Dearest awesome reader…
I am writing to you today to reveal some of the perils that might befall you, should ghostwriting be an endeavour you wish to pursue.
During my three-year foray into the realms of ghostwriting, I improved my writing craft and discovered abilities I never knew I had (like being able to switch TOV between projects I was working on simultaneously).
I was also fortunate to work with some amazing clients, whose projects were inspiring and enjoyable to work on. However, it wasn’t all fun and games, since I learned the hard way that clients can become ghosts, too.
Obviously, having signed contracts and confidentiality agreements, I cannot disclose any specific details about projects I completed as a ghostwriter. Though there are a few things to be wary of when you’re entering a profession that requires you to keep quiet about what you’re working on:
1. It’s entirely possible that a client who seems to be trustworthy and communicative, who even offers to pay half for the project upfront, claims to be happy with a finished manuscript only to vanish off the face of the planet without paying the remaining half of the ghostwriting fee. Seriously. I’ve never been ghosted in person before, but ending up with half the fee for an entire manuscript going unpaid was a major learning curve. (Didn’t do my bank balance any favours, either.)
- Lesson 1 = Always ensure that you and your client agree on a fair ghostwriting fee for their project, making sure that you are paid a deposit upfront prior to commencing work for them.
- Lesson 2 = Don’t send the finished manuscript until you’ve been paid the agreed-upon fee. Of course, you’ll have to allow your client the option of a partial refund if they’re unhappy, but avoid sending the full document if the client isn’t ready to pay you. It’s essential to value your time and expertise.
2. Another possibility is that you may well have to watch the words you’ve spent weeks, months, or even years writing land your client a literary agent or the top spot on bestseller lists – while you’ve already spent the fee you were paid on fixing your broken-down, old car and end up having to eat beans on toast for dinner until your next client pays you. Three weeks late.
- Lesson 3 = Learn to get over that feeling. Quickly.At the end of the day, you were paid to provide a service and it’s great that your client’s project performed so well! Yes, it can be soul-crushing to see someone else enjoy what feels like the fruits of your labour (when you can’t get anyone to read even the first three pages of your novel), but if you’re good at what you do, clients will return and you’ll keep improving as a writer until you’re ready to taste that level of success for yourself.
- Lesson 4 = Non-fiction is likely to become the bread and butter of your ghostwriting income. Therefore, if fiction is your strength, I suggest brushing up on the art of crafting memoirs and commercial copy before becoming a ghostwriter.
3. Finally, keeping track of your finances as a freelancer is vital if you want to keep food on the table and a roof over your head. Fortunately, I managed to pick up a few part-time jobs (and a full-time job, eventually, too!) during my time as a ghostwriter, which helped to cover some of the bills when ghostwriting clients were late with their payments, or ghosted me altogether (still not over it).
- Lesson 5 = Make sure you’re confident about how much quality content you can produce and in what sort of time frame. Understanding how you work best will help you to set hourly rates that suit your individual situation.
- Lesson 6 = If all else fails, be prepared to get part-time paid employment to cover the bills when ghostwriting clients fail to pay on time (or at all).
- Lesson 7 = Given the secretive nature of ghostwriting, and the fact that there aren’t many people willing to acknowledge they’ve worked with a ghostwriter, getting work through word-of-mouth recommendations isn’t as easy as you might think – even if you’ve worked on a successful project.
Just in case I haven’t put you off the thought of becoming a ghostwriter, here are some of the resources I used when first starting out:
- Ghostwriting by Andrew Crofts.
- The Freelance Writer’s Handbook by Andrew Crofts.
- Full Time Author by Eileen Cook & Crystal Hunt.
- Business Planning for Editorial Freelancers by Louise Harnby.
- Start Your Own Freelance Writing Business by Entrepreneur Media & Laura Pennington Briggs.
Also, if you can, I suggest seeking out mentorship with an established ghostwriter who can offer guidance and advice as you take your first steps into this secretive profession. I was very fortunate to have shared an email conversation with a highly regarded ghostwriter at the beginning of my ghostwriting journey, which helped me find the confidence to embark on a brand-new type of literary adventure.
Is there any additional advice you’d like to add for budding ghostwriters? Would you ever consider trying ghostwriting as a profession? Have you ever worked with a ghostwriter? 🙂
Best wishes,
Dannika <3
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