Yes -- especially so. Unlike traditionally published authors, self-published authors will not have an entire staff of editorial profesionals at their disposal. Independent publishers may have editors on staff, but typically, you'll need to hire a freelance editor to work with you before submission or publication.

It's also a good idea to hire a freelance editor even if you're considering traditional publication. Publishing houses will be reviewing your manuscript from a risk-management point of view. If there needs to be significant changes or if your plot or structure isn't fully developed, they may dismiss your query. The same is true if you're going through a literary agent who will be paid based on the success of your book.

When you consider the risk involved with publishing an unedited manuscript, not really. Furthermore, freelance editors offer their rates based on how much work a manuscript needs. If less work is needed, their rates will generally be much lower. We understand that as an indie or self-published author, your budget is likely very limited. This is why we generally offer manageable rates and generous payment plans to help shoulder some of the financial burden for authors who may not have the same resources as established authors. Learn more about our editorial rates here.

It depends on the length and level of work needed. It also depends on the type of editorial service you're seeking. That being said, UnTapped's editors keep relatively free schedules so that they can fulfill the editorial needs of their clients quickly -- sometimes in as little as a week or two.

The primary editorial services offered to authors are developmental editing, copyediting, line editing, and proofreading. Developmental editors primarily focus on the big picture ideas, such as structure, plot, and character development whereas copyeditors and line editors work with authors to improve the finer details such as tone, authenticity, dialogue, and sentence structure. Finally, proofreading, the final stage of the editorial process, targets spelling and grammar.

It depends on the service requested, but generally, a complete draft with unlimited revisions, general advice and mentorship, and a complimentary round of proofreading.

Some authors have great ideas but they may struggle to get them down on paper or organize them. Others may simply not have the time or energy to develop an outline or write drafts. Ghostwriters collaborate with authors to convert their ideas into marketable manuscripts and breathe life into their work, regardless of their field, profession, or expertise.

Practically all of them. Ghostwriters commonly work with memoirists who have lived interesting lives, business leaders who want to write about their success and strategies, or even educators or academics who want to collaborate on a topic that may span farther than their area of knowledge. Whatever an author's goal may be, there is a ghostwriter out there who can bring their ideas to life.

It can be, but many authors find that working with a ghostwriter is a rewarding experience that is well worth the cost. If an author's idea or story has the potential to sell a few hundred copies (or more), the investment can easily pay for itself within the first few weeks of publication. We understand that many authors may have a limited budget, especially if it's their first time publishing a book. For this reason, we're happy to work with authors to establish a payment plan within their means. Unlike other ghostwriting services, we also do not ask for a percentage of your sales once you're published. Learn more about our ghostwriting rates here.

UnTapped's ghostwriting process starts with a free consultation where the author can discuss their goals, budget, and timeframe. The ghostwriter will offer a rate and estimated finish date and answer and questions that the author may have. Then, the ghostwriter will develop an outline for the author's approval. Once the outline has been approved, the ghostwriter will work chapter by chapter in a shared document where the author can make changes or suggestions to the draft. When the draft is satisfactory, the manuscript will move on to the editing stage.

It depends on the target word count of the manuscript and the schedule and availability of the author. Ghostwriting is a unique service in that it's primarily collaborative in nature. The timeline to completion relies on how often the author and ghostwriter are able to discuss goals, strategy, and any revisions that may be needed along the way.

UnTapped's ghostwriters retain zero ownership over your ideas and the resulting manuscript at every stage of the process, as well as any income you make off of our work once you receive the final draft.

An outline, a completed manuscript with unlimited revisions, general advice and mentorship, and free proofreading.

No. You are not required to credit us in your book, during interviews, or in the press. Our ghostwriters never credit or associate themselves in any way with your book except with your permission.

Content writing is a form of marketing that showcases your brand through informative and accessible blog posts and articles. It's designed to reach your potential customers through carefully curated waiting and SEO strategies.

Businesses, non-profits, blogs, and marketing agencies all utilize content writing.

Yes. Our content writers are trained in search engine optimization (otherwise known as SEO) which is a technique used to elevate websites and blogs higher in search results.

It depends on the goals of the client and the scope of the content, but generally, we offer our content writing at 7 - 10 cents per word, or $70 to $100 for a 1,000 word article or blog post.

A fully-fleshed blog post or article, with unlimited revisions, links, search engine optimization, and pictures (if needed).