Have you ever wondered how to be a ghostwriter ? The reality today is that many people dream of being able to publish their works and make a living creating stories and proposing unique and original speeches. However, the truth is that in the world we live in, it is increasingly difficult to stand out and gain a foothold in the field of literature.
That is why for years a figure capable of earning a living as an author has been created. Of course, he has had to renounce, in exchange, his authorship name. They are known as ” ghost writers “, professionals of letters and texts who provide their services to be able to create all kinds of stories in exchange for a salary, being able to take part in various projects.
What is a ghostwriter?
In the strict sense of the word, a ghostwriter is an author who “hides” behind a name to be able to write for him the stories that, due to lack of technique, imagination or time, he cannot do. The name comes very handy with being a shadow figure.
However, despite the fact that some time ago they had a bad reputation for being undercover writers with whom some well-known authors got by, the truth is that with the appearance of social networks and the need to create content, they are one of the leading figures. within the publishing world, more acclaimed and requested.
His job consists of creating commissioned works of the type requested and with the pertinent conditions through a contract with an editor or a natural person in exchange for a remuneration that varies depending on the length, theme and term or time delivery.
How to become a ghostwriter
Today, many people who are passionate about letters seek to open a gap and become an author. If you have your own ideas and what you want is to see your name on the covers, it is best to opt for the advantages of self-publishing or to call publishers door-to-door. However, if what you are looking for is to live from what you like, that is, write, the field of ghostwriting is one of the most accessible to start with.
If this topic interests you and you want to know a little more about how to become a ghostwriter, here are some tips that will help you.
Polish and define your technique
The basis of every good writer is to be able to master a technique that stands out and gives quality to his work. That is why the main thing to be a ghostwriter is to be able to narrate and write well. To do this, if you have not dedicated your training to it, all you have to do is practice reading and courses, academies or creative writing workshops. In this way, when you show your work they will be delighted.
Create a good job book or resume
Finally, being a ghostwriter is a freelance and autonomous job in which you yourself must create your own client portfolio. For this, you must have a good cover letter and this is achieved with a book or a curriculum where all your main works are gathered, in such a way that the person who wants to hire you knows what you do.
Specialize your writing
As we will see below, ghostwriters usually have some niches where they stand out compared to the rest. That is why if you want to start working as one of them, it is best to decide in which area you want to stand out and specialize so that all interested people can turn to you.
Create a profile and promote yourself
In this world full of new technologies, one of the biggest pluses is that promoting yourself can be very easy. You just have to put yourself in charge of a blog or web page and make yourself known either by publishing, interacting with other contacts or doing Google SEO campaigns for the agent to contact you. You can also use social networks like Instagram or LinkedIn or use the influencer tool to pick and shovel.
Types of clients of a ghostwriter
When deciding to be a ghostwriter, you also have to take into account what type of client is the one who usually demands these jobs. It must be taken into account that intellectual property becomes part of it and that is why it is convenient to know the type of services that you are going to demand, in order to specialize.
Despite the fact that they can be very diverse and varied jobs, in this section we are going to detail the main types of clients of a ghostwriter and topics.
Biographies
Many people have given themselves the space throughout their lives to be able to tell about their existence, experiences and their family tree. However, not everyone has that talent and that is why some resort to an investment and create a space of trust with a ghostwriter who writes their biography. It is a very personal writing in which very deep soul issues such as love or death must be dealt with, but they are usually the best paid jobs, since they are long projects in which you have to enter the brain of the other person..
Blogs and websites
Today there are many channels and websites specialized in all kinds of topics. Content creation is booming and everyone wants to have a reference place where they can find out about politics, economics, medicine, English, tourism, artificial intelligence, religion, business insider, cinema or technical communication. That is why this is one of the great niches that the ghostwriter has, being able to write on several pages on different topics and contributing to quality content on the network.
Creative blocks
People who want to dedicate themselves to writing know that it is not a path of roses and that many times they can go through the annoying blank pages and the blockage of creativity. In these cases, if there is a rush or impatience to finish or get out of that rut, some authors turn to ghostwriters who bring them new ideas and who take charge of turning around to finish that work that was costing so much.
Series and novels
The other great niche that ghostwriters have is that of novels and sagas. Many times it happens that there are people with an enormous imagination capable of creating fantasy worlds, social relationships, imaginary scenarios and realities that are worth telling. However, you do not have the necessary resources or talent. That is why they hire the ideas of a ghost writer to investigate and put themselves under their perception to give shape to all that imagination.
What are they going to look for when hiring a ghostwriter?
In the same way that as a ghostwriter you will require certain guarantees to be able to set remuneration and deadlines with clients, you should also take into account that the people who are going to invest in your talent will be attracted if you demonstrate certain skills that stand out and give you professionalism
In this sense, some of the points that many potential clients will pay attention to and value from a ghostwriter are:
- Transparency: one of the things that is most often valued in a labor or business relationship is transparency. If as a writer you are completely open and receptive and promise achievable goals, the trust with your client will be much more fluid.
- Preparation: it must be demonstrated that the subject is mastered and that you have tables to be able to carry out the order.
- Own method: style and creativity have a great weight in this type of work. You must demonstrate that you have a defined and attractive style.
- Timing: Your timing and skill must stand out from the rest. You must offer a delivery commitment that stands out and defines you, realistically.
- Budget: you have to value the work that is done but, if the prices, in addition to being adjusted to reality, have guarantees or promotions, your clients will be more attracted.
Salary and compensation of a ghostwriter
Ghostwriting work is full of advantages as you are able to earn a living writing without having to deal with extra publishing expenses like bookbinding, ISBN assignment, choice of format or paperback printing, etc. On the contrary, they are exclusively in charge of creating a manuscript or digital text that reflects the content that their client was looking for and it will be the latter who is in charge of paying for it and bringing it to light.
This in itself makes it very profitable when it comes to becoming a profession. But, in addition, the salary and remuneration itself come into play and, for a few years now, they have been increasingly regularized. Ghostwriters usually charge by the word, but this price can change depending on the topic and time.
The way to set a price for a ghostwriter
In this way, if it is a text in some very specific way in which it has to be documented, a specialized text plus is usually charged. In the same way, if the delivery must be in short periods of time, that dedication also ends up being remunerated. In addition, another of the benefits of being a ghostwriter is that you can transfer your trade across the border and charge for the work in euros or even dollars.
With all this, it is very difficult to give an exact figure of what can be earned, since it also depends on the country and what is stipulated. If you are interested in knowing an approximate exact value, it is best to find out how much the word is charged in your country and multiply by the number of words that are proposed for the project, with all its bonuses if any.
