Making Ghostwriting Your Career

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Let's get back to the topic of 'ghostwriting', something this blog is originally about.

Now, before I go any further, I just want to make sure you know what ghostwriting is. It may sound funny but many people still think it's writing about ghosts, witches and those scary things. 

While ghostwriting literally means the same, the main idea behind ghostwriting is that you write on someone else's behalf. So basically, if you know a well-known author out there, he probably wasn't the mastermind behind his books. It was a ghostwriter!

Does that sound a bit insane or may be unfair to you? You write something and someone else gets the credit for it....Well to some extent it is, but I still believe establishing your career as a ghostwriter is a wonderful idea. Or at least that's what I think. Why? I'll explain shortly.

I've been ghostwriting since 2009 and I love every bit of it. While I do not get any real recognition for my work except from the clients I write for, I still get paid for my ideas that are arranged into articles, blogs stories or books. All I need to do is put some creativity to work.

If you're pondering as to why would one give credit to another for the work done he or she has done, then I'll try to answer this for you too. While for some people the answer may be money, for me it's the diversity of work, getting to know, explore and read other's ideas and put them into words differently each time. 

I have been through the process of writing my own books, but it is hard work to put it together, rewrite, edit, rewrite again, get it illustrated, published and follow the complicated procedure of marketing to bring it in public and have them read it. For me, it is easier to write for others. I enjoy working with different ideas and create something new each time. 

If I was writing for myself only, I might have used different ideas but I would have been stuck with the same style of mine. I would never get the chance to research a wide variety of topics as I do now.

Writing is always fun because its a way to relieve stress for me. The feeling you get by playing with your thoughts and then moulding them into words that others would enjoy reading or just talk about others is just magical. If you have been appreciated for the ‘out of the world’ ideas and thoughts before, you should think about jumping into this the field of writing or ghostwriting. It might reward you with joy and some side income too.

How to Start with Ghostwriting as a Career?

1: Explore and Learn:

As a newbie, you would not really be sure how to differentiate between simple articles, blog writing, stories, reports and news writing. Read them. Read them a lot. This will open up a new world of imagination for you and help you come up with more ideas. You should spend some time researching some topics over the Internet, so that you are confident enough to write better. Once done, you can easily start writing articles and start publishing them on your blog or wherever you can get people to read them. 

Also, to begin with, you may start working as a freelance writer on platforms like Upwork, Odesk or Guru. I'm not the biggest fan of these websites personally but they serve as a good starting point. I started off my career here too.

2: Start Networking:

You can spread the word amongst your friends, school or college societies and even talk about it on online forums about what you do or show your writing samples to them; you might easily get your way very soon.

3: Show Professionalism:

• You must be the one who stands by what is committed. Also know the feasible amount for the work you produce. It may be just peanuts if you are just starting off.

• Manage your time so that clients do not suffer because of you – no one likes lazy bones!

• Try to be versatile because each client has different requirements. Do not accept the job if you think you would fail to achieve the milestone.

Give it a start bearing in mind the basics we just discussed. You would certainly make your way if you have that spark and potential.  If you too want to be a ghostwriter, all you need to do is bring out your ideas through words and communicate with your writing. 

Good luck!