At Chapters, we are committed to helping authors navigate the often opaque world of ghostwriting services. With a growing number of ghostwriting companies flooding the market, it’s become increasingly challenging for authors to distinguish between reputable firms and potential scams. Our mission is to provide clear evaluations of ghostwriting services to protect authors from falling victim to ghostwriting scams.
Aspire Ghostwriting, a service that has raised concerns across various review platforms, was another brought to our attention to warn the authors out there looking to write a book. While Aspire Ghostwriting markets itself as a comprehensive and affordable solution for aspiring authors, there are numerous red flags and ethical concerns tied to their business practices. From questionable reviews to unrealistic discounts, Aspire Ghostwriting appears to exhibit many of the same troubling characteristics commonly found in other ghostwriting scams we have exposed.
In the sections that follow, we will break down our findings on Aspire Ghostwriting’s service quality, customer communication, pricing transparency, and ethical practices, and provide an honest comparison with other reputable ghostwriting services in the industry. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge needed to make an informed decision when selecting a ghostwriting service for your book project.
About Aspire Ghostwriting
Company Background
Aspire Ghostwriting presents itself as a professional ghostwriting service that promises to help authors turn their ideas into completed, publishable books. However, upon closer inspection, there are some red flags regarding their operations. The company lists multiple business addresses, including one at 1151 S Hill St H300, Los Angeles, CA 90015, and another at 2550 Pacific Ave, Dallas, Texas 75226, both are virtual offices run by Regus .
Aspire Ghostwriting is also found to share phone numbers (323-475-8156) with several other ghostwriting websites including Infinity Ghostwriters and The American Writers, raising questions about their legitimacy, but also the scale of their questionable operations.
Additionally, they promote themselves using an 85% off coupon, which is highly unusual in the ghostwriting industry and a tactic often seen with companies employing aggressive sales practices. While these discounts are appealing, potential clients should be wary of services offering extreme discounts, as they may compromise on quality.
Services Offered
Aspire Ghostwriting offers a broad range of services aimed at authors and entrepreneurs looking to publish their work. They promote all genres. These services include:
- Book Ghostwriting: Fiction and non-fiction projects.
- Editing and Proofreading: Helping authors polish their drafts.
- Publishing Consultation: Guiding authors through the complex world of publishing.
- Marketing and Distribution: Includes services like book trailers and promotional materials (Aspire Ghostwriting).
While the variety of services seems comprehensive, many customer reviews and comments online raise concerns about the actual delivery of these services. Clients have complained about poor communication, low-quality writing, and difficulties in obtaining refunds, making it clear that the experience is inconsistent at best
Online Presence and Transparency
Aspire Ghostwriting’s website makes bold claims, promoting a team of over 2,500 writers and editors with 100% satisfaction guaranteed. However, the lack of transparency regarding the actual team members or business history is concerning. There is little to no information about the founders, and no publicly available samples of their writing work. In contrast, other reputable ghostwriting companies often provide at least a few writing samples or case studies to demonstrate their capabilities.
The website itself is hosted on an IP address of 79.142.70.143, which is located in Bulgaria, and registered in the Netherlands. Over the time since it has been bought, their IP address has changed 14 times.
Trustworthiness of Information on Aspire Ghostwriting’s Website
The trustworthiness of the information presented on Aspire Ghostwriting’s website raises serious concerns. Upon review, several of the books and authors they claim to have worked with are either misrepresented or entirely fabricated.
- Misleading Book Claims: Aspire Ghostwriting promotes a book titled Creative Business Startups by “Jen Brazel” as part of their portfolio. However, the cover displayed on their website is incorrect, the author’s name is misspelled, and the book was published in 2016, which is well before Aspire Ghostwriting’s website even existed. This inconsistency undermines their claims of involvement in the creation or publishing of the book.
- False Author Attributions: The website lists famous authors like Stephen King, claiming to have written books for him. This is clearly false, as Stephen King has never outsourced his work to a ghostwriting service, much less to Aspire Ghostwriting. Claiming association with well-known authors without any credibility damages the company’s reputation.
- Fabricated Testimonials: One alarming example is a testimonial from “Scotty McCracken,” who claims that Aspire Ghostwriting helped him write a book called The Monster Within. A simple search reveals that neither Scotty McCracken nor the book exists. Moreover, searching for this testimonial brings up multiple other ghostwriting websites, such as Crossroad Publisher, Mexa Book Publishers, and Picasso Book Publisher, all of which seem to be affiliated with Aspire Ghostwriting. This suggests that the company may be running multiple rebranded sites under different names to manipulate potential customers.
