Becoming a ghostwriter is like stepping into someone else’s shoes and using your writing skills to breathe life into their ideas. It’s a unique and rewarding experience, especially if you’re someone who enjoys working behind the scenes.
The demand for ghost book writers is on the rise, with more businesses recognizing the pivotal role of quality content in their operations and success. This upward trend paints a promising future for aspiring ghostwriters, hinting at a wealth of opportunities.
Some people are more than qualified to share their ideas and knowledge; however, writing is not their forte. That is why a ghostwriter might be their perfect partner.
Regardless of the type of writing – be it informative blogs or well-crafted books – there is undoubtedly a need for ghostwriters. So, if you are interested in becoming a ghostwriter, this is the guide for you.
Read on to discover the steps you need to take to become a successful ghostwriter for hire. Let’s take a look!
What Is A Ghostwriter?
Before we begin our guide on how to become a ghostwriter, let’s first understand what ghostwriting demands.
According to dictionary.com, a ghostwriter is “a person who writes one or numerous speeches, books, articles, etc., for another person who is named as or presumed to be the author.”
To put it simply, ghostwriting is a profession in which you write a masterpiece for someone else without receiving credit or praise.
For example, you might write a book to express your client’s idea while remaining anonymous and relinquishing all authorship rights.
Following are some of the common types of ghostwriting:
- Autobiographies
- Blog posts and articles
- Speeches
- eBooks
- Film and TV screenplays
- Fiction books
- Video scripts
- Online course material
- Video scripts
Why Choose This Path As A Writer?
This blog would be incomplete without discussing the benefits of choosing this path.
As a ghost book writer, you might be asked often, “Why on earth would you want to be a ghostwriter?”
Well, when you begin your career as a writer, you want to tell stories and get credit and praise for them. But over time, you realise that ghostwriting has its perks, and some of them are:
The Pay Is Good – A ghostwriter can adapt to the client’s voice, tone, and style to bring their ideas to life. Some jobs for professional ghostwriting services involve confidential information, so you must be professional and discreet about it. Also, as mentioned earlier, you will not receive public credit for your creativity and hard work.
With all these factors combined, ghostwriters get paid higher rates than other writers.
Reedsy explains the earning brackets of ghostwriters for hire:
- As a beginner, you will earn $20,000 to $30,000 for a memoir.
- An experienced ghostwriter can earn between $40,000 and $70,000 for a book-length project.
- For smaller projects like web content and blogs, ghostwriters may earn $0.15 to $4 per word.
Get To Write On Interesting Topics – As a ghostwriter, you will get an opportunity to explore and write about fascinating topics. As a freelance writer, you usually have a niche assigned using your own voice and style.
But as a ghostwriter, you can capture the voices and ideas of different clients, each with their uniqueness and expertise. For example, you can focus on business for one project, but as the next one comes up, you might find yourself discovering and writing about self-help, history, or whatnot. Sounds exciting!
Improve Your Writing Skills – When working as a ghostwriter, you have several opportunities to polish your writing skills.
You get to work with clients in different industries. Sometimes, you may even experience writer’s block, but you will always find a way, and that is how you sharpen your writing skills.
You can become more versatile and improve your writing abilities by consistently honing your ability to imitate different styles.
Additionally, you’ll have the chance to hone your editing abilities. Since you won’t be writing from a personal viewpoint, you could dedicate some time to polishing the piece and developing your storytelling skills.
A Step-By-Step Guide On How To Become A Ghostwriter
Step 1 – Create Your Portfolio
The most crucial step to becoming a ghostwriter is to have your own portfolio. In the writing industry, it is uncommon for a ghostwriter not to have any writing experience. Therefore, if you haven’t begun working on your portfolio, it’s time to start working now.
And keep in mind that having credentials is a must.
Making a portfolio doesn’t have to take a lot of time. All you need to do is begin somewhere, even if it means starting with a basic blog that can help you land a smaller ghostwriting gig. If you are expecting to get big book projects in the initial stage… Well, that’s how it doesn’t work.
You will need to step up your game to get higher-end ghostwriting deals, and guest posting is the most effective way to do this.
Guest posting is writing an article on someone else’s site under your name. Opportunities for guest postings are often obtained by submitting an idea to a blogger and getting approved.
Step 2 – Become A Freelance Editor
Taking an editing course will undoubtedly benefit you as a potential ghostwriter. As a freelance writer, this will surely strengthen your portfolio. Not only that, it is also a brilliant way to start a ghostwriting gig.
Suppose you do an excellent editing job for a client. You can always say something like:
“I appreciate the editing task. You know, I can offer to ghostwrite if you’re hoping to write and publish more books this year.
Asking directly has proven to be the best strategy, as opposed to giving them hints.
Step 3 – Learn To Work On Big Projects
Of course, ghostwriting can help you make good money, but only if you work on big projects, like writing a novel. Composing a 2,000-word blog post is one thing, but once you start writing 25,000-word books, it’s a different story.
Writing long-form works demands creative thinking. For example, you can write a 5,000-long blog on a good day. But when it comes to ghostwriting, we are talking about huge numbers.
So, it would be best to start working on big projects that you can deliver on time.
