Introduction
Ghostwriting can be a lucrative and fulfilling career path, but it isn’t always easy to get started. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the steps you need to take to become a ghostwriter as well as how to find work once you are ready.
Expert tip: Don’t take on ghostwriting work that you’re not prepared to do. If a client asks you to run errands, clean up after the kids, or do their laundry, it’s fine to say no.
Expert tip: Don’t take on ghostwriting work that you’re not prepared to do. If a client asks you to run errands, clean up after the kids, or do their laundry, it’s fine to say no.
Don’t get me wrong—I am all for being a good friend and helping out where I can. However, if you are taking on ghostwriting jobs regularly and suddenly find yourself feeling resentful toward clients or overwhelmed by the workload, it may be time to reconsider how much of your own life energy is going into your business.
1. Take an inventory of your skills and experience.
One of the first things you should do when looking for ghostwriting work is take inventory of your skills and experience. Are there any types of writing that come naturally to you? What type of material have you worked on in the past? How would others describe your writing style?
What kind of client would be a good fit for these skills and experiences? Is there a certain industry or profession that interests you more than others, and do those clients need help with writing projects that align with your background and interests?
Doing this exercise will help narrow down which opportunities might be right for you. It can also assist in building connections with clients who are seeking writers with similar backgrounds, interests, and skill sets (and vice versa).
Affordable Ghost Writing for Nonfiction books
2. Determine what kind of writer you are.
Now that you’ve considered your strengths, it’s time to figure out what kind of writer you are. The following sections will help you assess your skills and find a suitable niche for yourself as a ghostwriter.
- 1 Identify Your Strengths
When deciding which type of writing suits your personality and style, it’s best to take an honest look at yourself first. By looking at the pros and cons of each career path, you can identify the type of work that fits with who you are as a person and how much time or money you’re willing to invest in it. Here are some questions for analyzing what kind of ghostwriter is right for YOU:
- Do I have strong attention to detail?
- Am I good at proofreading work?
- Can I complete tasks within deadlines?
Affordable Ghost Writing for Nonfiction books
4. Create a budget.
Create a budget. The first step to making money as a ghostwriter is setting up your own rates and policies. This can be intimidating, but it’s necessary if you want to protect yourself from getting burned out on work or getting taken advantage of by clients who don’t understand the industry.
First, decide what kinds of writing gigs are worth taking on in terms of price and time investment. For example, if you have three hours free on Sunday morning and feel like working on something related to your career interests, maybe even combine this with some research for another project and charge nothing for that session (or at least very little). On the other hand, if someone asks for an article that needs more than five hours’ work from start to finish—and no matter how much they offer—don’t take it unless there’s something exceptional about the opportunity (e.g., leads into other writing opportunities).
Affordable Ghost Writing for Nonfiction books
5. Find jobs and build a network within the industry.
One of the best ways to find work as a ghostwriter is by building a network within the industry. You can use your previous work as evidence that you can deliver quality content and demonstrate that you have experience in writing for others. It’s also helpful if you already have some connections with other writers, especially those who are just starting out or are looking for help on certain projects.
Be sure to ask around—it’s likely that someone close to you knows someone else who needs ghostwriting services! Use social media networks like LinkedIn and Twitter as well; there are plenty of people looking for freelance ghosts online every day.
Affordable Ghost Writing for Nonfiction books
6. Apply for jobs that fit your experience and skillset
After you’ve built up your samples, you’ll want to start applying for ghostwriting jobs. When applying, be sure to only apply for projects that fit your experience and skill set. For example, if you’re a sports journalist who loves baseball and has played baseball all your life, then it makes sense for you to apply for work writing books about baseball. But if the only thing in common between yourself and the author is that both of you have red hair—well then maybe not so much.
Affordable Ghost Writing for Nonfiction books
When submitting an application, be prepared to explain why this book needs writing from scratch by someone other than the author; having no background knowledge on how these things work is good because it keeps things fresh but also means there’s less room for error when working outside of one’s comfort zone! If possible (and depending on how much detail they require), try linking some relevant examples from previous experience where applicable: “I’ve written five biographies over my career.” Or perhaps even better: “Here are three recent examples of similar work done at this company.”
Affordable Ghost Writing for Nonfiction books
7. Start ghostwriting!
Once you have a portfolio and some experience, it’s time to start looking for work as a ghostwriter.
Start by writing a blog on your own site — and make sure it’s good! You don’t need to be an expert in any one subject yet, but show off your passion and personality by offering advice in your area of expertise. This will help build up your authority as an expert on this topic, which can help you market yourself as someone who knows what they are talking about.
Then look for opportunities to write articles for other blogs or publications that might pay freelance writers (for example Forbes). Keep an eye out for listings like these through job boards or forums where people hire freelancers (like Upwork).
Affordable Ghost Writing for Nonfiction books
As you write more content over time, establish relationships with editors at various magazines/newspapers/etc., so that when there’s a news break in their industry they’ll remember who wrote those great stories from years ago!
By following these steps, you’ll be able to find ghostwriting work in no time at all!
To follow this guide, you’ll need to:
- Decide how much money you want to make
- Understand the benefits of working as a ghostwriter
- Learn how to find ghostwriting work online
Conclusion
This guide will help you get started on your journey as a ghostwriter. But don’t forget—the best way to get started is to take action! The most important thing is to keep learning, keep practicing, and keep writing. And then one day soon, one of those pieces will be the first draft of your very own book!