How do you get a start in the ghostwriting business? Many writers get their first ghostwriting gig by being in the right place at the right time. Other writers get their jobs by searching the freelance writing ads that can be found on many Internet writing sites or in their local newspapers. It is becoming more common for many people seeking ghostwriters to advertise on the Internet. Freelance writers can also post their own ads for work by stating that they are ghostwriters. The number of people working as ghostwriters is relatively small because many people want the recognition for their own writing. The great news is that there are plenty of jobs to go around because of this. Ghostwriters may be working in the wings but many are members of the American Society of Journalists and Authors as well as the National Writers Union.
As with any job, there are some things that you should know before you dive in headfirst. Primarily the first thing you should decide is how much you will charge per hour. This may be decided for you if someone is looking for a ghostwriter and they advertise how much they are willing to pay. A ground rule for any writer is never to work on speculation. Working on "spec" could mean that you will never be paid for your work and there is no guarantee that any other promises will be forthcoming either (i.e., sending more clients your way or another job in the future). At the beginning of any project you should know up front how much will be paid either weekly or up front and when the balance will be paid to you at the end of the project. If you are ghostwriting a book you will want to negotiate for a percentage of the advance and royalties as well.
Once you land your first job remember that one of the best attributes of a ghostwriter is their ability to be a good listener. Your client wants you to convey their feelings, not yours. Make sure you understand completely what the client wants before you start to write. Being a good listener will help you complete assignments quickly and with fewer re-writes than those who aren't paying attention to what their client's needs are. Ghostwriters will need to develop a thick skin early in their writing career. Unless you are a mind reader, there will be client's that won't like everything you write. Each client will be unique in how they want you to write for them. One of the best ways to find out if you are on the right track is to submit a small portion of your assignment to a client before your first deadline. This gives both of you a chance to voice any concerns and it gives you a chance to get back on track if there are problems. Be prepared to make edits whether you like them or not. Clients will ask you to change things in an assignment, which may be against your better judgment. Cover yourself by getting all editing request in writing so if there are problems later there won't be any doubt as to why the changes were made.
Run your ghostwriting business like a business. Writers should be available to their clients during regular business hours or hours that you have determined with your client. Keep track of all of your earnings and be prepared to send invoices when needed. Make sure that all of your business equipment is in working order such as your multi-function copier isn't running out of ink and your computer has enough memory for a big project. If you have a dial-up connection make sure you have an Internet answering machine so you don't miss important phone calls from clients.
Writers shouldn't be afraid to set their own limits with clients as well. If you don't want to accept phone calls after a certain hour because you need to attend to your family let your client's know this. Just because you run a business out of your home doesn't mean you have to run your business twenty-four hours a day. At the end of the day you will undoubtedly be happy with your job.
Freelance ghostwriters can make a good living and they can set their own hours and wages. There is also nothing like the feeling you get when you nail a job and make your client happy. Nothing will build your client base quicker than referrals from clients that are very satisfied with the quality of your work.