How to become a ghostwriter
The hardest part about the ‘how to become a ghostwriter’ question is there is no obvious answer. It’s not like any other career, where there is an obvious path, whether an apprentice-style climb-the-ladder structure, or a job that can only be obtained via a degree-level qualification. Most of the ghostwriters I know are accidental ghosts. They were in one career and then, by quirk of fate, fell into ghostwriting.
I know this is not a helpful answer to the how to become a ghostwriter question, so let me share what I do know.
Can I start ghostwriting with no experience?
As the intro clearly shows, yes! It does help if the skills you have acquired in your previous jobs have some link with ghostwriting. Let’s take having a passion about writing and being able to write well as a given. I think one of the single most important skills any good ghostwriter needs is to be able to draw the story out of authors. To do this, you need to be able to ask the right questions. For this reason, journalists are often very well suited to the transition into ghosting. Another important aspect of ghosting is to write in the voice of the author, so the book sounds like it was written by them. You have to imagine how they felt about certain events, and why they reacted in the way they did. It has been likened to being a literary method actor. Therefore, it is no surprise that actors often make the leap into ghostwriting.
How hard it is to become a ghostwriter?
Often, like me, would-be ghosts just get lucky. Someone they know will know they have the relevant skills and ask them to write their book. In my case, I was working as a business journalist on a national paper, and a contact I had always got on with well approached me. It was Allan Leighton, the then boss of Asda. He had been offered a contract by Penguin Random House to write a book about leadership and been advised to find a co-writer he felt comfortable with. I was very lucky that I was the person he asked. Thus, I became another in a long line of accidental ghosts. If would-be ghosts are not lucky enough to be asked, they will need to go out and do the asking. Trawl local newspapers for interesting stories and, if you think it will make a great book, then get in touch with the people involved. If your skills are more on the professional side, scroll through LinkedIn. There are often some really interesting personal stories there too.
Can anyone become a ghostwriter?
The skills listed earlier are essential, but there are also some other must-have attributes. While making a living as a professional writer might conjure up visions of days spent in glorious solitude agonizing over a paragraph, that’s a somewhat romantic vision. A ghostwriter is paid to produce an author’s book. If it takes months, even years, that is not a very viable business model. While predominantly freelance, ghostwriters are essentially running a small business. They need to manage their time, their budgets and be professional at all times.
Patience is everything in ghostwriting
What qualifications do you need to become a ghostwriter?
No formal qualifications are required. As listed earlier, there are a number of skills that are essential. I would add to that that an infinite supply of patience is needed. A ghostwriter is encouraging authors to tell their story, and to do that in an authentic way, authors need to bring their whole self to the process. Some authors are more willing than others to do so. I should add that ghosts who work with authors who are at the top of their field, either as a celebrity or professional, should expect a lot of last-minute changes of plan.
How to become a ghostwriter
If I was completely new to ghostwriting, I’d pursue the following strategy:
Organise some examples of your best writing in a range of genres. It doesn’t matter if these are not commissioned works, or haven’t appeared anywhere.
Become a story sponge. Listen to people talking around you, read newspapers and trawl social media, and don’t forget to ask extended family members about their back story.
Read. A lot. Enjoy each book, but also notice how they are structured. Stories don’t need to start at the beginning and work through to the end chronologically.
When you find a story you can’t resist and think it really, really needs to be told, ask the person behind it if you can work with them to produce a book.
For the first few books, you may need to do it for no financial reward. It’s tough, but the goal here is to build a portfolio of work to show other authors.
There will be some rejections. Maybe a lot. Not everyone wants to put themselves out there.
When an author says ‘yes’, congratulations. This is where the fun begins.
Be reliable. Turn up to interviews on time.
Be disciplined. Set yourself a daily word count and stick to it.
You are a ghostwriter.
What is the hardest part about being a ghostwriter?
People will imagine the hardest part about being a ghostwriter is not getting any credit, or the name on the cover. Most ghostwriters I know are not bothered by this at all. To me, the hardest part of being a ghostwriter is the same anxiety that plagues any freelancer. You are always wondering where the next job will come from. Even as an established ghostwriter, with more than 80 books under my belt, I still get the odd moment where I wonder if I will ever work again.
Ghostwriters need to get active to find writing projects
How do you get ghostwriting gigs?
As your ghostwriting career becomes more established, it will become easier to get jobs. To help this along:
Make sure you have a website. It should show who you are, the books you’ve worked on and the genres you prefer. Testimonials from happy clients are really effective.
Keep in touch with authors you’ve already worked with. Around 25% of my contracts are repeat business.
Create a presence on social media and LinkedIn. Blog, comment on relevant posts and highlight stories you find interesting.
Once you’ve got a bestseller under your belt, apply to join The Ghostwriters Agency.
How much do beginner ghostwriters make?
As you might imagine, inexperienced ghosts make a lot less money than those who have a few books published. Perhaps less than £10,000 per book and, as above, the first few books might even be for free. If they are good though, the rates will raise quite rapidly and, don’t forget, if a ghost is disciplined, they will be able to write two or three books a year.
Is ghostwriting profitable?
Once a ghost is established, they may be able to charge upwards from £30,000 per collaboration. Some ghosts charge more than £100,000. The costs involved are very low, just a laptop, a printer, an internet connection and lots of coffee, so it is possible to make a good living.
Do ghostwriters get royalties?
The question of whether a ghost gets royalties is very much a decision to be made between an author and their ghost. Most ghosts don’t push too hard for this, because royalties can be very low, to non-existent on all but the most successful books. They can also take a long time to come through. It is for this same reason that I would advise any ghost to refuse any contract which offered payment through royalties alone.
Ghostwriting might start out as a side-hustle, but will transition into a full-time career
Is ghostwriting a good side hustle?
Yes and no. When starting out, this may be a viable way to get into the business, especially if a newbie has to do a couple of books for no payment. After that though, I would advise committing to the job full time. Thoughtful considered writing takes time and discipline. I am not sure it would fit in well around another job.
How can I join The Ghostwriters Agency?
The number one criterion to join us is to have collaborated on a book that has become a bestseller. We’ve got more than 70 ghostwriters on our books, who between them have written around 200 bestsellers. We’re always keen to hear from other successful ghostwriters though. If this is you, please do contact us.