I’m going, to be honest. I didn’t love writing this article. It’s not that it wasn’t fun; it’s just that it wasn’t anything new. Ghostwriting seems like such a simple process, right? You write something for someone who can’t or won’t write for themselves, and then you get paid for it.
Well, as with most things in life, some nuances make ghostwriting a unique and rewarding experience. Here are 12 things every writer should know about ghostwriting:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Understanding the concept of ghostwriting and its implications. |
| Exploring the role of ghostwriters in creating content for others. |
| The benefits of anonymity for ghostwriters and their clients. |
| How ghostwriting can be a lucrative career option for writers. |
| Learning about the importance of clear agreements in ghostwriting projects. |
1. You’re Not Writing For Yourself, But For A Client (And Their Audience)
In a ghostwriting situation, you’re not writing for yourself not even remotely. You’re writing for a client (and their audience).
You may know how to write and how to put words together in a way that pleases your taste buds, but you don’t know what the hell their audience wants or needs.
Maybe they want humor, maybe they want science fiction or fantasy elements mixed in with the nonfiction content hell, maybe they just want some jokes thrown around in there.
Your job is to figure out what THEY want out of THEIR book. You must also consider WHY this book exists in the first place: Is it meant to inform?
Motivate? Entertain? All three at once? Do whatever is necessary to ensure that your work fulfills those goals while still being true to you as an individual writer.*
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2. You Need To Make Your Client Shine, But Not Too Much
When ghostwriting, it’s important to not make your client look better than they are. You also don’t want them to look worse than they are. And don’t try to make them look like someone they aren’t you can only use the information you have available.
For example, if your client is a doctor who makes $200,000 per year and you’re writing an article about how doctors make less money than people think.
But she wants her salary included in the article because she’s proud of being able to afford multiple homes and fancy cars on her income alone… well then I’m sure we can all agree that there’s no way around it: She should have said something earlier!
3. Your Own Opinion Doesn’t Matter Theirs Does
You may think that your opinion matters, but it doesn’t. The only person who matters is the client. You need to be able to make them shine in their light and draw attention away from their flaws so they look good by comparison.
You can do this in several ways: by talking about how intelligent they are, how creative they are, and how whatever they’re writing about will change the world (whether it does or not).
This is why ghostwriting can get very political because it’s all about making your client look like an authority on whatever topic you’re writing about.
Are you intrigued by the idea of becoming a ghostwriter and making money through your writing skills? Our comprehensive guide on How to Become a Ghostwriter will provide you with valuable insights and tips to kickstart your ghostwriting journey.
4. Having A Point Of View Is Hard When You Have To Stay Neutral, But You Do Have To Pick One
When ghostwriting, you need to pick a side. This isn’t just writing book reviews; it’s being an advocate for someone else’s work and their message, so when people read it, they know what you’re saying is the truth.
You don’t have the luxury of staying neutral or objective you have to be strong and confident about your point of view for us readers (and hopefully the author!) to trust that what you’re saying has value.
The best way I’ve found for keeping my voice consistent throughout all my writing is by making sure that any personal feelings.
Or opinions are always backed up with facts or statistics from reputable sources like government agencies/institutes or reputable news outlets or research organizations (like Pew Research Center).
For example, if I think one type of politician is better than another because she has more experience working within her party but also understands how politics in general works at large scale level, then back up those claims with statistical evidence:
“Politician A has been working with Congress members since 2011 while Politician B only began serving after 2016.”
5. You Want To Know Exactly Who The Audience Is And Who Your Client Is So You Can Write As If You Were Them
- Ghostwriting for someone means writing as if you were them.
When you’re ghostwriting, it’s important to know your audience and who the client is. You have to be able to write as if you were that person.
And the best way to do that is to ask a lot of questions about who they are and what their brand is so that when it comes time for them to write something themselves, they can tap into all of those things that make them special as an individual or company.
So ask questions like: Who is this book/ebook/blog post going out to? What are their goals? What values do they have? And how would they talk about this topic in general?
Ghostwriting for bloggers can be a rewarding endeavor, but it comes with its challenges. To ensure a smooth experience, check out our article on What to Watch Out for When Ghostwriting for Bloggers. Learn from others’ experiences to avoid common pitfalls.
6. There Will Be Many Ideas Thrown At You, And It’s Your Job To Sift Through Them And Get To The Core Of The Matter Quickly And Efficiently
You will be expected to sift through many ideas and get to the core of the matter quickly. You’ll have to be able to sort through all of these ideas, as well as determine which ones won’t work or have been tried before.
The client will have lots of ideas for their book, but it is your job to help them decide which ones are best for their book and can make it into a great story that readers will pick up again and again.
You may find yourself having long conversations about what could happen in certain situations, but at some point, you need to say “no” if something doesn’t fit into your vision. For this project to succeed, you must do two things:
Create an outline based on everything that has been discussed so far; then share this outline with everyone involved (client included).
This will show them where things stand right now–what still needs fixing and how much more work there is left on any given chapter before reaching completion status (aka “Done!”).
7. Asking Questions Is Imperative In This Profession, And Generates Some Awesome Stories!
- Questions are good!
As a ghostwriter, you need to ask questions so that you understand the person you are writing for. Questions help you get a better understanding of who they are, what they do, and where they fit into the world.
They also allow us to get to know our audience and the people who will be reading our work. This can come in handy when it comes time for promotion because we’ll be able to tell potential readers why this book is worth their time (and money).
8. Your Grammar Has To Be Impeccable (So Don’t Let #2 Intimidate You)
Grammar is a writer’s best friend, worst enemy, secret weapon, and most important skill. This is because grammar is the foundation of writing without it, everything else collapses.
