| If you are willing to forgo the glory of seeing your | | | | their feelings, not yours. Make sure you understand |
| name in print you can make a decent living working | | | | completely what the client wants before you start to |
| as a ghostwriter. Writer's can charge upwards of $15 | | | | write. Being a good listener will help you complete |
| per hour working as a ghost writer though many | | | | assignments quickly and with fewer re-writes than |
| start at as little as $2 per hour. The amount you | | | | those who aren't paying attention to what their |
| charge will depend on the experience you have in the | | | | client's needs are. Ghostwriters will need to develop a |
| area where you are ghostwriting. Many writers start | | | | thick skin early in their writing career. Unless you are |
| out writing keyword articles, which is a great place to | | | | a mind reader, there will be client's that won't like |
| hone your skills. Advanced ghostwriters can tackle | | | | everything you write. Each client will be unique in how |
| areas such as writing memoirs, short stories, family | | | | they want you to write for them. One of the best |
| histories or pamphlets for local organizations. | | | | ways to find out if you are on the right track is to |
| How do you get a start in the ghostwriting business? | | | | submit a small portion of your assignment to a client |
| Many writers get their first ghostwriting gig by being | | | | before your first deadline. This gives both of you a |
| in the right place at the right time. Other writers get | | | | chance to voice any concerns and it gives you a |
| their jobs by searching the freelance writing ads that | | | | chance to get back on track if there are problems. |
| can be found on many Internet writing sites or in | | | | Be prepared to make edits whether you like them or |
| their local newspapers. It is becoming more common | | | | not. Clients will ask you to change things in an |
| for many people seeking ghostwriters to advertise | | | | assignment, which may be against your better |
| on the Internet. Freelance writers can also post their | | | | judgment. Cover yourself by getting all editing |
| own ads for work by stating that they are | | | | request in writing so if there are problems later there |
| ghostwriters. The number of people working as | | | | won't be any doubt as to why the changes were |
| ghostwriters is relatively small because many people | | | | made. |
| want the recognition for their own writing. The great | | | | Run your ghostwriting business like a business. |
| news is that there are plenty of jobs to go around | | | | Writers should be available to their clients during |
| because of this. Ghostwriters may be working in the | | | | regular business hours or hours that you have |
| wings but many are members of the American | | | | determined with your client. Keep track of all of your |
| Society of Journalists and Authors as well as the | | | | earnings and be prepared to send invoices when |
| National Writers Union. | | | | needed. Make sure that all of your business |
| As with any job, there are some things that you | | | | equipment is in working order such as your |
| should know before you dive in headfirst. Primarily | | | | multi-function copier isn't running out of ink and your |
| the first thing you should decide is how much you will | | | | computer has enough memory for a big project. If |
| charge per hour. This may be decided for you if | | | | you have a dial-up connection make sure you have |
| someone is looking for a ghostwriter and they | | | | an Internet answering machine so you don't miss |
| advertise how much they are willing to pay. A ground | | | | important phone calls from clients. |
| rule for any writer is never to work on speculation. | | | | Writers shouldn't be afraid to set their own limits with |
| Working on "spec" could mean that you will never be | | | | clients as well. If you don't want to accept phone |
| paid for your work and there is no guarantee that | | | | calls after a certain hour because you need to attend |
| any other promises will be forthcoming either (i.e., | | | | to your family let your client's know this. Just |
| sending more clients your way or another job in the | | | | because you run a business out of your home |
| future). At the beginning of any project you should | | | | doesn't mean you have to run your business |
| know up front how much will be paid either weekly | | | | twenty-four hours a day. At the end of the day you |
| or up front and when the balance will be paid to you | | | | will undoubtedly be happy with your job. |
| at the end of the project. If you are ghostwriting a | | | | Freelance ghostwriters can make a good living and |
| book you will want to negotiate for a percentage of | | | | they can set their own hours and wages. There is |
| the advance and royalties as well. | | | | also nothing like the feeling you get when you nail a |
| Once you land your first job remember that one of | | | | job and make your client happy. Nothing will build your |
| the best attributes of a ghostwriter is their ability to | | | | client base quicker than referrals from clients that are |
| be a good listener. Your client wants you to convey | | | | very satisfied with the quality of your work. |