Write the manuscript first, or the screenplay?

By- Michael McKown
Co-founder & president, Ghostwriters Central, Inc.

Book or screenplay, which is less expensive to write?

We regularly hear from prospective clients with that question. The story, they feel, should be both a book and a movie. When the discussion turns to cost, the quote for the screenplay is almost always lower than the cost for the manuscript.

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How do the costs of a screenplay and book compare?

At the time of this writing, we charge $60 per page, for either. A 120-page script will probably be around $7,200. A 250-page manuscript will probably be around $15,000. We also do some hourly billing, so probably add $400 to each. Our writers do have the freedom to vary from those published rates or even offer a flat rate.

Should the choice of book or movie be based on cost?

No, and here’s why: Xai’s chatbot Grok estimates about one million screenplays are written annually, and about 100,000 of those are professionally written. But only around 600 movies are made per year, which means the odds of your movie being produced, considering only those professionally written, are a small fraction of 1%. There are a lot more U.S.-based commercial publishers than there are movie studios, and they release between half a million and one million unique titles per year. And that does not include titles that are self published. Your odds of getting a book published are far higher.

What are the advantages of publishing the manuscript first?

Given the enormous cost of filmmaking, it’s helpful to have developed a fanbase for the book. This tells producers that there is a ready-made audience for the movie. Second, you’ll develop a revenue stream far quicker with a book than you will with a screenplay. Lots of outstanding screenplays knock around Hollywood for a decade or more before being produced. If your book is successful, you could be pursued for a movie deal.

Should you self-publish your book?

It’s easy to do, but you are responsible for everything, including the marketing. Self-publishing is a growing market segment but average sales are lower than those that are commercially published. On the other hand, you keep more of the money. Romance and horror writers are more likely to see success as self-publishers than non-fiction writers.

Why not just have an A.I. chatbot write the manuscript?

Don’t. If a literary agent you hire suspects it was A.I. written, it will be rejected. The same with commercial publishers. They are inundated with chatbot-generated manuscripts sent by quick-buck artists. They get immediately rejected. Some publishers have quit reviewing anything new until the flood of A.I.-written manuscripts is cleared.
Pro tip: Don’t get a reputation that will be hard to resolve.

Write the manuscript first

Step 1 is to contact a quality ghostwriter. Step 2 is to get the manuscript professionally written. Step 3 is to find a literary agent online who can represent it to commercial publishers on your behalf (which I highly recommend). An agent knows the publishers and the publishers know and like agents. Agents bring them quality work. The fact is, agents are the beginning of the screening and evaluation process. Unless you’re well known in the film business, and even that may not count, getting a movie produced is a much slower process than book publishing. 
Useful advice: Avoid deep-discount writers. The odds are you’ll regret it.

How do you find ghostwriter endorsements?

A “ghostwriter” works secretly on your behalf. He or she writes your manuscript, screenplay, press release, blog post, marketing materials, or speech. Ghostwriters are typically signed to a non-disclosure agreement, which means they must keep silent about you and your project. Given the confidential nature of this profession, don’t expect to find endorsements and recommendations from those who don’t want anyone to know they hired a ghostwriter.
Caution: If a ghostwriter is bragging about his or her accomplishments, it is possible that they’ve violated their NDA. Ethics matter.

How do you determine a ghostwriter’s reputation?

The best way to determine a reputation is to search for complaints. For example, do a search for: The business name plus the word “scams.” Or “complaints.” Or if the writer you have in mind doesn’t have a business name, search for: Writer’s name, include the word “writer,” and also “scams” or “complaints.” If they’ve ripped off customers, victims will be talking about it. Also, time in business is worth checking. Go to WhoIs.com. You’ll find a whois search box in the upper right-hand corner. Enter the business’s domain and see what comes up. I consider two years in business or less reason to be cautious. My company has been in business since 2002.

How to contact a ghostwriter?

If they don’t publish a phone number, be careful. My company number is: 888-743-9939. From outside the USA, call 818-433-4050. You can find a form to fill out on our Contact a ghostwriter page.

Other resources on this site that you may find useful

• • Tap here if you’ve got an A.I.-written project that must be rewritten and improved.
  • Talk about playing darts blindfolded: Non-native ghostwriters and American idioms.
  • An article on screenwriting services and hiring a screenwriter.
  • An article on memoir and autobiography writing services.
  • An overview of our services can be found on our Ghostwriters Central homepage.
  • An article on business book and biography writing services.
  • An article on screenplay consulting services.
  • An article on screenplay treatment writing services.
  • An article on our script doctor services.

Call me now. Tell me what you need. Your consultation is free

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