Without good grammar, you can’t communicate effectively with others or get your thoughts across in an effective way.
So if you’re going to ghostwrite for someone else (or even if you’re writing something just for fun), make sure that you’ve got your grammar down pat!
Surviving and thriving as a ghostwriter requires dedication and skill. Gain inspiration and guidance from the personal account in How I Survived as a Ghostwriter for 7 Years and Counting. Discover the strategies that have helped one ghostwriter overcome challenges and excel in the field.
9. Using Words Or Phrases That Are Too Complicated Will Turn Off Your Audience (Also Don’t Let #2 Intimidate You)
You may have heard the term “elevator pitch,” which refers to a quick explanation of your product or service that you can deliver in the time it would take for an elevator ride.
Your elevator pitch should be short, sweet, and simple and it’s important to keep in mind that sometimes less is more when it comes to writing.
Don’t get caught up trying to sound like an expert by using words or phrases that are too complicated or highfalutin; you’ll turn off your audience instead of appealing to them.
When I was ghostwriting for The New York Times bestseller Dr. Sarah Gottfried, she told me how impressed she was with what I’d written because we hadn’t spent hours agonizing over every word choice (a process called copyediting).
That said: I did spend considerable time researching topics before I started writing and making sure my facts were accurate so her readers wouldn’t be confused by any inaccuracies and also so they could trust me!
You needn’t worry about sounding like yourself while still getting across your message clearly if you follow these tips:
10. Every Writer Has A Voice… Maybe Not A Very Delightful Voice, But They All Have One!
It becomes even more important when writing as a ghostwriter because your audience will recognize that voice and they will trust it. To be effective, you need to tap into who you are as a writer and what makes your writing unique.
To find out what makes your writing unique, I recommend reading some of your favorite authors and seeing what they do differently than other writers in their genre (or just people in general).
Then ask yourself: “How can I do that?” This might be hard at first because it requires thinking critically about yourself and how others perceive you. But once again: no one else knows better than you how YOU write best!
11. Writing Creatively Isn’t Just About Getting Paid; It’s About Having Fun With It And Learning Something New Every Time!
You’ll be able to write about things you’re passionate about. If you love writing about art, for example, then ghostwriting can be a great way to help other people express their creativity through their art.
It’s also a way to learn new skills and gain expertise in areas that interest you. Ghostwriting can teach you how to write better by giving feedback on your work or just teaching yourself what works best for different kinds of projects (e.g., business writing vs creative writing).
In addition, if certain topics interest you but aren’t necessarily related to your career yet have potential as future fields (like marketing).
Ghosting will help prepare you for them by expanding upon the knowledge gained from each project completed while still earning money now!
Finally, ghosting might give someone else an opportunity they otherwise wouldn’t have had access to such as when they needed help with their resume but didn’t know anyone else who could do so–which brings us to our last point…
Is ghostwriting the best business choice for you? Find out the compelling reasons why many writers opt for this profession in our article on Why Ghostwriting Is the Best Business to Be In – 17 Reasons. Uncover the unique advantages that come with ghostwriting and see if it aligns with your career goals.
12. Every Writer Has A Voice… Maybe Not A Very Delightful Voice, But They All Have One!
Every writer has a voice, and you must have a voice in your writing. You need to be able to write creatively so that people can enjoy what you write.
This is why there are so many different kinds of literature genres: because each person has their unique way of looking at the world and expressing themselves through words.
You also need to be able to write in a way that people can understand someone who’s writing a book on quantum physics wouldn’t expect everyone else in their audience to understand what they’re saying right away.
But if someone doesn’t know how something works by reading your article on how it works (and they’re not already familiar with this topic), then maybe consider simplifying your explanation or starting with an analogy instead?
Finally, as we said before: Don’t take yourself too seriously! If there’s one thing we know about humans today, it’s this: We all like things more when they’re funny! So don’t forget you also need humor when ghostwriting for clients who don’t have any sense of humor themselves…
Conclusion
If you’re someone who wants to become a ghostwriter, it’s easy to get discouraged. But remember: every writer has a voice… maybe not a very delightful voice, but they all have one!
The best thing to do is make sure your own particular “voice” is one worth listening to by keeping in mind these tips: read more books than you write them;
Practice writing in different styles and genres; work on your storytelling skills and find your unique angle, and be patient with yourself as you go through this process because it takes time!
Further Reading
What Is Ghostwriting and What Does It Mean Today?: A comprehensive exploration of the concept of ghostwriting and its contemporary implications.
The Business Ghostwriting Guide: An in-depth resource on ghostwriting for business purposes, providing valuable insights for entrepreneurs and professionals.
Ghostwriting Tips: How to Get Started: HubSpot’s blog offers practical tips for aspiring ghostwriters to kickstart their writing careers.
FAQs
What is ghostwriting?
Ghostwriting is a process where a writer creates content on behalf of someone else, without being credited for their work.
Why do people use ghostwriters?
People may use ghostwriters to leverage their expertise or ideas, especially if they lack the time or writing skills to produce content themselves.
Is ghostwriting legal?
Yes, ghostwriting is legal as long as there is an agreement between the ghostwriter and the client, clarifying ownership and copyright issues.
How much does ghostwriting cost?
The cost of ghostwriting varies based on factors such as the scope of work, the experience of the writer, and the complexity of the project.
Do ghostwriters get any credit for their work?
In most cases, ghostwriters remain anonymous and do not receive public credit for their contributions. Their role is to support the author or client in creating the content.
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.