Ghostwriting can be both interesting and profitable for the right kind of creative person. The key is to possess the skills and interests that clients are willing to pay for.

What is a ghostwriter?

A ghostwriter creates work, like fiction or non-fiction, but their name doesn’t appear on it. Instead, someone else puts their name on the work and receives the copyright, allowing them to use it as their own.

Most ghostwriting is considered work for hire. The client and ghostwriter work together, but the client receives full rights to the finished product.

Assigning copyright matters, but there are other legal points to consider. Sometimes, a ghostwriter signs a non-disclosure agreement to keep the client’s idea private. They might also require the writer to sign a non-compete agreement, promising not to write a similar book for anyone else.

Also, payment terms should also be agreed upon and set out in writing. All of these agreements should be in place prior to the ghostwriter creating any substantial work. Payment terms will vary depending on the assignment’s length. For longer assignments, such as a book, a retainer fee that represents a partial payment of the agreed-upon fee is reasonable and helps retain the ghostwriter’s services.

Who hires ghostwriters, anyway?

Many different people hire ghostwriters. Sometimes, they’re busy website owners who need articles or other content but don’t have the time or skills to write it themselves.

Many people also want to “be a writer,” in the sense of publishing a book under their own name and hoping it will bring money and prestige. They might not have the skill to write an entire book, or the patience.

Some business owners want books published for promotional use. A ghostwriter is one of the best shortcuts for this type of person.

Famous people also often aspire to write a book, but don’t have the skills or time. They will usually give the ghostwriter materials to include in the book, and might be interviewed. Final approval of the hopefully flattering book will usually rest with the client.

Some clients are hands-off. They set the job requirements, pick a ghostwriter, and let them work. Others prefer to be more involved or even manage every step closely.

4 tips to remember when selecting assignments as a ghostwriter

Since many clients outsource their content creation to professionals, ghostwriters can be a bit choosy. Popular freelance marketplace sites exist, such as Upwork and Freelancer.com, which are good places to start.

When diving into ghostwriting, it can be tough to decide what assignments to take on, whether you’re new to the field, or someone who has done it many times before.

These four tips can help writers decide what assignments to select.

1. Clients who submit easy to understand proposals. If the content brief is something that you know you can take on, based on the client’s demands (time frame, length, topic, etc.), then dive right in. The more you can show what you can do, the better chances you have of building up a body of work to show future clients.
2. Clients who are easy to communicate with. That sounds easy enough, but think about it for a moment. Some clients might naturally want to micro-manage; it will be their name on the product after all. Some clients might not even know what they want until they have a completed manuscript in their hands. So, if something feels amiss while you’re getting to know the client, don’t be afraid to disengage.
3. Clients requesting a reasonable due date. Working for someone else sets up specific expectations, but this is something to keep in mind for a reason. If you know that you can’t generate X amount of pages by a certain date, it’s best to either skip the assignment or see if the client is amenable to accept a different deadline.
4. Clients that match their topics of expertise and interest. For example, technology writers probably shouldn’t accept an assignment for a health and wellness book.