How to Start your Ghostwriting Career

If you’re not familiar with the term “ghostwriter”, it refers to someone who pens a book for another, giving the latter credit for the piece. While the definition seems straightforward, there is more to ghostwriting than most people realize.

If you enjoy writing and are good at it, then you probably have thought about starting a career as a ghostwriter. But you must understand that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication.

You will have to up the ante because there is a ton of duties and responsibilities associated with the job. If you’ve been doing some freelance writing, know that ghostwriting is quite different.

Scope of Ghostwriting

A lot of people think about a career in ghostwriting without a clear understanding of what’s ahead. They believe they’ll be working on an autobiography, memoir, or anything that exclusively falls within the nonfiction genre. Autobiographies are indeed a typical gig for ghostwriters, but it isn’t the only available job out there.

It is common for ghostwriters to work for bestselling and renowned fiction authors. Countless successful novelists relied on ghostwriters, and those authors wouldn’t have sold millions of copies if not for the writing prowess of their writing assistants.

Aside from fiction and nonfiction books, ghostwriting also covers digital content creation. Many companies and organizations hire ghostwriters to write for them. Content varies from marketing tools, blogs, and even social media posts.

Like how a ghostwriter must embrace the style of the author, he or she must also be knowledgeable of the subject matter or the objectives of the organization.

For the most part, ghostwriting for digital content leans towards marketing products and services.

Starting a Career in Ghostwriting

Some writers fail in search of ghostwriting success because they underestimated it. Even if you are a writer with more than a decade of experience, it does not mean that you can comfortably transition to ghostwriting.

One thing you must embrace is that there is no “you” in this job. You must accept that you are working for someone else and your job is to carry and emulate the author’s voice. In other words, you cannot let your emotion and opinion take over your output.

When the author does not like your style or version of creativity, then it is your job to adjust. You can only start this career if you can wholeheartedly accept this reality.

How to Find Ghostwriting Gigs

If you have freelancing experience, then the transition wouldn’t be as challenging compared to someone who hasn’t tried writing to make money before.

Anyway, here are some valuable tips on how you can successfully get hooked with ghostwriting gigs:

• Create a website – It doesn’t have to be fancy, just enough to impress. The key to an effective website is to fill it with relevant content about your skills. It serves as the showcase of your portfolio.
• Build social media presence – Twitter and LinkedIn are the two most impactful social media platforms for ghostwriters and all aspiring writers for that matter. You need to have to presence felt in these avenues because many editors from renowned publishers use them to look for prospects.
• Learn digital marketing (SEO) skills – If you want to entertain the prospect of ghostwriting for websites and online content, then you should put in the effort to learn the basics of digital marketing, SEO, and the concept of pushing content for search engine rankings and traffic.
• Build a presence in job boards and similar websites – You probably have come across a handful of job boards but didn’t think they’re useful. But now that you’re looking to start a ghostwriting career, you will realize that those websites are a godsend. Job boards are where you find companies (publishers) looking to hire ghostwriters. Sites like indeed.com and freelancewriting.com post a ton of worthy and even lucrative ghostwriting gigs.

Small Steps, Big Strides

We all must start somewhere, and the hope for a ghostwriting career is no exception. It will take years to build a reputation, even for the most talented writer out there.

But you can’t start finding a lucrative career as a ghostwriter if you don’t take the first step. The goal is to take small steps at first so that you avoid making mistakes.

While you think of the bigger picture, always put your foot on the ground.

One of the most common mistakes that ultimately lead to failure is taking a handful of ghostwriting jobs at the same time.

There is no such thing as multitasking in ghostwriting. Focus on one project and do your best to impress. You must understand that the first years of your budding career in ghostwriting are not about making the most money. Instead, you focus on building an incredible portfolio.

Choose Your Field

It is rare for authors to be incredibly successful in multiple genres. The bestselling authors focus on one genre, which is why it makes sense for you to choose your field of expertise, too.

Your preferred niche will depend on certain factors like educational background, the things you love, personal experience, and professional interests.

Come to think of ghostwriting as a genuinely rewarding career. I know a lot of people who succeeded and made an incredible life out of it.

But if there is a critical reminder for someone like you who is just about to start, then it’s the fact that ghostwriting isn’t for those who are hungry for credit and recognition.

How to Build Your Writing Portfolio

Wanting to become a professional writer means you’re diving into an industry full of competition.

The goal is to stand out, which is why you’ll need a portfolio that works.

Your writing portfolio serves you well when it’s both current and extensive.

It needs to reflect your best work but also show a variety of content types. Keep in mind that it’s your best chance of selling yourself as a writer who can take on the job that’s expected of you.

