A lot of writers today choose to be ghostwriters – write for other people without getting their name on the cover of the book, or beneath the headline of the article. Most writers choose to do this because it is a very good way to get income while working on your own books and stories without needing to get a side job to make ends meet. Also, ghostwriters are constantly in demand – there are many people out there who have skills they want to share with the world, but do not have the patience to write a book about it themselves, or they need someone to write their life stories and publish them as an autobiography.
Good content is always needed, and being a ghostwriter ensures that aspiring writers can earn an income doing what they love (writing) with the difference that while they get paid to do so, they do not get the artistic credit from the media. However, this doesn’t mean that ghostwriting is easy. In fact, ghostwriting can be more difficult than writing, and below, you will find out why it is so. Additionally, you will find tips to help you be an excellent ghostwriter and enjoy all the benefits it can bring you.
1. Set your artistic ego aside
When you’re hired as a ghostwriter, you will not get the credit. Depending on the type of work, you might need to write short posts on social media, or short stories or even full fledged novels. However, you will not be able to reap the benefits. You will not be building your own online platform, but someone else’s instead. You will not be the author of the book, and your name will not appear under the headline of the article of short story. You will do all the work, but not get the attention and credit for it, and you need to be aware of it, and more importantly, okay with it. On the other hand, you will gain writing experience, and you will not be using your ideas for short stories and novels, so you will always be able to write your own stories when you feel that your time as a ghostwriter has come to an end.
2. Communicate with clients
Ghostwriting is considered to be easy because you’re putting someone else’s ideas in words. However, in order to do this successfully, you will need to communicate extensively and thoroughly with your client to ensure you capture every idea so as to be able to put it in writing. You will need to be prepared to set aside your own ideas about the various projects you will be getting, unless the client gives you a great amount of creative freedom and is ready to listen to your ideas. Also, you and your client both need to state your expectations upfront before starting to work on the project, to ensure that both you and the client get the most out of it.
3. Capture your client’s voice
If it is possible, ask your client to allow you to interview them about the project and record the conversation. A recording will be very useful in capturing your clients’ voice in writing. Ask them for their favorite quotes, the phrases they constantly use, and other quirks about the topic you need to write on. Remember, at the end, their name will be on the cover of the book, so you need to use their voice more often than your own to ensure the book is written from your client’s unique point of view. Another way to ensure this is to edit the book thoroughly before submitting it, because it is very easy for your own unique voice to slip into your writing.
4. Create a compelling portfolio
Ask every client to allow you to add the projects to your portfolio, and even better, to give you an endorsement or recommendation. This will help you get more clients, which in turn will allow you the freedom to choose what projects you will work on. Additionally, create a guide set for future clients where you describe every step of your method of ghostwriting books. This will reassure your prospective clients that you’re professional and capable, which will also bring forth more clients and projects in the future.
5. Value your work and your time
There are two ways in which a ghostwriter can measure if they are successful. The first way is by demand – if you’re good, you will constantly have projects to work on. The second way is by how much you will get paid. Many new ghostwriters make the mistake of underestimating themselves and accept to write gigantic projects that might take weeks of constant work to complete for a very small monetary compensation. But here is the thing – just because you’re new to ghostwriting, it doesn’t mean that you’re new to writing. You know your work and your time is worth more than that so don’t make the mistake of accepting less. Remember, ghostwriters are always in demand, and they will continue to be so in the future as well. If a client does not agree on your terms, another client will. Do not stray from compromise, but keep in mind that what you do is just as important and as time consuming as a regular job.
Image credit: hobvias sudoneighm on flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0
Georgina Roy wants to live in a world filled with magic. As an art student, she’s moonlighting as a writer and is content to fill notebooks and sketchbooks with magical creatures and amazing new worlds. When she is not at school, or scribbling away in a notebook, you can usually find her curled up, reading a good urban fantasy novel, or writing on her laptop, trying to create her own.