How to Become a Ghostwriter: 4 Simple Steps for Beginners

If you’re looking for a way to make money from home while working on your own schedule, then becoming a ghostwriter is right up your alley!

Many stay-at-home moms and women turn to ghostwriting as a very profitable side hustle!

Did you know that much of what you read online is written by someone else? The author often hires a ghostwriter to create their work and pops their own name on it.

You could get paid for someone to use your work as their own- and trust us, you can make a solid income by being the man behind the curtain!

Sound like something you’re interested in? Then this post on how to become a ghostwriter is for you!

What Is A Ghostwriter?

Well, it’s pretty much exactly what the name implies- you’re writing for someone else under their name.

A ghostwriter is actually a freelance writer who writes books, stories, articles, speeches, press releases, songs, etc.

The main difference is that the credit for writing is given to whoever hires the ghostwriter! You remain anonymous and get cash for it.

A ghostwriter doesn’t share credit or ownership of what they write- their work is posted under someone else’s name. Get why you’re the “ghost” writer now?

You often write like someone else- from their point of view, their voice- and essentially right in a way that sounds like them!

Being a ghostwriter means you won’t see much recognition for your work, but it’s something that can be done on your own time and with flexible hours.

If you’re able to master the art of ghostwriting books, speeches, or articles, then there will always be people who are willing to pay for your talent.

How To Become A Ghostwriter

Ghostwriting is a great business idea for women, that doesn’t take a lot of start-up money to get started.

In fact, freelance writers oftentimes don’t need to spend a dime!

If you do want to try it out, here are 4 steps for how to become a ghostwriter:

1. Take A Writing Course

One of the best ways to become a ghostwriter is to take a freelance writing course and learn about the writing process from start to finish.

It will help you develop your voice and writing style and be able to adapt to other writers’ styles.

Ghostwriters need strong skills and good focus to work, and sometimes you need help polishing those skills to earn more on your projects.

Not only that but ghostwriters need to be able to write like someone else, using their client’s voice and perspective. It takes time to develop skills like this, but it’s worth it as it’s a high-paying skill you’ll benefit from!

Courses vary in price, but you can start with this Freelance Write From Home eBook to learn how to become an experienced freelance writer today.

2. Create Your Portfolio

Once you’ve taken a writing course, it’s time to build your portfolio so you can show a potential client writing samples.

Your ghostwriting clients are going to want samples of your work in order to decide if you’re the right person for the job.

It’s also important that your writing samples are well-written. After all, you don’t want to leave your client with the impression that their ghostwriting work is going to be poorly penned.

This may take time, but it’s worth it so that you can land a lucrative ghostwriting gig.

If you don’t have experience as a professional writer or if your samples leave something to be desired, you can volunteer to write for free for someone in your field.

Practice writing gives you more to work on and demonstrate your skills to future clients.

After all, you know what they say – Practice makes perfect.

3. Become A Writer or Editor

Ghostwriters often start as freelance writers or editors to gain experience and professional knowledge to be better writers and earn more on their ghostwriting projects.

Plus, by putting yourself out there as a writer or editor, you’ll be more visible to potential clientele who are looking for a ghostwriter.

Freelance Writer

There are a few different ways for you to become a freelance writer.

Start your own website or blog, or do blog writing as a guest on other people’s sites.

Many websites have clients who are always looking for new writers, so they’ll welcome you with open arms.

This is a great way to get more writing experience under your belt and build your portfolio to show future clients that you’re capable of ghostwriting.

Freelance Editor

As an editor, you’ll be responsible for correcting mistakes in grammar, spelling, etc., as well as making sure that the writing is clear and flows well together.

Becoming a confident editor can be great for your future projects and enhance your professional skills.

This is also a great way to build up your writing portfolio and show your work being an editor as well as your writing skills.

4. Become A Proofreader

If you want to be a successful ghostwriter, you’ll need to know what it’s like from your client’s perspective. And having a good grasp of the English language is a great first step.

As a proofreader or copy editor, you’ll be responsible for reading over the work that your client provides you.

You’ll then make notes in the margins, correct errors in grammar, spelling, etc., and provide feedback to your client on how to improve their work.

You can snag a few jobs as a proofreader online to build up your talents, plus make some extra income on other people’s publishing.

To become a better proofreader, there are a few things you can do:

Read a lot of books and other publications so you have a good idea of how writing should be read.
Also, practice editing an article or short story that you previously wrote to improve your skills.

You can also sign up for FREE workshops, such as Proofread Anywhere, to learn more about proofreading and how to set up a proofreading business.

Not only can this help you build your portfolio and show clients what type of work you can do, but it’s also a great way for you to familiarize yourself with the English language and learn how to become a better proofreader.

Ghostwriting Job Types

Blog Posts & Articles

You can ghostwrite for a blog, or a few if you can handle multiple projects well. The bloggers will let you know what they’re looking for and what type of information they want in the article.

You’d be in charge of research and writing everything, plus communicating with the bloggers or editors for revisions or needed additions.

Many of these clients pay between $30 to $100 per article depending on the length and what they’re looking for. 

Lyrics- Hip Hop And Other Music

Music is often very sentimental and from personal experience, so it’s important that the words are heartfelt and meaningful.

Many hip-hop artists will work with ghostwriters to write lyrics, especially if they want to sing or rap about experiences they haven’t had or if they just can’t find the right words. You can also just create lyrics and try to sell them to artists.

If you’re able to capture your client’s emotions in a song, they’ll most likely hire you again for fitting their image so well.

eBooks/Book Writing

Many people want to write a book on a certain topic but need someone to research and write it for them!