- Nonexistent Ghostwriters: The website features a ghostwriter named Daniel Holloway, who allegedly wrote 51 books, including The Return by Nicholas Sparks. However, Daniel Holloway does not exist, and this claim has been debunked, including in a Reddit thread that discusses scams in the ghostwriting industry. These kinds of false claims further diminish the credibility of Aspire Ghostwriting and raise ethical concerns about their operations.
The information on Aspire Ghostwriting’s website is not only misleading but often demonstrably false. Just reinforced by fabricated testimonials, nonexistent ghostwriters, and false book attributions. These discrepancies serve as major red flags for anyone considering using their services. It is critical for authors to thoroughly research any ghostwriting company before committing to a project.
Aspire Ghostwriting Reviews: What Clients Say
Aspire Ghostwriting Reviews: What Clients Say
When it comes to reviews of Aspire Ghostwriting, feedback from Trustpilot, Google, and BBB reveals a wide range of experiences, often raising questions about the company’s trustworthiness.
On Trustpilot, Aspire Ghostwriting has received a mix of positive and negative reviews. Turstpilot issues a warning on their website about Aspire Ghostwriting. The positive reviews generally highlight the professionalism and creativity of the team, but they seem generic, lacking in specific details that would suggest genuine customer experience. On the other hand, negative reviews focus on issues such as poor communication, unprofessional behavior, and failure to deliver promised results. Some users have also reported aggressive upselling and issues with refund policies, aligning with concerns about the company’s overall business practices.
Google Reviews present a similar pattern but with even more noticeable inconsistencies. While there are a few scathing reviews, such as a 1-star review from Jessica Harvey, who describes the company as a scam after not receiving any updates for months, other reviews are glowing and generic.
For example, Hildegard Bisson and John Bryant both leave 5-star reviews praising the professionalism and creativity of the team, but with minimal specifics that would suggest a real project experience. A deeper look reveals that many 5-star reviews are from users outside the USA or from accounts with only one review, suggesting the possibility of purchased reviews, which is a common tactic in some industries. This further erodes the credibility of the trustworthiness of reviews in general.
Similarly, BBB (Better Business Bureau) provides a more troubling narrative. Aspire Ghostwriting is not accredited by the BBB. Users report high-pressure sales tactics and poor communication, which aligns with the negative experiences shared on other platforms.
Services and Pricing
Aspire Ghostwriting offers a variety of services, including ghostwriting for fiction and non-fiction, editing, publishing consultation, and marketing and distribution assistance. While the range of services appears extensive, many customers have voiced concerns about the quality or delivery of these offerings, particularly in relation to the pricing structure.
The company’s heavily promoted 85% discount is perhaps one of the most concerning aspects of their pricing. For example, clients have reported being asked to make payments of $1,500 for extensive services such as book writing, editing, and publishing. This pricing is far below industry standards, where professional ghostwriting for a full-length book can range from $30,000 to $80,000, raising questions about the feasibility of delivering quality work at such a low cost. Additionally, there are reports of high-pressure sales tactics, where potential clients are asked to pay immediately to lock in the discount, which is a common practice in less reputable services.
While some clients may be drawn to the affordability, the combination of extreme discounts, unverified claims, and a lack of clear pricing transparency should raise concerns for anyone considering using Aspire Ghostwriting’s services.
Quality of Work
The quality of work provided by Aspire Ghostwriting is a significant area of concern, with feedback varying widely depending on the review platform. On Google, there are a few positive reviews that claim satisfaction with the final product, such as John Bryant, who said that the team “read his mind” and delivered exactly what he wanted. However, these reviews often lack specific details and seem overly generic, which raises suspicions, especially when considering that many of these accounts have only one review and are from users located outside the USA.
On the other hand, there are several 1-star reviews on Google and Trustpilot that tell a different story. For example, Jessica Harvey expressed frustration after paying for services and hearing nothing for months, while Bryton Lawrence criticized the service for multiple errors in the book and unprofessional upselling tactics. These negative reviews align with similar feedback found on BBB, where users describe poor communication, unmet deadlines, and subpar writing quality, with one user even calling the company a “scam”.
This stark contrast between the overly positive reviews and the detailed negative ones raises questions about the reliability of the company’s work. The pattern of inconsistent quality and questionable reviews should be a red flag for potential clients looking for a reliable and professional ghostwriting service.
Ethical Considerations
Manuscript Ownership
When hiring a ghostwriting service, there are several key ethical considerations that authors must keep in mind, particularly when dealing with companies like Aspire Ghostwriting. One of the most important aspects is ownership of the manuscript. Authors should have full legal ownership and copyright of their work once the project is complete. Without a clear contract that specifies who owns the rights, there’s a risk that the ghostwriting service might retain partial or full ownership of the manuscript, which could lead to disputes over future royalties and control of the content.
