So, you want to learn how to become a ghostwriter? You want to step into someone else’s shoes and let your writing abilities bring someone else’s idea to life?

Or perhaps you’re looking for a lucrative, behind-the-scenes writing career? Look no further than being a ghostwriter.

In this article, we talk about ghostwriting; then we proceed with explaining the most basic steps on how one becomes a ghostwriter.

We traverse everything you need to know of how to sharpen your writing to what to carry out to ring the right clientele-be you a new or seasoned writer.

Here is all the information about this ghostwriting.

Who is a Ghostwriter?

Before we can guide you on how to become a ghostwriter, it is important you understand what ghostwriting entails.

According to dictionary.com, a ghostwriter is “a person who writes one or numerous speeches, books, articles, etc., for another person who is named as or presumed to be the author.”

Ghostwriting, in plain words, means writing materials for another person without claiming public credit for the work.

For example, when ghostwriting a memoir for a client, your work will be to tell your client’s story and record their voice and ideas, all while you remain anonymous and give up any authorship rights.

Types of Ghostwriting Opportunities Available

There are many types of industries in which you can be great as a ghostwriter. You can write:

Blog posts and articles
Ebooks
Autobiographies
Speeches
Fiction books
Online course material
Video scripts
Film and tv screenplays

As you see, pretty much any text can be ghostwritten.

Why Become a Ghostwriter?

Our article on how to become a ghostwriter would be incomplete without talking about the reasons for choosing this route.

Most writers, when starting their careers, want to have their stories told. Others perhaps dream about receiving accolades from their work. But with ghostwriting, as you know, that is not possible.

Why would anyone put their time and energy into writing something they will not receive credit for?

There are a few reasons why this happens:

1. Good Pay

Ghostwriters are paid more because of the discretion required, flexibility, and research. Experienced ghostwriters can earn from $40,000 to $70,000 per book-length project, while beginners can get $20,000 to $30,000.

2. Range of Subjects

As a ghostwriter, you will research and discuss topics that you would probably never have taken up yourself, thereby gaining knowledge and building your writing experience.

3. Better Writing Skill

Ghostwriting helps you hone your writing skills by working with different clients, industries, and styles. You will gain versatility, improve your writing, and perfect your editing skills.

Also Read – How to Become a Virtual Assistant in Nigeria

How to Become a Ghostwriter

Now that we’re clear on what ghostwriters do and some of the incredible benefits of this career path, let’s get into how to actually get started on this journey.

Polish Up Your Writing Skills

To become a successful ghostwriter, strong writing skills are essential. Professional writers have an advantage, but many ghostwriters started from scratch, learning the craft as they went.

As a new writer, take courses that develop your skills in writing. Once you have confidence, work on writing, creating content, and publishing the same on platforms including social media sites.

Once a significant time has passed by, with gained experience, a developed expertise is applied to experimentation with genres and subjects. Next steps could include publishing their books or offering freelance writing services.

Understand Ghostwriting

Understanding Ghostwriting

Before becoming a ghostwriter, it’s essential to understand the role. As a ghostwriter, you’ll write books for others without receiving credit. To succeed, you’ll need to:

Capture your client’s writing style, tone, and perspective
Collaborate closely with clients to understand their vision, goals, and target audience
Translate their ideas into compelling content
Spend time interviewing and gathering information from clients
Regularly check-in to ensure you’re meeting their expectations

Much of the time, getting here could take some time. Like it could require you to invest some time in interviewing, talking to, or just getting the view of your client. And even at that, at intervals, you’ll have to double-check to ensure you’re still on track.

Choose Your Niche & Area of Expertise

Just like any other form of writing, there are so many areas or niches you can excel in as a person writing for other people. But before becoming a ghostwriter, you would want to be very sure about your preferred writing niche.

For example, as much as there are many niches out there, the majority of these niches fall into three sub-areas, namely:

Passion niche: something you’re enthusiastic about
Profitable niche: A lucrative area with high demand
Expertise niche: a field in which you have professional experience or training.

Ideally, you will find a niche that incorporates all three. If you must choose, though, consider your goals, expectations, and priorities. Take your time to select a niche that aligns with your career aspirations as a ghostwriter.

Write For Others

Ghostwriting is capturing clients’ thoughts and ideas and writing them in their voice. You can get this experience by writing for others for free.

In addition, this will familiarize you with ghostwriting’s demands, build your portfolio, see if ghostwriting is for you, and see the niches in demand.

Writing for free or low cost will get you portfolio pieces, reviews, and content to help you zero in on and refine your niche.

This will also provide you with valuable experience and build your portfolio in ghostwriting.

Brand Yourself & Create Portfolio

After finding your strengths and area of expertise, you’d want to build your portfolio as a ghostwriter. This is an expert profession and a highly competitive one as the clients have a lot of options.

The creation of a professional identity will require some serious thought about how to bring into view the skill and aspirations of your portfolio. You develop a strategy on branding in ways that clearly indicate your value proposition.

