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    </div><h1 id="b41b">How did I find the assignment?</h1><p id="e6db">Every day I trawled eLance for gigs. And then one day I saw an invitation to bid for a ghostwriting gig.</p><p id="87c5">I composed my bid letter, relying on the fact that I’d written a few books and done some commercial writing. I also knew how to write bids, and that’s an important part of the process.</p><p id="aba7">Figure out what the applicant really wants and build the bid around that. There are some techniques that can strengthen a bid and there are ways of asking for further information from the prospective customer that can help you rise above the other bidders.</p><div id="c9f9" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://bettermarketing.pub/did-you-ever-spin-a-sale-176d22070952">
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            <h2>Did You Ever Spin A Sale?</h2>
            <div><h3>If you did or still do, you’ll know what I mean. If you didn’t then it’s a widely applicable technique worth learning —…</h3></div>
            <div><p>bettermarketing.pub</p></div>
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    </div><p id="807b">When I wrote the book I found some data and created some graphics to accompany the text.</p><p id="d998">If you have ideas for such inclusions when you bid, then it will strengthen your hand. Of course, you take the chance that you don’t win the bid and that your idea is fed to the winning bidder. But you didn’t win it anyway.</p><p id="72f8">It was a flat fee job and no commission. I can’t remember how much it was either, but it wasn’t a lot. I wanted the experience and the name/job in my portfolio.</p><h1 id="3afe">And the outcome?</h1><p id="aabc">It took a few weeks of work and came out at 172 pages, I don’t recall how many words. I was credited inside as Editor at my suggestion.</p><p id="84c7">The book was favourably reviewed by <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/author/suziann-reid/">Kirkus Reviews</a> (no, I’m not on a commission deal).</p><p id="e8eb">So, you see, there are some great gigs out there if you can find them.</p><p id="8b4d">And me?</p><p id="2766">I’m still waiting for the invitation to

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write the next James Bond novel, just as William Boyd wrote ‘Solo’.</p><p id="a39b">Now that’s another kind of ghostwriting, when the writer — Ian Fleming — is dead and a well-known author gets asked to take on the franchise characters and write another novel, with full credit.</p><p id="23e2">Yes, but seriously, I am available!</p><p id="729e">And <a href="https://www.nerodavola.com/">Nero d’Avola</a>? I’d recommend it. No affiliation, other than loving it.</p><figure id="cb43"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*RJOg42zPhZiK-zFR-3IGzw.jpeg"><figcaption>Image credit: <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/2009_Planeta_Plumbago_Nero_dAvola_(8600474079).jpg/680px-2009_Planeta_Plumbago_Nero_dAvola_(8600474079).jpg">Wikimedia</a></figcaption></figure><p id="1461"><b><i>About me:</i></b><i> If you follow me I guarantee variety in your inbox! I write on a variety of topics including humor, tech and travel, together with daily news events and the minutiae of my daily life living on a boat. I also write techno-thrillers…and about…</i></p><p id="c7a1"><b>…ghostwriting with Nero d’Avola</b></p><p id="5be1"><i>If you enjoy reading stories like these and want to support other writers and me, consider signing up to become a Medium member. It’s $5 a month, giving you unlimited access to incredible stories on Medium. If you sign up using my link below, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.</i></p><div id="39f8" class="link-block"> <a href="https://james-marinero.medium.com/membership"> <div> <div> <h2>Join Medium with my referral link - James Marinero</h2> <div><h3>As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…</h3></div> <div><p>james-marinero.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*uyV1oxLZmucmicqB)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="e62c"><i>You can follow me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/james.marinero/">Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jamesmarinero">Twitter @jamesmarinero</a> . On <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/jamesmarinero">Pinterest</a> you will find many of my research photos from around the world. Check out my <a href="https://www.jamesmarinero.com/">website</a> where I occasionally have a free book on offer.</i></p></article></body>

Living and writing on a boat

Ghostwriting in Sicily

Here’s my true story about ghostwriting on a boat with pizza and Nero d’Avola with tips thrown in

The popular demand for Tom Clancy’s action novels exceeded his ability to write new books. As a result, his publisher hired ghostwriters to write novels in the Clancy style. Image credit: Wikimedia

No, my story is nothing like that of Tom Clancy. My publisher hiring people to write in my style? There are quite a few reasons why that couldn’t happen. But hiring me to write?

Yes, I’m available and experienced with a successful ghostwriting project under my belt.

The person who engaged me was a US Track and Field athlete with an interesting story to tell.

How did it come about?

Several years ago I spent a couple of winters on my boat in Sicily, in a place called Marina de Ragusa. Happy times and lots of fun.

The days were all writing and the evenings were about pizzas and Nero d’Avola red wine — and chocolate ice cream for others.

I’d just finished writing ‘Sicilian Channel’ and it was in the shop (yes that’s a link to my shop).

Finances were a bit tight (nothing new there) and I was doing some commercial writing, finding my gigs through eLance as it then was (now part of Upwork).

Once a week I’d cycle up to Santa Croce Camarina for a cellphone topup and pass the bordello on the way, without stopping.

Discovering Brothels — How I Did

Some years ago I spent two winters in Sicily, living on my boat. It’s a wonderful Island with great wine and brothels…

medium.com

How did I find the assignment?

Every day I trawled eLance for gigs. And then one day I saw an invitation to bid for a ghostwriting gig.

I composed my bid letter, relying on the fact that I’d written a few books and done some commercial writing. I also knew how to write bids, and that’s an important part of the process.

Figure out what the applicant really wants and build the bid around that. There are some techniques that can strengthen a bid and there are ways of asking for further information from the prospective customer that can help you rise above the other bidders.

Did You Ever Spin A Sale?

If you did or still do, you’ll know what I mean. If you didn’t then it’s a widely applicable technique worth learning —…

bettermarketing.pub

When I wrote the book I found some data and created some graphics to accompany the text.

If you have ideas for such inclusions when you bid, then it will strengthen your hand. Of course, you take the chance that you don’t win the bid and that your idea is fed to the winning bidder. But you didn’t win it anyway.

It was a flat fee job and no commission. I can’t remember how much it was either, but it wasn’t a lot. I wanted the experience and the name/job in my portfolio.

And the outcome?

It took a few weeks of work and came out at 172 pages, I don’t recall how many words. I was credited inside as Editor at my suggestion.

The book was favourably reviewed by Kirkus Reviews (no, I’m not on a commission deal).

So, you see, there are some great gigs out there if you can find them.

And me?

I’m still waiting for the invitation to write the next James Bond novel, just as William Boyd wrote ‘Solo’.

Now that’s another kind of ghostwriting, when the writer — Ian Fleming — is dead and a well-known author gets asked to take on the franchise characters and write another novel, with full credit.

Yes, but seriously, I am available!

And Nero d’Avola? I’d recommend it. No affiliation, other than loving it.

About me: If you follow me I guarantee variety in your inbox! I write on a variety of topics including humor, tech and travel, together with daily news events and the minutiae of my daily life living on a boat. I also write techno-thrillers…and about…

…ghostwriting with Nero d’Avola

If you enjoy reading stories like these and want to support other writers and me, consider signing up to become a Medium member. It’s $5 a month, giving you unlimited access to incredible stories on Medium. If you sign up using my link below, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Join Medium with my referral link - James Marinero

As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…

james-marinero.medium.com

You can follow me on Facebook Twitter @jamesmarinero . On Pinterest you will find many of my research photos from around the world. Check out my website where I occasionally have a free book on offer.