

Indeed, if you hope to become a fiction ghostwriter, make sure you’re not just writing articles constantly, but also adding some fiction creds to your portfolio. Don’t limit yourself to just one or two categories of work - spread your wings and fly! Send pitches to magazines, blogs, and newspapers write op-eds, listicles, and even short stories. There’s no better time to experiment than now. This is why having some previous work to demonstrate your talents is absolutely crucial - and why we recommend you start with freelance writing first. Most authors would first need to have a general idea of your authorial voice and range of knowledge, to see whether you’re compatible with their own book idea. We know you’re eager to write a full 50,000-word book (and get paid for it) as soon as possible, but it’s not so simple. Kickstart your career with freelance writing

And if you’re writing for a celebrity or a high-profile author, you can expect a six-figure payment for a book! A number of factors contribute to how much ghostwriters make, but the general rule is: the more experience you have, the better your income will be. How much do ghostwriters make?įrom the data we’ve gathered from the hundreds of collaborations on Reedsy, a ghostwriting project can earn you anywhere from $2,000 to $60,000. Don’t be perturbed if you don’t receive any public credit, however it’s par for the course in publishing, and perfectly legal so long as you still get paid. Otherwise, the author might also name you in the acknowledgements. If the author agrees to share the credit, your name will often follow the phrase “as told to” on the cover or front matter. In some cases, like The Autobiography of Malcolm X, the ghost may even be credited on the cover. You’re essentially offering a service, like an editor of sorts, to realize that vision. Ghostwriting is very much legal, so long as the idea behind the book is the author’s. Learn more: What is a ghostwriter and what types of ghostwriting can you do? Is ghostwriting legal? As such, being a ghostwriter means you’ll have to work very closely with each author, noting down their detailed thoughts and overall style so that you can convey them seamlessly in the book. Usually, the ideas and knowledge contained in the book come from the publicly named author - the ghost only puts these ideas into words. This may be the entire book or just parts of it, but either way, the “ghost” will often not receive public credit (unlike a listed co-author). Well, what is a ghostwriter? A ghostwriter is someone who works on a manuscript that will be credited to someone else. Understanding the job description is the first step to doing anything well.

Understand what being a ghostwriter means