Privacy
Another vital concern is privacy. During the process of writing a book, authors often share sensitive and personal information, especially in memoirs or business-related projects. Reputable ghostwriting services should have strong privacy policies to ensure that this information remains confidential and is not misused. There have been reports of companies like Aspire Ghostwriting sharing client details with other businesses, which raises questions about their commitment to protecting client privacy.
Copyright Law
Copyright law also plays a critical role in ghostwriting. Without proper legal safeguards, there’s a risk that your work could be repurposed or reused without your consent, which could violate your intellectual property rights. Authors should make sure that the service they choose operates with clear legal guidelines, ensuring their work is protected from unauthorized use.
Transparency
Transparency in both pricing and services is another essential consideration. Aspire Ghostwriting’s practice of offering extreme discounts, such as their 85% off deals, without clearly outlining the full scope of services raises concerns. Ethical companies should provide a transparent breakdown of what services are included in the price, what extra charges might apply, and clear terms about revisions, edits, and ownership of the final product.
Comparison with Other Ghostwriting Services
Chapters stands out as a top-tier hybrid ghostwriting service, offering a personalized and efficient experience for authors. Unlike many traditional ghostwriting companies, Chapters combines the expertise of best-selling editors with cutting-edge tools to help authors bring their manuscripts to life in just 90 days. Authors work directly with experienced editors throughout the process, ensuring their voice is captured perfectly. The pricing structure is also straightforward: five simple payments of $5,995, made upon reaching key milestones, providing both transparency and value.
This approach is significantly more accessible and timely compared to traditional ghostwriting services, which often charge upwards of $30,000 to $80,000 and can take anywhere from 12 to 16 months to complete a project. While these older, established firms offer comprehensive services, they frequently follow slower timelines and come with higher financial commitments. For instance, traditional ghostwriting companies like Reedsy or Kevin Anderson & Associates require long-term engagement and substantial upfront payments, making the process lengthy and more costly.
In contrast, Chapters focuses on an accelerated, transparent workflow, helping authors achieve high-quality manuscripts without the excessive delays and costs seen in traditional firms. Authors are able to interact directly with editors, gaining valuable feedback throughout the process, ensuring the final product is polished and ready for publishing within three months.
Red Flags and Warnings
Aspire Ghostwriting presents several red flags that potential clients should be cautious about before engaging with their services:
- Unrealistic Discounts: The company’s promotion of an 85% off coupon and the pressure to pay upfront are clear indicators of high-pressure sales tactics. This kind of deep discount is highly unusual for reputable ghostwriting services, where prices for full-length projects typically range between $30,000 and $80,000. Such tactics are designed to push clients into making quick decisions without fully understanding the terms.
- Questionable Reviews: Aspire Ghostwriting’s reviews on Google and other platforms like BBB and Trustpilot show stark discrepancies. While Google reviews are overwhelmingly positive, many of these reviews come from accounts with only one review or users located outside the U.S., raising suspicions of purchased or manipulated feedback. On more credible review sites, such as BBB and Trustpilot, numerous negative reviews highlight issues with quality of service, communication, and refund policies, casting doubt on the authenticity of the glowing Google reviews.
- Refund Disputes: Numerous clients have reported difficulties in obtaining refunds, even when Aspire Ghostwriting failed to deliver on their promises. Despite advertising a 100% satisfaction guarantee, Aspire Ghostwriting often refuses to honor refund requests, leading to growing concerns among dissatisfied clients.
- Lack of Transparency: There are multiple indicators of Aspire Ghostwriting’s lack of transparency. The company operates out of virtual office addresses in both Los Angeles and Dallas, which raises questions about their legitimacy. Additionally, Aspire Ghostwriting shares contact information with other ghostwriting services like Infinity Ghostwriters and The American Writers, suggesting they may be part of a larger network of rebranded companies.
- Questionable Hosting and Domain Registration: Aspire Ghostwriting’s website is registered in The Netherlands and hosted in Bulgaria, further raising concerns about the transparency of their business operations. These practices make it more challenging to verify the legitimacy of the company and suggest that the business might be deliberately obscuring its origins and true location to evade scrutiny.
Conclusion
Based on our review, there are serious concerns about Aspire Ghostwriting that potential clients should carefully consider. The combination of unreliable reviews, high-pressure sales tactics, and a lack of transparency raises significant questions about the company’s credibility and the quality of its services. While Aspire Ghostwriting may seem like an affordable option, these red flags suggest that authors should proceed with extreme caution.
For those serious about producing a high-quality book, it is advisable to seek out a more reputable ghostwriting service—one that provides transparent pricing, verifiable testimonials, and proven expertise.
We invite our readers to share their own experiences or thoughts about Aspire Ghostwriting in the comments below. Your feedback could help others make more informed decisions when choosing a ghostwriting service.