Step 4 – Work On Adapting Styles And Tones
This is a must-have ability for an aspiring ghostwriter. It is crucial to keep in mind that you are not writing as yourself but working as a ghostwriter.
You are putting someone else’s idea into words.
Therefore, you must adapt to the tone and style of the client. Understand the fact that each client has a different taste and thinking, so you must adapt accordingly.
For one client, it could be romance and unique metaphors. While for others, you may be a ghost book writer for a murder mystery. So, you need to recognize the voice and style and write in that tone. That voice should be something you can match.
This alone could make or break your chances of landing a new client.
Step 5 – Hone Your Communication Skills
Being an excellent listener is just as important as being a great writer for anyone hoping to become a ghostwriter.
You must familiarise yourself with the project and the client when you accept your first ghostwriting assignment.
You will need to have in-depth discussions about what your clients want out of the project and their ideas for it with them.
To ensure that what you write as closely aligns with the client’s vision as feasible, you will need to engage in active listening and ask questions about anything that isn’t apparent.
Additionally, you must read all of their written works, including books, essays, and blog entries.
Step 6 – Market Your Ghostwriting Services
Once you have successfully completed initial projects, it’s time to take the next step. With the initial accomplishments, you now want to market your professional ghostwriting services to more prominent clients. Here is how you can do so:
Personal Website
It is impossible to project a level of credibility without a personal website. Invest in a visually appealing website and a domain name. You don’t have to spend much money on a complex website.
All you need is an attractive website that demonstrates your best work. If you don’t know what you are looking for, look at the websites of other ghostwriters and make a list of the things you like and dislike about their websites.
Social Media Presence
Being active on social media is an inexpensive and valuable approach to marketing your services and establishing a connection with potential clients. Using social media has advantages beyond just showcasing your activities; it also lets people know who you are.
Marketplaces For Ghostwriting
Consider creating a profile on websites like Upwork or other platforms that offer professional ghostwriting services.
Now that you have a strong portfolio, get ready to start receiving some big projects.
Step 7 – Set Your Long-Term Vision
Don’t forget the bigger picture while working on small projects to polish your writing skills.
There are many highs and lows in ghostwriting. Nothing compares to the happiness of being paid to write on a subject you are passionate about without having to worry about being identified by the work. A few things are quite as annoying as having a vague client.
It is okay to experience both good and bad moments in the ghostwriting industry. Hence, it’s crucial to stick to your plan rather than letting your emotions dictate how you act at the moment. When times are hard, this will help you stay on course.
Having a goal for your short and long-term success is crucial. How many tasks will you need to finish to reach your goal? How will you market yourself and set yourself apart from the competition with your services? Always think of the bigger picture.
Step 8 – Be Consistent And Patient
It’s common for writers to be their own worst enemies. You need to believe in yourself and your skill set and that you are worthy of the best projects that come your way.
If you don’t believe in yourself, why would a client? Start having confidence in yourself to succeed as a ghostwriter.
Our ambitions and perceptions of what is possible are directly influenced by the people we surround ourselves with. So, get connected with successful ghostwriters, monitor their social media accounts and peruse their interviews. This will provide you with confidence and well-proven routes to take.
Tips And Tricks Every Good Ghostwriter Should Know
Now that you are well aware of the steps to become a ghostwriter, here are some additional tips and tricks you may use in your ghostwriting career.
Learn To Write For SEO – This is an excellent tip for anyone planning to be a ghostwriter for hire. Begin with SEO writing and improve the SEO of your client’s website (if any) with your excellent SEO writing skills.
Write Guest Posts About Ghostwriting – This is a novel way to market yourself as a ghostwriter. Write about ghostwriting! You will surely get noticed whether it’s the benefits of, how to, or even stories from your experiences.
Picking A Genre May Be Best For You – it’s okay if you don’t want to jump from one genre to another. In fact, if you can master one genre, why switch to another? For example, if you excel at the non-fiction genre, keep working on it to get the best rewards.
Meet Your Deadlines – You are getting paid for the services you provide. It would be best if you always strived to meet every deadline. However, it is not possible in some situations, so it is best to communicate with the client if any issue arises to avoid any hassle.
Get A Deposit In The Beginning—Sometimes, projects take longer than expected to finish, and then there are projects that don’t even reach completion. That is why it is always best to ask for a deposit in the initial stages to avoid any loss.
Approach Pre-existing Clients – Approaching clients you have already worked for is a great way to get some ghostwriting work. The best jobs might be right under your nose, so ask clients if they previously liked your work. If they like your writing, you may have a new project. Also, ask in your circle, and you might get a high-paying job.
Know The First Rule—Don’t talk about ghostwriting in general but about your individual projects. Doing so can actually have severe legal ramifications for you down the road.
Setup A Writing Schedule—It is crucial to have a schedule that you can easily follow. So, come up with a writing schedule that doesn’t affect your personal life, and you also complete the project on time.
To Sum It Up
We all know that not everybody has what it takes to be a good ghostwriter. But if you believe in yourself, you can turn the tables for yourself. In reality, ghostwriters really help the writing world go around.
If you want to become a successful ghostwriter, you need to be patient and consistent. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it will happen, for sure.
Building a good portfolio and rising above the competition is a time-consuming procedure. And if you succeed in overcoming these obstacles, you may find ghostwriting to be a gratifying career.