Book writing clients typically pay more as the book needs to be more in-depth and well-penned, meaning you’ll earn anywhere from $5,000 – $15,000 or more for their book.

So if you’re able to become a ghostwriter who specializes in writing books, then you can make quite a bit of money.

Speeches

If you enjoy public speaking, then you might want to look for speech ghostwriting gigs.

The work can be very diverse! Some speeches are written for special events, while others are made to inspire the people in their audience.

Many people in the spotlight will hire others to create their speeches so they can be confident that it’s written well and is void of any grammar or spelling errors.

Finding Ghostwriting Jobs

Fiverr, FlexJobs, Or Other Job Sites

There are many places to snag online jobs. A couple of popular places to find ghostwriter work is Upwork or Fiverr.

Fiverr allows you to not only showcase your work but also offers a rating system for potential clients to see how well you work.

Another site I’ve used for freelance writing jobs is FlexJobs.

This site allows you to search for writing, proofreading, ghostwriting, and other work.

Cold Call (E-Mail)

If you’re someone who’s not afraid to ask for what you want, then you can send e-mails to companies and artists with a brief introduction of yourself and the services that you offer.

Just be sure to follow the Can-Spam Act of 2003 so that your e-mails are compliant with the law.

Some people might be annoyed by receiving such requests, but others will appreciate your forwardness and will reach out to learn more about you or even work with you.

Capitalize On Current Clients

If you’ve already established relationships with clients, then it’s important that you continue to work with them.

They’ll not only refer you to others but also keep you in mind in case they need more help in the future.

Having consistent clients who give you a project a week or month is guaranteed money in the bank!

Market Your Ghostwriting Business

If you’re just starting out in the ghostwriting world, then it’s important that you market your business.

Telling people that you’re a ghostwriter and what services you offer is important because it will help grow your client base.

Good marketing means that when prospective clients are looking for a ghostwriter, they’ll be able to find you instead of your competition.

However, one of the things that most freelancers struggle with is promoting themselves in such a way where they don’t come off as salesy or pushy.

Here are a few tips on where to market yourself and how to do it well!

Social Media Marketing

The #1 problem of any business is this: People won’t know who you are or what you do unless they’re able to find you!

Marketing your ghostwriting business on social media is a great idea because it will help you build project leads and brand awareness.

Try running some ads on Facebook to help you reach more people and grow your client base. Not sure how to run an ad on Facebook? Flourish With Facebook Ads is an excellent course that will show you how!

Once you have your accounts set up, try to keep a regular posting schedule that encourages engagement from your readers or followers. This is a good way to possibly gain a client for your business by letting others know that you are a writer.

Ghostwriting Website- Or Blog!

Having a website or blog is also essential because it will allow you to share your ghostwriting services, which can attract prospective clients.

You can start blogging by sharing your ghostwriting successes- or writing about whatever you like to display your own talents!

If you have a website to showcase your ghostwriting services, then you should also publish articles about ghostwriting. You can showcase your work and make some cash in one strong swoop!

It’s important to have a reliable web host such as Bluehost to host your website and keep it running smoothly.

Looking for more resources to help you get started with your ghostwriting website? We have a whole page dedicated to the 25 Best Resources to Help Your Blog Grow Fast! Check it out!

Job Sites

It’s easiest to snag future ghostwriting jobs on job sites, where people post about what they are looking for and you can apply in just a few easy steps!

Here are the top sites we found in our research:

All Freelance Writing
Fiverr
Upwork
Indeed
Problogger

Ghostwriting FAQs

We’re sure you have some questions about becoming a ghostwriter. Here we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about ghostwriting.

How much can I make ghostwriting?

This really depends on the type of ghostwriting you are going to do. There are several different ways you can set rates to get paid for your ghostwriting:

a flat rate by the ghostwriting project
by the word
by the hour
if the ghostwriting work is going to be ongoing then you can charge a retainer fee each month

In some niches, the pay is not as high as in others, but you can make a great income from writing articles for some sites. For example, the average pay for a ghostwritten article is between $30 and $100.

Who hires ghostwriters?

There are a lot of people and companies that hire ghostwriters, but we’ll just give you a few examples here.

Bloggers work with ghostwriters to help them produce unique and original content.
A famous celebrity might hire a ghostwriter to write a memoir after they leave the spotlight.
Companies will often bring in ghostwriters to craft press releases or books that can be used as marketing tools: like product guides, manuals, and other types of sales collateral.
Businesses and corporations might work with a ghostwriter to write press releases

Can I work from home as a ghostwriter?

Yes! Many ghostwriters work from home– just like freelance writers we hire, ghost writing can be done wherever you are.

What will I need to become a ghostwriter?

The main things you’ll need to become a ghostwriter are a computer, good internet service, a grammar checker like Grammarly, and a way to track your own work.

You’ll also want a separate email address just for your ghostwriting jobs. It’s always a good idea to have a separate work email.

Lastly, being able to write using someone else’s voice and background takes a lot of skill.

You may need to develop your skills by considering resources like Freelance Write From Home or using an AI tool like Jasper.

Learn how to make money using Jasper here and get the most out of your writing!

My Thoughts

So, have I given you some food for thought on profitable side hustles like ghostwriting and freelance writing?

Being a successful ghostwriter is an excellent way for freelancers and entrepreneurs to generate additional income without requiring too much time commitment.

It’s a great opportunity to improve your writing skills and even help others. However, you will need to remember that it takes time and effort before the right clients find you.  

Don’t give up if your first attempts don’t bring in any leads because there are always opportunities out there as long as you’re willing to reach out and go after them.

You just need to find the right type of writing work for your skillset and start applying today- and you will no doubt now that you’ve got our 4 steps and ghostwriting tips!