Doug Wagner - Ghostwriter
Your voice is my guiding force. Only you can write your book, and it needs to be as distinct as you are.
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Verified identity
Overview
I'm a ghostwriter, "deep ghost," book doctor, developmental editor and all-around collaborator looking for projects that matter. Projects that make a contribution, whether it’s to enlighten or to entertain. I've worked in a broad range of subject areas, for self-publication, partnership publication and traditional publication (Rodale, Wiley, Hachette, etc), and I strive to become an expert on whatever I'm writing about. I can translate complex information for a mass-market audience, and I can organize reams of information into a smooth-flowing narrative. But maybe my highest recommendation is my respect for an author's voice and my ability to inhabit it the same way a good actor disappears into a role. The authors’ voices that have crowded my head for decades as a reader and an editor have helped me to acquire an ear for the nuances that go into each writer’s unique voice. And if you haven’t found yours yet, rest assured that we will.
My mission is to make authors look good in their efforts to add something of value to the world. And I don’t do it by re-creating their voices in the image of my own. I do it by leading them to those voices. We all have the capacity to tell a story—putting it on paper is just a matter of using the right tools. After thirty years of writing and editing experience, I have a well-stocked toolshed, and I’m happy to share.
My mission is to make authors look good in their efforts to add something of value to the world. And I don’t do it by re-creating their voices in the image of my own. I do it by leading them to those voices. We all have the capacity to tell a story—putting it on paper is just a matter of using the right tools. After thirty years of writing and editing experience, I have a well-stocked toolshed, and I’m happy to share.
Services
Languages
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Health & Wellbeing
Nature
True Crime
Fiction
Literary Fiction
Picture Books
Science Fiction
Young Adult
Awards
- Semifinalist (one of twenty) in Black Lawrence Press’s 2013 Big Moose Prize competition for unpublished novels.
- First-round winner in 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award competition.
- Member of Scripps Howard Hall of Fame. Won criticism and headline-writing awards in annual competitions of the Associated Press, the Colorado Press Association, Scripps Howard, the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors, the Florida Press Club and the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors.
- Gold Medal in the inspirational category of the Independent Book Publishers Association 2021 Benjamin Franklin Awards for "HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act at a Time," by Brad Aronson. I was Brad's collaborator.
Work experience
Editor
HGTV.com, HGTVRemodels.com
April, 2010
–
July, 2011
(over 1 year)
Rewrote online content for Scripps Networks websites.
Editor, ghostwriter, coach
The Editorial Department
January, 2010
–
Present
(about 13 years)
Evaluate, develop, edit, doctor and ghostwrite fiction and nonfiction projects. Proofread all types of projects.
Ghostwriter, editor, book doctor, coach
Self-employed
February, 2009
–
Present
(about 14 years)
Ghostwrite, co-write and doctor fiction, memoir and nonfiction manuscripts. Develop, edit and evaluate book proposals, memoirs, and fiction and nonfiction manuscripts. Provide coaching for fiction and memoir writers. Write blog posts and online content for clients. Also assist writers in preparing synopses and pitch packages for literary agents.
Copy editor, writer
Rocky Mountain News
July, 1993
–
February, 2009
(over 15 years)
Wrote bimonthly neighborhood profiles and edited news and feature stories.
Copy editor, film critic
Naples (Fla.) Daily News
March, 1990
–
July, 1993
(over 3 years)
Wrote weekly film reviews and edited local, state, national and international stories.
Portfolio (6 selected works)
HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act At a Time
Aronson, Brad
Higher Love: Skiing the Seven Summits
Kit DesLauriers
Kit DesLauriers made history by being the first person to ski from the summit of each continent's highest mountain—after climbing it. Centered on her quest to climb and ski the Seven Summits, Higher Love is a hero’s journey, rich with personal insights, life-threatening consequences, and a thrilling crescendo.Spanning seven continents in just two years, this is Kit’s personal account of the se... read more
Clean, Green, and Lean: Get Rid of the Toxins That Make You Fat
Walter Crinnion
A renowned naturopathic doctor shows you how to get lean and be green while helping to save the planet.Now you can lose weight and be good to the environment, too—without starvation diets, calorie counting, complicated meal plans, or even having to exercise. Dr. Walter Crinnion, a naturopathic doctor and environmental medicine physician, shows you how to clean up your diet and clear out your b... read more
Popular television host Jeff Corwin takes readers on a gripping journey around the world to meet the animals threatened by extinctionIt's no secret that our planet is in crisis. Environmental threats such as climate change, pollution, habitat loss, and land degradation threaten the survival of thousands of plant and animal species. In 100 Heartbeats, Jeff Corwin provides an urgent portrait of ... read more
Do you have confidence, discipline and a sense of purpose? Are you diligent, resilient, tenacious, optimistic and flexible? If so, you’ve definitely got “a little grit in your craw”, as they say in the South. In other words, you have what it takes to succeed! Actually, we all have those eight strengths, but we don’t always know how to harness them and put them to work for us. Grit in Your Craw... read more
Doug has 3 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Working with Doug has been a positive experience, and an educational one.
David Pace, May 2018
My collaboration with Doug was both informative and helpful. His professionalism and creative talents are exceptional.
David Stoner, September 2017
Enjoyed working with Doug communication was excellent easy going always willing to listen. Good man
To Fr, June 2017
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