For those reading this and thinking ghostwriting sounds like something I want to get into, you may be wondering where do I even begin?

In my quest to learn about ghostwriting and how to start with little to no experience I learned a great deal from G.B. Scholander’s book Where are the Ghostwriting Jobs? The book gives you not only the framework of establishing yourself as a ghostwriter but concrete steps on how to build your portfolio and where to find those opportunities. Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know when you are starting off in this career path. But before you dive in let’s start with an important disclaimer.

 

Expect to remain anonymous

To recap, ghostwriters get paid to write other people’s stories. While the ghostwriter does most of the heavy-lifting in terms of writing a polished completed manuscript, the client who pays you get credited for the book. While you may be listed as an “editor” you will not be credited as the author.

 

But here’s the interesting part most people don’t know:

You may often be forced to sign a confidentiality agreement. The terms of that agreement may stipulate that you won’t be listed anywhere on the credits. It may also stipulate the details you share about the book you just worked on. Granted this will vary from client to client but don’t be surprised if certain clients forbid you from discussing your project (their book) to other people. This is something the author cautions you to give careful thought to when deciding on which clients to work with. If you agree to the terms of their condition then great, you landed a deal. If not, you might want to look for another client! You want to be able to share at least some things about the books you are working on. After all you want to be able to provide some concrete examples on your online portfolio or resume of the types of works you have experience in.

 

Build your portfolio first

Like any job the #1 thing employers are wondering is do you have experience. Doesn’t matter if you just graduated college, employers expect experience. This is very important for anyone new to ghostwriting. In fact I would say this is something I wish was stressed even more in the book. Granted you can apply for an actual paying job with a team of other ghostwriters, but most of them are looking for at least some ghostwriting experience before they will even consider your application/resume.

So how do you gain experience if you starting from ground zero? After reading the book I came to the conclusion that you have a much better chance working as a freelance ghostwriter before you can land a steady-paying gig/job in ghostwriting.

Before we get to the resources here’s some tips to build your experience before you look for clients.

Be a writer

You can’t expect to be a ghostwriter if you’ve never written a book! It’s like applying to be a nurse without any schooling and hands-on training. I would encourage you to write and publish at least one book before you become a ghostwriter. Why do I add the publish part? You need to understand what readers are looking for. It’s important to have some knowledge of the publishing industry so you know what sells and what doesn’t. Doesn’t matter if you traditionally published or self-published, you need industry experience if you want to set your future client’s book up for success.

The more you write the better you become. You will be able to hone your craft which will carry over to your next book. Even if you have never written a book for a client, having a backlog of books you’ve written will help with your credibility, especially if they are well-written and have mostly positive reviews.

One thing the book recommends is creating an online presence whether it’s through a blog (e.g. WordPress) or website. Even LinkedIn would work. You have full rights to share the contents of your book so why not showcase it to future clients.

 

Start somewhere

Once you have some writing works under your belt you can start eyeballing potential clients. Clients can come from anywhere. You just have to keep your eyes open even in places we overlook. G.B. Scholander reminds aspiring ghostwriters to look for opportunities amongst your connections or local communities. Maybe someone has a great story to share but doesn’t have the time or skill to pen a novel. That’s where you can come in to fill a need.

The most common way ghostwriters find gigs is by searching job boards. Here are just some of the top recommended sites to find a gig:

  • Online Writing Jobs
  • Freelance Writing
  • Indeed
  • SimplyHired
  • Craigslist
  • just name a few

 

The book does a good job breaking down the strengths and limitations of each site when you are starting your search. For example Indeed offers some good-paying jobs. For example I was able to find a job posting that pays between $32-46/hr. Not bad for a ghostwriter job! Keep in mind you need to be realistic. When you starting off you may only be able to land smaller gigs, like a short 15-page book on a particular topic for example. Keep in mind some of the jobs will be low-paying especially if you are bidding on jobs. I wish this was something that was discussed more in the book because it’s important to understand you will not find a lot of high-paying gigs when you first start out. Nor can you expect to charge others $10,000 per book if you have no actual experience.

The gigs that pay more understandably expect more experience upfront but don’t let that discourage you from applying to your dream jobs especially if they don’t spell out ‘x’ number of years you need before applying.

The reality is you have to start somewhere. With the sites listed, start by doing keyword searches for “ghost writer” to narrow down ghostwriting jobs. Keep in mind that you don’t have to limit yourself to jobs in your locale. You can broaden your search for any ghostwriting job in your country or even around the world. Considering most of these jobs are remote, you can work anywhere around the world. In the middle of a pandemic, remote work has become a lucrative option for millions.

If you are interested in sticking with freelance work you can find some great opportunities within the resources the author lists. And if you build your portfolio you can even start advertising your services on sites like Craigslist or Upwork. I would recommend checking out postings (particularly in your local area) to give you a gauge on how much you should charge. For example in my area (SE Wisconsin, USA) the average is $4,800 (USD) to ghostwrite a book on Craigslist. Meanwhile some sites like Upwork charge by hour. They can charge as high as $150+. Some charge $40/hr. Again the rates will vary depending on the length and nature of the book and their years of expertise.

Even if you decide that ghostwriting is not for you, there are other writing jobs you can find online whether you are interested in blogging, content writing, copywriting, or technical writing.

Whether you are interested in ghostwriting or other writing jobs I recommend checking out the book. For those serious about ghostwriting, this is a great starting point. So far I’ve packed a lot of information in this post and even then there’s much more details to cover. I’m still learning about this career path and all the different paths it can take me whether it’s working full or part-time with an agency or an independent freelancer. Now it’s time for you to dig in and find out for yourself!

 

 

J.U. Scribe is the author of Before the Legend and enjoys outlets such as blogging, drawing, painting, and graphic design.