I wish someone had told me that ghostwriting was a viable career option. When I started out, I thought it was something only celebrities and CEOs did.
It took a few years before I finally realized how lucrative the field could be and that you didn’t need to wait for people to hire you as a full-time freelancer or employee at a company in order to start making money from your writing skills.
In fact, many ghostwriters have never even worked for an established company or agency they’ve started their own businesses from scratch and built them up over time!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Importance of Research: Ghostwriting requires in-depth research to create content that aligns with the client’s vision and expertise. |
| 2. Navigating Freelancing Challenges: Learn from the author’s experiences and gain insights on how to overcome common challenges faced by freelance ghostwriters. |
| 3. Balancing Creativity and Client’s Voice: Discover the art of striking a balance between injecting creativity into your writing while maintaining the client’s tone and voice. |
| 4. Building Client Relationships: Building strong relationships with clients is essential for repeat business and positive referrals in the ghostwriting industry. |
| 5. Pricing and Negotiation: Understand the factors that influence ghostwriting rates and how to negotiate fair compensation for your valuable writing services. |
My First Book Project Was Ghostwritten By Someone Else
The first book project I ever worked on was for a ghostwriter. It was the summer of 2007, and I had just finished up a round of interviews with my boss at the time. He wanted to see if this thing called “blogging” could possibly work as a career choice for me. (Spoiler: it did.)
We got along well enough that he offered to help me write my own book if I’d pay him back in kind by working on his own books and helping him market them once they were done. This was something we’d discuss later after he had finished writing his current work in progress (WIP).
The WIP turned out to be about 30 pages long when all was said and done a short story titled “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini and it took us three days to complete the first draft together over Skype calls.
While I typed furiously away at my laptop computer while trying not to drool into its keyboard or make any typing mistakes that would later require someone else’s attention during editing (which they did).
Building a successful career in ghostwriting requires knowing the ins and outs of the craft. Check out our comprehensive guide on things you should know about ghostwriting based on my own experiences, and gain valuable insights to excel in this field.
Some People Are Willing To Sign Over Half Their Royalties To Find A Ghostwriter
You’ll hear stories about some people who are willing to sign over half their royalties to find a ghostwriter. Ghostwriting is a great way to make money, but it’s important that you have the right mindset from the very beginning.
You’ll learn what you need to know about ghostwriting as soon as you start writing your first book or get accepted for an assignment.
Freelancing Is Like Ghostwriting
When you first start, freelancing is about writing. That’s how it was for me. I thought I wanted to write books, so I started selling my freelance services as a way of getting practice with that kind of writing.
But then something happened: I began writing more and more content for clients across multiple industries content marketing, press releases, website copywriting, and design, and eventually found myself immersed in a whole new world of opportunities and challenges.
If you’ve never tried freelancing before or are just starting with your own business now (maybe this article will inspire you!), here are some things you should know:
You Can Write Without The Authority To Do Other Work
While this is a great way to write something new and exciting, it’s also important to note that you can also write about things you don’t know about.
As a freelance ghostwriter, delivering top-notch work is crucial for success. Learn from my experiences and discover my top 11 tips for ghostwriting freelancers that will help you enhance your skills and professionalism in this competitive industry.
You Can Write About People Or Places You’ve Never Been
You can write about situations or topics that would make your family cringe if they knew what you were doing.
You can even write about things that are outside of your comfort zone the kinds of things where other people might say “I could never do that!” but as a ghostwriter, all those feelings should be pushed aside so long as the client is happy with the results!
If you’re working on a project that’s not related to your domain, it’s important to think about how it will be perceived by your client’s clients.
Think about how your client’s clients will perceive your work. If you’re working on a project that’s not related to your domain, it’s important to think about how it will be perceived by your client’s clients (and even their customers).
Will the content be seen as authoritative? Is it well-written? Will the reader trust what they read?
Make sure you are qualified to do the work. This one is pretty obvious but worth mentioning anyway:
If someone asks you to write an article or give a speech or something else that falls outside of your expertise, don’t do it unless they can pay you well and/or need someone who has extensive experience in that field.
Make sure your client’s clients will respect your work (and them). Before accepting any contract, ask yourself some questions:
Are these people even going to respect me after this project is complete? Do they treat their employees well enough for me to believe they’ll treat me well as well?
Public Speaking Is A Necessary Skill That Freelancers Need As Well
In most cases, you will be speaking to audiences that are unfamiliar with the industry in general and even more specifically with your work. You need to be able to communicate well. You need to think on your feet and respond appropriately when asked questions.
You’re likely going to meet people who want something from you—a book cover design, a manuscript edit, or a speech and these people may not be used to freelancers being hesitant or shy in any way whatsoever (this is especially true if they run big companies).
