Contact us here.
Since early 2020, Rob and I have been ghostwriting for a British online site, Reedsy. People from all over the world use the site so we’ve met some intriguing people who have terrific stories to tell. What’s nice about Reedsy is that the writers set their own prices for whatever needs to be done on a manuscript. We have written books from scratch, have done developmental editing, line editing, and our prices depend on several factors.
We also offer this service directly, which allows us to offer a lower price than we would on Reedsy.
What the price is based on:
1. How much has the client written?
2. Will the book be written from just an idea – i.e., from scratch?
3. How many words the client wants the book to be.
4. Does the client need a synopsis of the story?
5. If the book is fiction, what’s the genre?
6. If the book is non-fiction, what’s the topic?
7. How long do we anticipate the book will take to write?
Our Prices
Synopsis of a novel: $4500-$7500, depending on the complexity of the story and length of the novel
Writing a book from scratch: $17,000 – $50,000
Editing a finished book/novel: $4000- $12,000
Queries/Synopsis
Once your novel/book is completed to your satisfaction, we offer a query/synopsis package for $1,500.
This includes a template query, 5 queries tailored to the what 5 particular agents are looking for. We find 5 agents whom we think are a good for for your book.
Since some agents ask for a synopsis of the book, we write one that runs between 600 to 1000 words.
Proposal
Non-fiction books can be sold with a proposal that runs between 35-50 pages and includes a sample chapter. The price for this package is $2,500- $7,000 and depends on the content, word count, and how long we think it will take to write.
Save the Cat: The 15 beats of storytelling
Whether we’re writing a synopsis or a novel, we use the 15 beats of storytelling developed by screenwriter Blake Snyder in his indispensable book Save the Cat. After he died, Jessica Brody adopted these beats in Save the Cat Writes a Novel.
The title of this indispensable book refers to the moment in the 1979 movie Alien where Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) saves her cat from the alien. It shows us her character.
The beauty of both books is that the beats are explained in terms of movies most of have seen and in terms of books most of us have read.
Here are the beats, with the percentage of the novel where they should occur. So, if you’re writing a 400 page novel, that means that by beat 2, the theme should be stated within the first 20 pages.
Opening Image – 0% to 1%
Theme Stated – 5%
Setup – 1% to 10%
Catalyst – 10%
Debate – 10% to 20%
Break Into Two – 20%
B Story – 22%
Fun & Games – 20% to 50%
Midpoint – 50%
Bad Guys Close In – 50% to 75%
All is Lost – 75%
Dark Night of the Soul – 75% to 80%
Break Into Three – 80%
Finale – 80% to 99%
Final Image – 99% to 100%
1. Opening image: the before snapshot of your hero’s story and his or her world.
2. Theme: statement made by a character – typically not the hero – that hints at what the hero must learn before the end of the book.
3. Setup: We learn what the protagonist’s life looks like, how it’s flawed, and who the supporting characters are.
4. Catalyst: An inciting incident – or life-changing event – that happens to the hero. It catapults him or her into a new world/new way of thinking.
5. Debate: a reaction sequence in which the hero debates about what to do next.
Part 2
6. Break into 2: The moment the hero decide to accept the call to action.
7. B Story: Introduction of new character(s) who ultimately serves to help the hero lear the lesson.
8. Fun & Games: Where we see the hero in this new world. They’re either loving or hating it. Succeeding or floundering.
9.Midpoint: The middle of the novel. Something happens here that raises the stakes. This is where fun & games culminates in either a false victory or a false defeat. The stakes are raised.
10. Bad guys close in: If the midpoint was a false victory, this section will be a downward path where things get progressively worse for the hero. If the MP was a false defeat, this section will be an upward path where things seem to get progressively better for the hero.
11. All is lost: The lowest point of the novel. Something happens that pushes the hero to rock bottom. There’s often a death here.
12. Dark night of the soul: Hero processes everything that has happened to him. He should be worse off than at the beginning of the novel. This occurs right before the hero figures out the solution to his big problem and learns his life lesson.
