How Much Money Can a Ghostwriter Make?
If you’re an exceptional writer and want to make decent money, you might want to try your hand at ghostwriting. Money is often a key factor in the decision to become a ghostwriter, but the specific amount you might make will vary depending on your skill, your clients, and the types of projects you take on. As a ghostwriter myself, I can tell you that the pay is immediate and usually quite good. I’ve charged anywhere from $2000 for smaller academic projects to $50,000 for larger projects that might take months to complete. Ghostwriting, if you do it right, can easily be one of your projects that pay.
A Ghostwriter’s Voice
The money might be a good reason for you to try ghostwriting, but it’s not a reason for anyone to hire you. In order to market yourself as a ghostwriter, you’ll have to master the art of sounding like someone else when you’re writing. Each person has a unique voice, and you’ve likely developed your own. But typically, when someone hires a ghostwriter, they want their own voice to come through, not yours. Adapting the tone of another isn’t the easiest thing to do. You might want to practice “sounding” like other writers before you put yourself out there as a ghostwriter. As a ghostwriter, your job is to adopt the voice of your clients.
It’s usually easier to mimic another person’s voice if you already have a passion for what you write. When making the decision to offer ghostwriting services, it is important to consider the topics and mediums you are willing to take on as a ghostwriter. Deciding what to write as a ghostwriter should be based upon your own interests and goals as well as the needs of your clients.
Where Can a Ghostwriter Find Clients?
One of the most common questions I get regarding ghostwriting is where to find clients. The easy answer is simple “everywhere.” There are many people who want to write but lack either the talent or the time to do so. Many professionals want to write papers, books, manuals, or even articles but would rather pay someone to do it for them. Some people have marvelous stories that make excellent novels running through their heads but simply can’t get them out on paper (or on the computer screen). Potential clients are everywhere. All you have to do is find them.
One of the few ways to do this is to market yourself. You can’t exactly wander around asking people if they need a ghostwriter. Well, you can, but expect more than a few funny looks for the effort. Instead, create an online presence for yourself. Start a website that showcases you as a ghostwriter, and a writer in general. Create sample works that are specific to your target clients. If you hope to ghostwrite academic works, make sure you have adequate high quality samples to show potential clients that meet their needs. The same rule goes for writing fiction. This body of work acts as part of a résumé.
Signing a Contract
When you decide to become a ghostwriter, you’ll have to eventually think about contracts. To protect both you and your clients, you’ll want to sign contracts for each project you undertake. These contracts should be fair to both you and your clients.
Ghostwriting contracts should specifically state when your work is due and how much money you’ll be paid at each stage. Generally, the work and money will be divided into quarters. You are paid ¼ of the total amount due and produce ¼ of the work for review by your client. If your contract ensures that you get paid in stages for completing a set amount of work, your client will get what they pay for and you’ll get paid.
Remember that finding clients takes time, marketing, and hard work. You won’t become a high priced ghostwriter overnight, but with a little patience, attention to detail, and a good contract, you could easily find yourself making money by letting someone else take the credit. This is a viable way to get started as a professional writer.
