So, you want to be a ghost writer huh? Well before we get into the specifics we need to start by defining what a ghostwriter is and how they differ from some of the more traditional roles a writer gets hired for, such as blogging and article writing (though sometimes these can be penned as a ghostwriter as well).

The key is in the word ghost and refers to the fact that the written material that is published is attributed to someone else (usually the client) rather than the true author (you). Put another way, the author of the work is invisible, like a ghost, to the reader.

Your first inclination may be why would I bother writing if I can’t get attribution for it. Before we can answer that question, and before you can learn to be a ghostwriter, we need to look at why people hire them.

Why Do People Hire Ghostwriters

There are numerous reasons why a client will come to you for ghostwriting services but they can be summed up in two categories.

• Time. Simply put, many business owners do not have the time to write e-books, reports, white papers, presentations and so forth.
• Skills. Another simple reason; the client just doesn’t have what it takes to write compelling words that will achieve their objective(s).

These clients however, recognise the benefits they can reap from having their name attributed to a well-crafted piece of work (branding for example); hence the existence of ghostwriters.

Be a Ghostwriter: Tips For Success

Which brings us back to our original question; why would you write for someone else and not get attributed as an author?

Generally speaking ghostwriting is a more advanced form of writing, furthermore ghostwriters are also considered by some to be their own “secret weapon” to success. As such it may be easier for you to charge a higher fee and in some cases even negotiate a non-competitive/exclusive clause into your contract. These are a few things that you need to be aware of if you wish to be a ghostwriter:

• Specificity. Get as much detail as you can from your client. Yes the same can be said for all writing jobs but as a ghostwriter you’ll be required to demonstrate a deeper knowledge of the topic as your word count will be expected to far exceed that of an average blog post (300-600 words).
• Fluency in your natural language. This is a no-brainer but the best results can only be achieved by those that are fluent writers . If you do take on ghostwriting in another language keep in mind things like regional dialects. I personally don’t expect to ever be called upon to write a Welsh document aimed at readers in the North of Wales.
• Quality as well as quantity. You need to be able to put quality above everything else. A blog post for example is skimmed over by the reader, an e-book is read (even re-read) thoroughly. Mistakes in your spelling and grammar are often overlooked or forgiven when they appear on a blog but they will stick out like a sore thumb in an e-book or report.
• Leeway. Handling a ghostwriting job is slightly different than your other writing tasks. For a start it’s likely that you’ll have to agree to a non-disclosure clause; i.e. you can’t tell anyone that you wrote the material. This makes it difficult for you to advertise your skills as a ghostwriter but also makes it incredibly difficult for potential clients to gauge your experience! Be prepared for lengthier discussions as well as the need for providing high-quality samples of your written work.

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