The goal is to get your foot in the door, so clients will see what you’re capable of producing.

So, here are the steps in building your writing portfolio.

Step 1 – Know what to include.

Don’t go about building a writing portfolio when you’re not even sure what’s in it.

The idea is to impress prospective clients on your writing skills, so focus on diversity.

Talk about your experience with different types of articles, whether it’s news, sports, lifestyle, or technology.

The last thing you want is to make the wrong impression that you’re nothing but a one-dimensional writer.

Step 2 – Figure out where to host your portfolio.

Having a website is a must because it’s the best way to show off your expertise.

However, remember that you have to host it yourself or pay for a service to put up an online resume.

As for building one, there are many resources available online, but it’s much better if you could hire an expert.

An integral part of this step is choosing a domain name.

Most preferably, it should contain your name and professional information that’ll make it unique.

Don’t be afraid to be creative in coming up with a domain name but keep it professional. Remember that the domain name must also be connected or relevant to you – don’t keep clients guessing who owns the website.

Consider working with portfolio sites, i.e., WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix, if you haven’t done this before.

They offer a convenient way to build a portfolio site with no technical expertise needed. You’ll have a finished product in minutes or hours, depending on your level of customization.

Step 3 – Identify your best pieces and use them as the foundation for your portfolio.

You already have a place to showcase your expertise online at this point.

So, the next step is to fill it up with information that gives you the best chance to get hired as a writer.

When filtering your previous work, focus on the pieces that have strong headlines, are free of errors, and evoke an emotional response out of the reader. Next, go over all your writing samples and see which ones are well-structured.

Preferably, choose articles or content with a professional tone, which is free of colloquialisms and slang.

Step 4 – List your contributions to other platforms.

It’s not enough that you have a portfolio site online to showcase your work as a writer.

You also need to name other publications where you’ve made contributions, such as blogs and news sites.

On the same note, be sure to explain how you got published at these venues so future clients can see your credentials for themselves.

Step 5 – Sell yourself.

Having a portfolio site is just the beginning of putting together an impressive resume.

You also need to think about how you present it so that prospective clients will take notice. Do these:

• Focus on credibility. When talking about what you can contribute as a writer, make it clear that you are an expert in the field. But, if your writing portfolio doesn’t show this enough, find ways to include more information about your work history.
• Highlight versatility. Of course, one of the keys to success as a professional writer is quickly adjusting to different types of assignments. Make it clear that you can handle different topics for different platforms.
• Be relevant to the job you’re applying for. Making sure your portfolio is updated with fresh work is important too. For example, if you are applying for a job as an editor’s assistant, make it clear that you have experience doing this kind of work before, so your application won’t get overlooked.

Step 6 – Consider guest posting.

If you’re one of those freelance writers with very little experience, you should consider expanding your reach through guest posting.

Guest posting lets you show off your expertise while at the same time making valuable connections in the industry.

In addition, you can post on other blogs related to your area of expertise and introduce yourself as an expert who has something valuable to say.

This also gives you a chance to establish credibility with other writers.

Likewise, guest posting is an effective strategy to get more clients on board too.

The fresh content you contribute via guest posting helps build an impressive writing portfolio, so don’t underestimate how this can help you get more work.

Guest posting is not for everyone, though, so be sure to think about whether this strategy fits your personality and writing style. It’s also important that you do this strategically because it requires a lot of time to maintain relationships with other writers online.

Step 7 – Don’t forget the bio and CTA.

Your portfolio site is not complete without a well-written bio. It should be a short paragraph that describes you as a person – let everyone know that you’re real and legit.

Remember to check carefully for grammatical errors because this part of your writing portfolio speaks volumes about you as a professional.

Meanwhile, the call-to-action button is what will drive readers to contact you.

It’s up to you whether this should be done through email, but, if possible, try using a pop-up form so that your site doesn’t lose new leads.

The CTA is a must when you’re putting your portfolio on a hosting platform.

Step 8 – Incorporate old school.

Some clients still prefer to read resumes on paper.

And even if you’re applying for work online, you might consider printing out your resume and portfolio site to share offline with current or potential clients. You can do this through a PDF or printable version.

Conclusion

Building an impressive writing portfolio is all about making yourself look good on paper.

But, it’s worth the trouble because once you’ve done it, the right opportunities will start to come your way.

That being said, putting together a solid writing portfolio could easily overwhelm you, but following these steps will make the process easier. Of course, it’ll require some hard work and dedication on your part to get noticed, but if you keep at it, your portfolio is bound to garner the attention of potential clients.