You’ll also have lots of opportunities at conferences where everyone else seems super confident and knowledgeable about their subject matter while you feel like an awkward teenager who just got dumped by her boyfriend for another girl even though no one knows about that other girl yet!
Public speaking is difficult for many people but it’s especially challenging for introverts like me because we often dread social situations which makes being put under pressure even more nerve-wracking than normal!
Curious about what ghostwriting really is? Check out this expert answer on ghostwriting to understand the nuances of this unique writing profession and how it plays a vital role in the literary world.
You May Not Be Able To Write About Everything You Know About, But You Should At Least Have Some General Knowledge Of It
You may not be able to write about everything you know about, but you should at least have some general knowledge of it.
Otherwise, if you get stumped on a topic, your client might have to go back through and do some rewrites. This can be awkward for everyone involved especially if they’re paying by the hour!
If you don’t know enough about a topic to write about it with authority, then learn more before starting work on the project. What are some ways that I can research?
You could ask friends or family members who are experts in the area; read books or articles; look up online courses or tutorials; watch videos on YouTube.
If there is no one available who knows enough about what you need help with, find other resources that might help fill in those gaps in your knowledge and understanding: Google searches will come up with lots of good results (and maybe even give suggestions).
Once I’ve done my research…what else should I do? You want to keep learning while writing this piece so that when issues arise down the road (which they inevitably will), then nothing comes as too much of surprise!
Freelance writing can be lucrative, and ghostwriting can open doors to high-paying opportunities. Explore how ghostwriting can help you land high-paying freelance writing jobs and learn the strategies to attract premium clients.
Looking For Freelance Jobs Isn’t Like Looking For “Work” In The General Sense Of The Word
The first lesson I learned was that you have to be able to sell yourself in a way that’s convincing. This can take many forms, but the most important thing is that you convince potential clients that you’re the right person for the job.
If they don’t believe in your ability to do what they need done, then they won’t hire you and all of your hard work will go down the drain.
When I was starting, I had no idea how much of my success depended on my ability to sell myself as someone who could write well enough (or better) than other writers out there.
And yet so many people think this is all about luck or networking or just being around long enough without giving up… none of which are true at all!
Freelancing Can Be Lucrative If You’ve Studied Up And Market Yourself Well Enough
Freelance writing is a great way to make money. If you can learn how to market yourself, know what you’re doing, and work well with others, freelancing can be lucrative.
However, if you don’t know what you’re doing and don’t understand the value of marketing yourself in today’s business world, it will be very difficult for you to find any kind of success as a freelance writer.
Although there are many benefits associated with being self-employed and working for yourself (including flexibility).
One thing that may not be clear right away is that freelancers need to build up their network of contacts on social media and even more importantly in person to succeed at this kind of work.
This means regularly attending industry events such as conferences so that people get used seeing them around; getting involved in projects where they’ll meet new people; staying active on Twitter/LinkedIn/Facebook etc.
If you aspire to become a successful ghostwriter, getting started on the right foot is crucial. Check out this expert advice on becoming a ghostwriter and how to get started to kickstart your journey in this exciting and rewarding profession.
Conclusion
So, if you’re looking for a career change or just want to make some extra money on the side, ghostwriting might be for you!
Just keep in mind that it’s not easy work, especially when it comes to the research required. But if this sounds like something fun and interesting, then go ahead and give it a shot! I know I did.
Further Reading
5 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Freelance Writing: Learn from the author’s personal experiences and discover valuable insights into the world of freelance writing.
Ghostwriting: What You Need to Know: A comprehensive guide on ghostwriting, covering its definition, benefits, and how it can be a game-changer for writers.
A Ghostwriter’s Guide to Landing Lucrative Gigs: Get expert advice on how to secure high-paying ghostwriting projects and advance your career in the field.
FAQs
What is ghostwriting?
Ghostwriting is the practice of writing content on behalf of someone else, without being credited as the author. It involves writing books, articles, or other pieces of content under the name of a different person.
How can I become a successful freelance ghostwriter?
To become a successful freelance ghostwriter, focus on honing your writing skills, building a strong portfolio, networking with clients, and delivering high-quality work consistently.
What are the benefits of hiring a ghostwriter?
Hiring a ghostwriter allows busy professionals or individuals with limited writing skills to create well-written and engaging content that aligns with their brand or vision without investing time in the writing process.
How do I set my ghostwriting rates?
Setting ghostwriting rates depends on factors such as your experience, the complexity of the project, word count, and research involved. Research industry standards and consider your worth to determine a fair pricing structure.
Can ghostwriting be a long-term career?
Yes, ghostwriting can be a long-term career if you consistently deliver excellent work, build a strong reputation, and maintain good relationships with clients. Many successful writers have made a sustainable career out of ghostwriting.
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.
