Thinking of a freelance writing job? Try ghostwriting

Aditi Gupta,  TT,  15 Dec 2022 :  If you are someone who has a flair for writing and a way with words, then freelance ghostwriting might just be the right fit for you.

If you are someone who has a flair for writing and a way with words, then freelance ghostwriting might just be the right fit for you. Source: Shutterstock

Summary

Writers who produce content that gets published under a client’s name instead of their own is called ghostwriting

Look for people who will most likely have the budget to hire a ghostwriter. Make use of your old jobs and industry experience and network accordingly

There are several ways to make a career in freelance writing so no wonder there are people who opt for freelance jobs often. Going for freelance jobs doesn't necessarily mean that one has to leave their full-time job. There are plenty of opportunities which lets one work on the side without letting it become a burden on them and help them make some extra money. One just has to know where to look for them.

If you are someone who has a flair for writing and a way with words, then freelance ghostwriting might just be the right fit for you.

Understanding freelance ghostwriting

Writers who produce content that gets published under a client’s name instead of their own is called ghostwriting. The writer is made to sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) and in exchange for this, the ghostwriter is paid more than usual freelance writers.

Ghostwriting is usually conducted in the background and the client gets to showcase the written content as their own.

Types of Ghostwriting

Not all speeches that you hear from politicians or renowned personalities are their work. This is where a ghostwriter comes in.

Ghostwriters are often asked to produce content which ranges from blogs to social media posts and speeches. The subject matter and the type of content, depending on the client’s requirements, can include – speeches, books, articles, blogs, announcements, social media posts, interviews and lyrics for a song.

Why are ghostwriters required?

Ghostwriters are usually hired by public personalities where their content holds value. People who hire such writers are:

• Politicians
• Executives
• Athletes
• Influencers
• Creators
• Public figures
• PR agencies hiring for a client
• Literary agencies hiring for a client

Ghostwriters are usually hired for the following reasons:

Time: If someone is always busy and does not have time to carefully write, they often pay someone else to portray their ideas in the form of a blog, while they can save on time and not worry about errors.

Skills: A celebrity doesn't need to be a good writer. If they want content produced, they need to work with someone capable of writing. Hence, they approach external sources and opt for services from ghostwriters.

Adaptability: Celebrities and authors are often on tours and are required to produce a lot of content within strict timelines. Hiring a ghostwriter to help them with their work when they are travelling can be very convenient and hassle-free for them. For instance: An author on a speaking tour might hire a ghostwriter to produce op-ed articles that appear in the news for each stop on the tour, giving the author free time to meet fans and go ahead with their interviews.

What skills are needed to become a ghostwriter?

If you want to become a ghostwriter, you need a wide variety of skills to be successful, both in client delivery and business administration:

Client delivery skills:

Research: A lot of research work is involved in this line of work, since you will essentially need to understand your client and their point of view well enough to write as them.

Interviewing: Interviewing your client is one of the most important aspects of this job. This is when you get most of your insights, so you need to know the right questions to ask.

Project management: Ghostwriters often take care of the whole content production process, from booking interviews to handling edits and revisions.

Voice mirroring: Ghostwriters cannot write in their style, they have to mirror the tone, voice and writing style of their client and produce content accordingly.

Business administration skills:

Flexibility: Since a ghostwriter works with renowned people, rescheduling work meetings, or being assigned tasks at odd times shouldn’t come as a surprise. You need to be flexible to make the project work.

Time management: You have to manage your own time to make sure you’re delivering the work by the set deadlines.

How to get ghostwriting jobs?

Getting a ghostwriting job isn’t very difficult. One requires having a flair for writing and the eye to look for the right opportunity. Here’s how you can land your first job/project as a ghostwriter:

1. Identify your focus

You need to know where to set your focus and who should be your potential client. To identify the types of content you would like to take on, think of what topics you would like to write on, the topics and the writing style you are good at and what is the current demand in the market.

Look for people who will most likely have the budget to hire a ghostwriter. Make use of your old jobs and industry experience and network accordingly. Identify the value you bring to the table. What will make you a good writer for a specific client, state the specialisation, previous experience and reviews, if any, to the potential client. This will help you land your client.

2. Set up your brand

Having a brand for yourself will help you showcase your skills professionally to the clients.

Website: Update your website so that people can know you provide ghostwriting services. Make sure you include a call-to-action button which has your contact details so that potential clients can reach out to you.

Social media: Update your social media handles, especially on LinkedIn, which mentions you’re a ghostwriter. Let people know you are open to work and build connections with relevant people.

Your network: Spread the word around in your circle that you are offering ghostwriting services. Ensure that your website and portfolio are updated, in case anyone tries to reach out to you.

3. Source potential gigs

With a portfolio, brand, and a set focus, you’re ready to headstart with looking for freelance ghostwriting jobs.

Job portals: Several organisations will post jobs on freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, LinkedIn, and more.

Your current clients: If you are working as a freelance writer then let your current clients know you are open to ghostwriting services as well. They might refer you to someone who is looking for such services.

Agencies: There are many ghostwriting agencies you can join. Many also operate remotely, so you could potentially join a network that’s not in your state or country as well.

4. Prepare a winning pitch

Once you get a potential opportunity, make sure you ask the client questions about the job requirements, their goals, needs and expectations.

Getting a potential opportunity involves cold calling or sending emails and applications to several people. Ensure that you are asking all the right and necessary questions of the client, including their expectations, goals, and challenges. State how you can help them with your ghostwriting services. Share work samples and demonstrate your ability to write well.

5. Negotiate

When a client is ready to go ahead with you, make sure you have stated your responsibilities, assignment, requirements of the client, what you’re going to be doing, who you are supporting, and what the client needs to provide to you for you to do your job well.

Attain written clarity on the payment procedure and get it electronically signed.

Working as a ghostwriter can be done alongside other jobs as well, although there are people who take this as a full-time career. The highest-paid ghostwriters are the ones who are aware of what their services are worth and what they are good at. Marketing oneself is important in this career, especially for a newcomer. Given the perks of this job, though, one must not forget the problems like conflicts of interest, having too much work at once and not getting many clients. However, if one can manage it well, then the good money, flexibility and networking opportunities will be worth the toil.