If you’re looking for a way to make money as a writer, ghostwriting might be the perfect fit for you. While it can take time to build up your reputation and client base, there’s no shortage of potential clients who need expert writers on their team.
If you have experience with writing in an academic or professional setting, then this is likely going to be right up your alley.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Ghostwriting is a collaborative writing process where one person writes content for another who takes authorship credit. |
| 2. It is a common practice in various industries, including book writing, content creation, and songwriting. |
| 3. Ghostwriters often work behind the scenes, maintaining confidentiality and adapting to the author’s voice and style. |
| 4. Getting started as a ghostwriter involves developing strong writing skills, building a portfolio, and networking with potential clients. |
| 5. Ghostwriting can be a rewarding career choice, offering diverse opportunities to work with different clients and explore various topics. |
What Is Ghostwriting?
Ghostwriting is the act of writing for another person or entity. It can be used in many different ways, from writing a book to penning a marketing campaign. In most cases, ghostwriters are writing under someone else’s name.
And as such, they’re often required to create something that reflects the tone and voice of the person they’re writing for.
Ghostwriting can be found in many fields: journalism (a lot!), business and marketing (even more!), fiction and nonfiction books (duh), speeches for politicians, university course materials…the list goes on!
How to find ghostwriting opportunities.
There are a few different ways you can find opportunities to ghostwrite. You can search for them on freelancing sites, social media, freelance websites, and Craigslist.
These are some of the most popular platforms for finding ghostwriting jobs:
Upwork.com – This site is designed for freelancers who want to find work or companies that need help hiring experts in certain areas like design or marketing. You can search through the website by keyword or browse through job listings by category (freelance writer).
Freelancer.com – This site has over 15 million registered users around the world looking to hire professionals in a variety of fields including writing!
Check out their list of “Freelancer’s Choice” categories here they include everything from web development and graphic design all the way down to proofreading services!
Guru – Guru connects professional writers with clients who need written work done quickly and efficiently at an affordable price point–making it easy for both parties involved (plus there’s no fee!).
Hiring a ghostwriter can be the key to bringing your book to life. Discover the benefits of collaborative writing in our article on Why You Should Hire a Ghostwriter to Write Your Book, and embark on a journey of creative synergy.
How Much Do Ghostwriters Get Paid?
Ghostwriters get paid based on how much time they spend working on your project. This is usually measured in hours, but it can also be measured by pages or words.
Most ghostwriters charge between $250 and $500 per hour, so if you’re interested in hiring a professional writer to help with your book project (or any other kind of writing), make sure that the person you hire is qualified for the job.
Not only will this save you money in the long run, but it will ensure that your book has a good chance of success.
Are Ghostwriters Unethical?
This question comes up a lot, and it’s not difficult to understand why: the idea of someone else taking credit for your work is understandably infuriating. After all, you did the work; you should get credit for it!
And yet, when it comes to ghostwriting, this is simply not the case. A ghostwriter is not stealing credit from an author they’re adding their professional skillset to help create a product that would likely never exist without them.
A ghostwriter isn’t plagiarizing because they aren’t using another person’s words or ideas as their own; they are creating new content through research and interviews with an author (and possibly others).
And while some people may find it ethically questionable for authors to hire someone else to write their books so they can profit off them without doing any real work themselves, this isn’t exactly unethical.
Curious about what ghostwriting entails? Get a clear understanding of the concept in our detailed guide on What is Ghostwriting? (Expert Answer), and unlock the secrets behind this fascinating writing craft.
Ghostwriting For Famous People
Ghostwriting is used by celebrities and public figures to write their books, speeches, articles, blogs, and tweets.
In addition to ghostwriting for the famous, you can also get started ghostwriting for a professional audience.
There are many small businesses and large corporations who need help writing white papers or other educational content that they regularly share with their target customers.
The Famous Author Vs. The Ghostwriter
As you may have noticed, ghostwriting is often a process that goes unnoticed by both readers and the people who read their works.
If a reader doesn’t know who wrote the story they’re reading, they might not even care to find out. In this way, ghostwriters are anonymous in many cases, though some do garner fame for their work (like Jamie Oliver).
Another thing to consider when thinking about ghostwriting is that these books are often very popular despite being written by someone else.
When you think of famous authors like JK Rowling or Stephen King who have penned multiple best-selling novels over the years, it’s important to remember that those were not all written by them alone! Some writers don’t want credit for what was published under their name
The Ethics Of Ghostwriting In Academia
It’s not uncommon for professors to ghostwrite manuscripts for their students. Many academics don’t believe that this practice is unethical at all.
To be sure, it isn’t always clear when a student has been unable to complete a task on his or her own. Is the professor truly helping out the student by providing writing services or is he or she merely allowing laziness and lack of initiative to cloud judgment?
The answer will vary depending on who you talk to and why they’re willing to participate in such practices at all (more on that later).
Do Ghostwriters Get Royalties?
Unfortunately for ghostwriters, they don’t get a say in what happens to their work after the book is published. It’s common practice for ghostwriters to not use their name on a book if it was written for someone else (and sometimes even when it wasn’t).
The reason for this is twofold: firstly, because of confidentiality agreements between clients and contractors; secondly, publishers prefer not to have an author who doesn’t have any public recognition associated with them.