Part 3
13. Break into 3: The Aha! moment. Hero realizes what he must do to fix all the problems created in part 2 – and how to fix himself.
14. Finale: Hero proves he has truly learned the theme and enacts the plan he came up with before the break into 3. The hero’s world is saved and it’s a better place than it was before.
15. Final image: a mirror to the opening image, the after snapshot of the hero’s life.
Reviews
For Rob:
Rob is a consummate professional and colleague. He is very knowledgable in all aspects of story and will be willing to volley ideas in order to make something stronger. Rob acts as a great coach and really devotes himself to his projects.
Anindya Kundu, August 2022
I can’t say anymore about Rob. His contribution was extraordinarily insightful, professional, creative, intelligent, his contribution has added magnitudes of quality to the novel. Of course it could not have been written at all without him. 5 Stars. Cheers and Thanks! We might perhaps, if the stars align, even do it again!
Mark Laurence Latowsky, July 2022
Rob McGregor was very good to work with, and clearly experienced with his craft.
Michael Nicholson, June 2022
Very good ghostwriter, Randy Moon, April 2022
Best experience with an Editor I’ve had. Very knowledgeable about the industry, and communication was perfect. Would work with him again if I ever need an editor again in the future.
Jean-Paul Badjo, Mar 15, 2022
A thorough and seasoned professional, who very much helped to advance my project.
Ron Naken, Nov 22, 2021
Fantastic writer, went well out of his way to learn the topic and ask questions about technical issues.
Rick Bettua, Jul 16, 2021
Rob was awesome to work with, he drastically improved the outline that I gave and added his insight and experience to make the outline stronger with all the required elements
Johnny Ravela, Jan 2, 2021
Rob helped me see the weaknesses in what I had created so far. The project is much stronger for his input. I would recommend Rob MacGregor to writers who are confident that the basic premise of their novel is good, but are having trouble developing the plot/outline.
Eric Hoheisel, Oct 22, 2020
Rob was very professional, and very diligent in both the information gathering as well as the work put into the actual proposal. He also went above any beyond with a guest spot on his podcast, which was a fantastic addition. All around it was a great experience to work with someone open, professional, and diligent in this endeavor, and I would recommend him to anyone.
Travis Marlette, Sep 3, 2020
He was great, Jason Matheson, May 29, 2020
Rob understood my requirements perfectly. He was fast and effective in producing the desired results. His vast experience was a real asset. He went beyond what I asked for and provided very useful suggestions. I’m happy to rate his work as outstanding.
Ram Gopal, Nov 18, 2019
Reviews for Trish
Angus’s review
Working with Trish was a delight!
She took an exceptionally troublesome chapter and breathed new life into it, and found a neat hook that I’d missed. Thank you, Trish… the next you’ll see of me is when our girls get to the mountaintop abbey… and I promise there won’t be any crocodiles—just twelve outlaw nuns—and oh yeah, two hellhounds in love. 😉
Gene’s review
Trish is most personable, a fine writer and easy to work with. I highly recommend her.
Ulas’s review
Trish is an excellent writer. She’s very professional, and a breeze to work with 🙂 I recommend her for your ghostwriting projects.
Hyatt’s review
Trish is encouraging and great at understanding where you’re going with your story synopsis. She’s a real professional. Thanks for your help! I highly recommend her!
Mary’s review
It was a pleasure and a very positive learning experience work with Trish! I had a story and she was able to organize it in a chapter by chapter synopsis… which I needed in order to write the story. She was patient, supportive, and importantly collaborative … and she is superb writer!!
Nickolas’s review
Working with Trish was a pleasure. Not only was she thorough and thoughtful when digging through the dense material of my book, she made a real effort to help me fulfill my vision of my manuscript. Before working with Trish, I was at a standstill and needed to be redirected. I will definitely work with her on my future projects.
Monica’s review
Trish was remarkable to work with. She accomplished everything we asked for faster than anticipated. I real asset! I can’t wait to work with her again.