You design a professional website and a portfolio that would express your samples in writing, flexibility, and adapting to style and topic. A well-compiled portfolio showcases skill and stands out in an oversaturated market.

Also, it’s a good idea to write and publish as your own to complement ghostwriting credits. Sometimes this is the best branding of all, proving your skill as a writer while reinforcing your professional identity.

Begin as a Writer

Consider starting work as a writer offering freelance writing services before you start ghostwriting. This will allow you the chance to have some experience and build up your portfolio with various services you will be able to offer clients.

Being a writer first helps you explore all other avenues of ghostwriting other than book writing. For example, it could be writing articles, blogging, and even creating content for websites. This refines your craft, deepens your insight into clients’ needs, and builds a strong portfolio.

Starting as a writer also gives you the opportunity to develop a range of services, making you a more versatile and attractive option for potential clients.

As you gain experience and build your portfolio, you can then seamlessly transition into ghostwriting, with the skills and confidence to succeed.

Also Read – How to Start Affiliate Marketing in Nigeria Without Money

Promote Your Services

To be successful as a ghostwriter, you have to promote yourself and build visibility for your brand. Here’s how:

Online Presence

Social Media: Identify leading platforms with your target audience, create profiles, and engage with strategic content marketing and storytelling.

Website: Build a professional website displaying your work for clients to interact with your content from anywhere around the world.

Promotional Services

Guest Posting: Write content for other websites in your niche that have your target audience.

Paid Promotion: Utilize social media, Google Pay Per Click, and third-party websites to create visibility for your brand.

Networking and Marketing

Prospect for Clients: Network with CEOs, professionals, founders, and co-founders.

Strategic Marketing and Storytelling: Creating curiosity, establishing thought leadership, projecting your brand.

This, in turn, will make you more visible to potential clients, and as such, a ghostwriter who works.

What Skills Do You Need to Become a Ghostwriter?

Ghostwriting can be quite a thrilling career; it also extends the ability to practice writing on behalf of someone else. Well, to know how to become a ghostwriter, you need skills? Let’s get down to the skills needed.

Good Writing: You need to write well enough to make it interesting.

Research: Find information, verify, and keep your content appropriate.

Time Management: You should manage your time aptly and should be able to complete your deadlines.

Flexibility: You shall be flexible using different writing voices and styles.

Taking Feedback: You shall also be open towards feedback and would be ready for any change needed.

By being in the loop of developing all these skills, following these tips will keep you well on the way to successful ghostwriting careers.

Where to Get Jobs and Customers for Ghostwriter

Now you know how to become a ghostwriter, finding jobs and customers can be a challenge. Here are some places to look:

Online Platforms

1. Upwork

2. Freelancer

3. Fiverr

4. ProBlogger

Job Boards

1. Ghostwriters for Hire

2. We Work Remotely

3. Mediabistro

4. Journalism Jobs

Networking

1. LinkedIn

2. Twitter

3. Facebook Groups

4. Local Writing Groups

Also Read – Digital Marketing in Nigeria: Best Strategies for Success In 2024

What Are the Challenges of Being a Ghostwriter?

Becoming a ghostwriter can be a thrilling career path, but it’s not without its challenges. Here are some of the obstacles you may face:

1. Not having credit for your work

2. Uncertain income

3. Finding regular clients

4. Adapting to different writing styles

5. Handling feedback and revisions

6. Maintaining confidentiality

7. Dealing with difficult clients

Despite these challenges, many people find ghostwriting to be a rewarding career. With the right skills and attitude, you can overcome these obstacles and succeed as a ghostwriter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a ghostwriter, and what does he/she do?

A ghostwriter is a writer who writes for others-books, articles, blog posts, or other forms of content-and does not get credited as an author. They do their work behind the scenes to help others tell their ideas and stories.

How can I protect myself as a ghostwriter, and what kind of contract should I use?

That’s where having some kind of contract at the beginning of the project is useful, to state the terms you are working for-pay, deadline, secrecy, and things like that. You can use a general freelance contract or have one tailored for you with the help of a lawyer.

Can I make a living ghostwriting, or is this just a side hustle?

While many ghostwriters, in fact, make a living off their effort, it may take some time to build clientele or a portfolio. With persistence, hard work, and clear marketing, one may scale the heights to succeed and earn a good income from ghostwriting.

Conclusion

Choosing ghostwriting as a career has several positive aspects since it is believed to be quite an exciting and rewarding undertaking for those who like to write.

Follow this guide and allow yourself to be one of those successful ghostwriters present. After learning how to become a ghostwriter, start your career.

Let me remind you, ghostwriting is a task of helping others to narrate their own stories. This necessitates the aspects of being flexible, adaptable, and inventive. You just need to be committed and hardworking, and success will follow.

How to Become a Ghostwriter: Detailed Guide for Beginners

Table of Contents