They want you to be able to sell yourself as an authority and expert in your field.
So what happens if your client decides they want royalties? Then you’ll probably have some explaining to do but luckily that explanation should come easily once you explain how many hours went into writing and editing this thing!
Even if they still aren’t convinced by your argument and insist on getting paid royalties anyway, there isn’t much that can be done about it at this point since they’re bound by a contract with their publisher.
How to become a best-selling author by hiring a ghostwriter.
Embark on a rewarding career as a ghostwriter by following our expert tips on Becoming a Ghostwriter – How to Get Started. Unleash your writing potential and discover a new world of possibilities.
Find A Ghostwriter
Ghostwriters are like freelance writers who help authors get their books published. You can hire a ghostwriter to:
- Help you write your book from start to finish, or
- Complete the final draft of a book that’s already written (with your input).
If you want to hire one, there are a few things to consider first:
How much will it cost? A professional ghostwriter charges between $20-$100 per hour for their services. This means that the higher-end authors with more knowledge and experience will cost more than those just starting in their field (and vice versa).
Hiring someone at the lower end of this range would be ideal if money is tight but still having someone experienced is important enough for you not to sacrifice quality on your writing project!
What do they expect from me? For this part, remember that not all ghosts are created equal: some might require extensive research on topics before they could begin working while others might come up with ideas while they’re researching other topics altogether.”
Ghostwriting myths dispelled! Educate yourself on the realities of this profession in our enlightening post on Top 15 Misconceptions About Ghostwriting. Separate fact from fiction and gain a deeper understanding of the ghostwriter’s world.
Where To Find The Best Ghostwriters
If you’re looking for the best ghostwriters, your first stop should be a crowd-sourced marketplace like Upwork or Freelancer. As you browse through the various writers’ profiles and samples of their work, look for someone who matches your needs exactly.
Make sure that they have experience in the genre of writing that you need, for instance, if you want a science fiction novel written by a ghostwriter, only request samples from writers with science fiction on their resume.
If they lack any specific qualifications related to your project or topic matter, consider hiring them anyway; they might have something valuable to offer beyond those qualifications!
For example, I recently wanted to translate my article into French so that it could reach a broader audience than just English speakers around the world (my native language).
I didn’t know anyone who spoke French yet had experience translating articles from English into other languages;
However, there were plenty of freelance translators on Upwork who did speak both languages fluently! So now all our content is available across two continents instead of just one!
How to create your platform (even if you’re not a writer)!
- Create a blog.
- Create a podcast.
- Create a YouTube channel.
Create a social media presence, whether that means you’re on Instagram or Twitter, or both, and start posting about your interests and passions!
People want to see who you are beyond just the written word, so give them that opportunity by showing off your personality through photos and videos as well as words.
Write an email newsletter (a great way to share information with people) or create an online course (a great way to make money!).
You can even write articles for other people’s sites in exchange for advertising dollars this is called guest blogging, which has become very popular these days!
The important thing here is finding out what works best for you based on what kind of person you are and what kind of audience you want following along with where they might find value in reading something new every day/week/month from someone else besides the same old news outlets we all know so well — CNN? Please…no thanks!
Want to secure high-paying freelance writing jobs? Explore the role of ghostwriting in boosting your career in our article on How Ghostwriting Can Help You Land High-Paying Freelance Writing Jobs. Take your writing to new heights!
Conclusion
If you still feel like you need some help with your writing, there’s no shame in hiring a ghostwriter. Most of the time this is the best choice for both parties involved.
The next step is finding the right person for your project and making sure they understand exactly what it is that they are working on.
If all goes smoothly and everyone involved is happy with their end product then I believe ghostwriting can be an ethical practice that benefits all concerned!
Further Reading
Indeed – How to Become a Ghostwriter Short Description: Explore a comprehensive guide on becoming a ghostwriter, from skills required to career opportunities.
Kindlepreneur – How to Become a Ghostwriter by Someone Who’s Actually Done It Short Description: Learn from the firsthand experience of a successful ghostwriter and gain valuable insights into the profession.
Reedsy Blog – How to Become a Ghostwriter Short Description: Get practical tips and advice on starting a career as a ghostwriter from industry experts.
FAQs
How can I start a career as a ghostwriter?
Starting a career as a ghostwriter involves honing your writing skills, building a portfolio, and networking within the writing industry. Consider taking on small projects to gain experience and credibility.
What skills do I need to become a successful ghostwriter?
A successful ghostwriter should possess strong writing and storytelling skills, the ability to adapt to various writing styles, excellent communication, and a keen eye for detail.
How do I find ghostwriting opportunities?
You can find ghostwriting opportunities by networking with authors, publishers, and literary agents. Online platforms for freelance writers and writing communities may also offer ghostwriting gigs.
How do I negotiate payment as a ghostwriter?
Negotiating payment as a ghostwriter involves considering factors like project scope, word count, deadlines, and the level of research required. Determine your rates based on these factors and your expertise.
What should I include in my ghostwriting contract?
A comprehensive ghostwriting contract should outline the project scope, payment terms, copyright ownership, deadlines, confidentiality clauses, and any additional terms agreed upon by both parties.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.