Interested in Ghostwriting? Don’t be Spooked Instead Learn These Helpful Tricks

The scariest day of the year, Halloween, is coming up at the end of the month. To honor this hair-raising holiday, I am discussing ghostwriting, a  spine-tingling and haunting form of inscription. Many popular books and probably bestsellers were written by ghost writers. But who are these storytelling spirits? What are the steps or tricks you need to be a ghostwriter? Don’t be spooked, let’s look at this phantom writing style.

Definition of a Ghostwriter

First things first. Let’s get a definition. As we know it has nothing to do with spirits or the after life. Nor does it involve any form of literary séance. It is  not a complicated witch’s brew. In its simplest terms, a ghostwriter is a person hired to write something for someone else. Meaning the writer is paid a fee, and the person who hires them puts their own name on the work. Most people typically think of books, like autobiographies and memoirs. However,  ghostwriting can also be songs, speeches, scripts, articles, blog posts  or any text where you  don’t receive credit.

So the word “ghost” refers to a quiet and unassuming  agreement. The writer doesn’t disclose they actually wrote the piece and don’t receive credit  for it. Some writers might think this is horrifying but  there are sweet treats to this type of writing. Here are 5 from The Regal Writer

Sweet Treats to Ghostwriting

1. Ghostwriters can earn income while pursuing other projects.
2. Assignments can cover almost every topic under the sun.
3. You don’t need special credentials to enter the field.
4. You are responsible only for writing, nothing else.
5. Once established, ghostwriting can be lucrative.

Successful Ghostwriting Tricks

Do you have the fearlessness to be a ghostwriter? Well, let’s look at some successful tricks by Constant Content.

1. Expand your knowledge and read voraciously about different subjects. Great ghostwriters are well-read and current on industry news and trends.

2. Know how to mimic the voice of your client. Ghost writers  can write in a variety of tones and styles. Since you’re writing content under someone else’s name, it’s critical that you understand how they communicate. Know whose voice you’re writing in.

3 Become a self-editing expert. Read up on popular style guides. Refresh your grammar skills. Use active over  passive voice. Cut redundant, superfluous words. Make your writing sparkle like magic.

4. Create a writing portfolio. Have several samples of your previous work ready to share with your prospective client during an interview or negotiation process.

5. Network with other friendly ghost. Reach out to your professional networks to find prospective clients. Keep your social media and contact information current  for  people to easily find you . Use the professional social media platform, LinkedIn to look for jobs. Also, let your connections know you’re looking for work. Write guest posts on sites related to ghost writing.

6. Negotiate your contract. Your contract should communicate a clear scope of work and defined deliverables. Include a trial period with an easy exit plan if things don’t go well. As a ghost writer, you might have to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). If so Make sure you and your client know exactly what’s expected from both parties. Get as much information upfront  and Set clear contract parameters. This includes timelines, interviews, feedback, revisions, editorial reviews, and your payment fees and deadlines.

7. Don’t Let AI rattle your ghostly chain. We all know that AI is here and there is some fear or at least nervousness about using this tool for ghostwriting. Although there are some positive aspects to AI, the industry  still needs live human beings. AI  can’t provide nuance, creativity and emotional intelligence like a human writer. Highly specialized writing like fiction, autobiographies or expert level articles  cannot be easily reproduced by a robot.