10 Tips for Being a Successful Ghostwriter

success as a ghostwriter

Ghostwriting can be a very profitable career if you follow a few essentials when applying. When your clients are happy, they will give you good reviews, which will lead to more jobs and, of course, more money.

Here are some tips you can follow to secure your success as a ghostwriter:  

1. Be Selective When Choosing Jobs

Use popular freelance sites. Be picky. Only apply for things you can write well about or are genuinely interested in. The more research you have to do, the longer the task will take, so you might want to narrow the list of topics you choose to write about. 

2. Read Each Job Listing Carefully

If anything is vague or sounds suspicious, pass on it. Chances are there will be plenty of other listings that will be clearer and created by people who genuinely want to hire a ghostwriter.

3. Check the Reviews for the Clients

See how many listings they created versus the number of people they hired. Sites like Upwork allow freelancers to rate and review their clients. For the sites that operate in this manner, you may want to see how other freelancers rated the client before you submit a proposal for the job of interest. 

4. NEVER Give Customized Free Articles

Usually, this is against the terms of service in most marketplaces and is a scam to get free content out of eager writers. By all means, put together an impressive portfolio of your own work, such as blog posts and articles, but never work for free.

5. Beware of the Scope Creep

I can hear you laughing, but I am so serious! This can happen when a client starts to ask for more and more things that the original agreement did not include. You might give in once if it is not going to be a great hardship to fulfill the request, but if there is a major change or too many requests, it is best to rewrite the agreement and adjust the pay accordingly. To avoid this, make sure everything is clear. You don’t want to waste time going back and forth or being told you have misunderstood something. 

6. Stay in Regular Communication with the Client for Longer Projects

If you are undertaking to write a book, for example, a quick note at the end of each day or two telling them how things are progressing should reassure them and keep you on the right track. Communication is key.

7. Don’t be Afraid to Ask for More Information

Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you are writing anything in-depth or highly personal. But do be sensitive regarding privacy. If they hesitate to answer, don’t push.

8. Treat All Information You Receive as Confidential

Even if you are not asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement or a non-compete clause, treat everything you are told or given with the utmost security consciousness. If you’re unsure whether something should go in the work, ask and abide by their answer.

9. Create a Regular Schedule

The schedule will usually include applying for jobs, writing, and administrative tasks such as invoicing, email, etc. It is important to continue looking for work even when you have gigs, so you don’t have peaks and valleys in your income.

10. Remember That You Are Running a Real Business

Ghostwriting is a real career, a real service business that is in high demand. Many potential clients are out there looking for people like you to create content for them. Keep track of all your paperwork and organize all of your work so you can find what you need easily.

Ghostwriting can be an enjoyable and lucrative career. If you have questions or need assistance finding your next ghostwriting clients, please fill out the Let’s Connect form on www.iamediting.com and we will be sure to help you. 

Adrienne Michelle Horn is the owner of I A.M. Editing, Ink. Although she has a full-time professional career in healthcare, she is also a South Florida-based editor, poet, author, entrepreneur, and mother of her beautiful daughter, Paris.

For more information about Adrienne and her company, follow I A.M. Editing, Ink on social media or visit https://linktr.ee/iamediting