Ghostwriting

What is Ghostwriting?

Ghostwriting means writing content for someone else who takes the credit. You help people who have ideas but don't have time, skill, or interest in writing. They publish under their name; you get paid behind the scenes.

This includes books, articles, blog posts, social media content, speeches, newsletters—anything someone wants published in their voice.

Why Ghostwriting Works

Huge Demand

Many people need writing help:

• Executives building thought leadership
• Entrepreneurs with no time to write
• Authors with ideas but not writing skill
• Coaches wanting content for marketing
• Professionals needing LinkedIn presence

Premium Pay

Ghostwriting pays more than bylined content writing because:

• Clients are often high-earning individuals
• You give up public credit
• Work requires skill and discretion
• Long-term relationships are valuable

Perfect for Nomads

• 100% remote work
• Flexible scheduling (mostly)
• High per-project rates
• No need for your own audience

Types of Ghostwriting

By Content Type

Type	Rate Range	Project Size
Blog posts	$100-500	Hours
LinkedIn content	$200-800	Hours
Articles	$300-1,500	Days
Book chapters	$1,000-5,000	Weeks
Full books	$10,000-75,000+	Months
Speeches	$500-3,000	Days

By Client Type

Client	What They Need	Typical Budget
Executives	Thought leadership	High
Entrepreneurs	Content marketing	Medium-High
Coaches	Books, courses	Medium
Authors	Fiction/non-fiction	Varies
Professionals	Industry articles	Medium

Building Ghostwriting Skills

Core Abilities

• Strong writing fundamentals
• Research skills
• Interview and listening
• Voice matching
• Meeting deadlines
• Discretion

Capturing Someone's Voice

The key skill is making your writing sound like them:

1. Interview extensively
2. Read their existing content
3. Note phrases they use
4. Understand their opinions
5. Write samples and get feedback
6. Refine based on input

Getting Practice

• Write in different styles
• Interview friends and write about them
• Study how different authors sound
• Practice with smaller projects first

Finding Ghostwriting Work

Freelance Platforms

• Upwork - Many ghostwriting jobs
• Fiverr - Smaller projects
• Reedsy - Book ghostwriting

Networking

• LinkedIn (connect with executives, coaches)
• Business networking groups
• Writing communities
• Referrals from past clients

Your Own Marketing

• Portfolio website (with permission)
• Guest posts about ghostwriting
• Content on LinkedIn about writing
• Referral system with happy clients

Cold Outreach

Find people who need writing help:

• Executives with weak content
• Authors who've announced books
• Coaches launching courses
• Speakers who could use articles

The Ghostwriting Process

Initial Conversation

• Understand what they want
• Discuss voice and style
• Set expectations
• Determine scope

Interviews

• Record conversations
• Ask about their experiences
• Understand their perspective
• Get stories and examples

Writing

• Create outline for approval
• Write draft chapters or sections
• Submit for feedback
• Revise based on input

Delivery

• Final polish
• Format as needed
• Hand off completely
• Maintain confidentiality

Pricing Your Work

Per Project vs. Retainer

Model	Best For
Per project	Books, one-off articles
Monthly retainer	Ongoing content
Per word	Standard content

Pricing Factors

• Content length
• Research required
• Client's budget/profile
• Your experience
• Turnaround time
• Revision rounds

Sample Pricing

Project	Beginner Rate	Experienced Rate
1,000-word article	$100-200	$300-600
LinkedIn post	$75-150	$200-400
Book (50k words)	$15,000-25,000	$30,000-60,000+

Client Relationships

Managing Expectations

• Clear agreements upfront
• Defined revision limits
• Communication schedule
• Deadline clarity

Handling Feedback

• Don't take it personally
• Ask clarifying questions
• Iterate patiently
• Document decisions

Confidentiality

• Never claim their work publicly
• Don't share without permission
• Protect their privacy
• Be trustworthy

Growing Your Business

Building Reputation

• Deliver excellent work
• Be reliable and professional
• Ask for referrals
• Get testimonials (anonymous if needed)

Raising Rates

• Add value over time
• Target higher-paying clients
• Specialize in profitable niches
• Build referral network

Adding Services

• Editing and proofreading
• Content strategy
• Book coaching
• Copywriting

Tools for Ghostwriters

Writing

• Google Drive for collaboration
• Notion for organization
• Grammarly for polish
• Otter.ai for transcription

Business

• Contracts (HelloSign, DocuSign)
• Invoicing (Stripe, PayPal)
• Project management

Working While Traveling

Why It Works

• Fully digital
• Flexible timing (mostly)
• High rates for focused work
• Long-term client relationships

Tips

• Set clear availability
• Communicate time zones
• Have reliable internet for calls
• Batch interview sessions

Who Should Do This?

Good fit if you:

• Love writing
• Can adapt to different voices
• Don't need public credit
• Are good at interviewing
• Like working closely with clients

Not ideal if you:

• Need byline recognition
• Struggle with others' ideas
• Dislike revision cycles
• Want quick, simple projects
• Can't maintain confidentiality

Getting Started

1. Build writing portfolio (any samples)
2. Practice voice matching with exercises
3. Create profiles on Upwork and similar
4. Start with smaller ghostwriting projects
5. Develop interview and research skills
6. Raise rates as you gain experience
7. Specialize in profitable niches

The Bottom Line

Ghostwriting offers premium pay for writers who don't need public credit. The demand is enormous—successful people everywhere have ideas but no time or skill to write. You provide that skill.

Start with smaller projects, develop your voice-matching abilities, and build relationships with clients who pay well. Referrals and reputation grow over time.

Behind every book by a celebrity or busy executive, there's often a ghostwriter making it happen. That could be you.