. As we always say around here: YOUR STORY MATTERS. Your story. Not AI's story, although you can use AI to help you write. That might hurt you in the marketplace, but it doesn't have to if you do it correctly. Not a ghostwriter's story. YOURS.