SHAKING THE TREE ... #32

What does a ghostwriter do and how do you become one?

Let’s be honest.

Writing can be hard work.

While I get that in the grand scheme of things, writing isn’t exactly manual labour, when you take into consideration the time, research, and attention it takes to create anything that’s halfway decent, writing can take its toll.

And sadly, and whether you like it or not, not everyone who’s capable of writing a book ought to be publishing their work because frankly, a lot of writing stinks.

Many of the books you come across in the bestseller lists these days are not what they seem.

While it might seem that big name authors across the board are pumping out one hit tome after another, the reality is that several of books available right now in the best seller list are not quite what they appear to be. That’s because the author whose name is on the cover isn’t the author.

They used a ghostwriter.

A ghostwriter is a professional writer who creates content on behalf of someone else, often without receiving public credit for their work.

Ghostwriters are commonly hired to write books, articles, speeches, and other forms of written material.

Ghostwriters collaborate closely with their clients to capture that person’s original ideas and their tone of voice, they then craft the content accordingly—writing in the voice, tone, and speaking style of the client—in order to provide a finished draft.

As a paid gig, it’s not unusual for ghostwriters to make decent money. And if you’re good at ghostwriting, there’s no reason why you’ve ever be out of work. So how would you do about becoming a ghostwriter, if you’d a mind to dip your toe into those waters?

Here are a few thoughts:

You need to be able to write. I know: no shit, Sherlock!

But simply because someone thinks they can write, it may not logically follow through that they are any good at writing.

I’ve been writing in one way or another for almost 35 years and when I look back at some of my earlier stuff it’s just dreadful.

So start by honing your writing skills through practice and study.

Read as widely as you can (because writing is as much about the language you hear as it is about what you’re saying), and write regularly in several different ways—from poems, essays, and advertisements, to social media posts, white papers, articles and the like—because by doing so you’ll improve the quality, speed, flow, and sound of your writing.

Understand the difference between writing genres. Because writing isn’t just writing, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the various writing genres today’s audiences are used to seeing.

You need to do this because as a ghostwriter you’ll find yourself asked to work all sorts of different types of projects, from journalism to reporting to fiction, from non-fiction, blog posts, and extended articles to manuscripts.

Take time to build a portfolio. Before anyone hires you as a ghostwriter you need to create a portfolio showcasing your writing versatility. Include samples of your work in different styles and genres that demonstrate your capabilities to potential clients.

Reach out and network. By connecting with other writers, editors, agents, and commissioning editors in the publishing industry you’ll develop a core group of like-minded souls through whom you can connect with potential clients and opportunities.

Toot your own horn. Don’t be shy about creating a professional online presence through a website or blog, or through any one of the major social media platforms.

By highlighting your skills, expertise, and services as a ghostwriter you’ll spread the word about what you do and widen your reach as someone worth hiring.

Be open to collaboration. Being a ghostwriter means being willing to adapt to someone else’s tone of voice and vocal style.

Even if this person’s grammar is shaky, that’s not the point: you’re being hired to write as someone else, not for your brilliance as a grammarian.

Being open to collaborative projects requires writing in different voices and styles.

Be open to communication. The key to understanding a client’s needs and preferences is your ability and willingness to be an effective communicator.

If you’re loud and outgoing, know from the beginning that you may need to reel things in when dealing with quieter, unassuming clients.

If you’re shy and retiring, you’ll need to develop stronger interpersonal skills to collaborate successfully with clients who ma have larger personalities than those you’re used to dealing with.

By the same token though, being a ghostwriter often means working on sensitive and confidential projects. So being trustworthy and being able to maintain confidentiality is an essential part of building your reputation.

Another crucial part of communication revolves around being willing and able to carry out in-depth research. There may be times when your client wants to say something specific about which they lack insight and knowledge.

This is where your skills as a researcher come to the fore, particularly when it comes to the importance of accuracy and credibility.

You will also need to know how to negotiate rates, how to handle contracts and deadlines, and how to arrange payments and payment terms.

Back in 2010, I lost money and time when a client ripped me off over an editing job because I didn’t have a simple contract in hand to fall back on. Having a clearly spelled out, signed and dated agreement with clients protects their interests and yours.

Finally, another part of communication revolves around staying up to date on what’s going on in the world of writing in terms of trends, publishing industry changes, and new technologies (particularly AI systems), all of which will help you remain competitive and relevant.

It’s important to understand from the beginning that it’s unlikely you’ll hit it big right out of the gate. Becoming a successful ghostwriter takes time and dedication, focus and commitment. It's important to be patient, persistent, and committed to refining your skills. But if you’re willing to put in the effort, there’s no reason why ghostwriting can’t be an interesting and lucrative way to make a living.

As always, thanks for reading.

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P.S. Next time on Shaking the Tree … When brands need constant polishing.