Ghostwriting: The Invisible Writer

What is ghostwriting, and why would I want to do that?

A ghostwriter is one who’s hired to author blog, literary assignments, article, journalistic works, speeches or other content that is officially credited to someone else.

As you may have experienced with most remote writing and freelance assignments, ghostwriting comes with its own challenges.

You can forget about having "writer’s block". No excuses, when it comes to meeting a client's deadlines. But, isn't that true for any other form of freelance/ remote writing? Yes!

Technically, there is not a vast difference between freelance writing and ghostwriting (remotely or in-office). Same ole' challenges....except....

SOMEONE IS BORROWING YOUR WORDS.

THE MAIN DIFFERENCE: YOU WILL NEVER RECEIVE CREDIT FOR YOUR CONTENT/WORK.

If you can accept this reality, then you are in the market to produce great content for great clients and make some rather decent money doing so! You may not be able to receive credit, but you can carefully use your work as samples!

Now, let's discuss a few quick tips to help you become a great ghostwriter.

Be a Great Ghostwriter | Tips!

Know Your Client.

Get to know your client's brand, service, and product. What are their goals with the content?

Get to know their voice. You are not speaking from your own voice, therefore, you will need to full immerse yourself in their company's voice.

Learn New Words.

Is your client looking for corporate content that requires a more pronounced business-jargon approach? A thesaurus is your friend. Notably, I like to use an online thesaurus tool that my mentor recommended, called Power Thesaurus.

Research the Topic(s).

Like any writing project, do your research about what’s been written, how it was conveyed, and when it last was brought up. It doesn’t serve your client well if the piece they would like produced isn’t timely or doesn’t break new ground, in terms of voice or contribution to a discussion.

Know Your Worth.

Your time and words are valuable. Speak transparently with your client about compensation. Maybe you work out a total project fee or an hourly wage. Go with whatever makes you comfortable. Then, keep an accurate log of work performed, whether it’s research, interviewing, or writing.

Feeling less confident about choosing a compensation strategy for your clients as a ghostwriter? Check out Le Williams' introductory e-book series (Part 1) "New Writer Fee Strategies". It's free and easy to download!

Using Written Work as Sample

Can I use my written work in a portfolio? It depends on the client. Since most of my clients simply requested samples when getting to know me, I was able to easily send them samples of my work without worrying about a website or résumé.

In Conclusion | Benefits Can Outweigh Credit!

Ghostwriting can be one of the most lucrative methods of making money as a new writer and gaining that valuable experience needed. 80% of my salary as a writer comes from being a ghostwriter. With the handful of clients I have, I am able to support my family without a full-time job outside the house.

Ghostwriting forces you to become better in your writing skills, learn new things, and make more money than you may earn on your own (as a newbie).

Although ghostwriters will NEVER get credit for the work performed, we are very powerful and innovative writers that many high-profile companies seek after.

If this blog content has been helpful to you, please let us know. I look forward to joining a chat with you about this very topic!