Ghostwriting A Lesser Known Career Path that Pays Big

Ghostwriting A Lesser Known Career Path that Pays Big Graduating with an engineering degree, I had no clue I would end up being a freelance writer. I chose to be one, as it best suited my life during the recession period back in 2009. Like many other writers who get stuck with low paying content mills like Elance (now Upwork), I started my career earning peanuts. That changed when I did research for a blog post in 2013 about how much ghostwriters earn. That research taught me that I was highly undercharging at $1 per page. The first eBook I ever ghostwrote for a client was over 50 pages long and paid only $50. And that included Elance’s and PayPal’s fees, too! Today, in 2018, I charge as much as $1-$2 per word. I charge more for creative work or fiction than for nonfiction. If the work requires extensive research, the rate runs higher. This means ghostwriting a 10k words novella would easily earn me $10,000. Now, imagine what a full-length novel of 60,000 to 100,000 pays. Ghostwriting is a lucrative niche that many writers don’t know much about. Why Ghostwrite? The truth is: I have tried self-publishing. This requires time to market and sell your books. Ghostwriting is a lot easier, less stressful, involves less marketing, and pays well. When I started my career as a freelance writer, I was trying to raise a family while still being a ‘good’ housewife. I needed, at this point in my life, to work from home. Ghostwriting seemed to fit my lifestyle perfectly. How I Land Ghostwriting Gigs Ghostwriting just fell into my lap, but logically it is a small leap from freelance writing. I was writing blogs and articles when one of my repeat clients asked if I’d be interested in ghostwriting ebooks. I ultimately wrote a large number of them for the same client. He was kind enough to spread the word to his peers which landed more work. As the owner of a writing business now, I acquire most of my work through my Facebook page. It’s not that my clients are too lazy or inept to write their own work. They are just too busy with careers or family to create the work they wish to market, which is the norm in today’s world. Networking helps me too. When I meet someone new and introduce myself as a ghostwriter, people are keen to share brilliant ideas or stories for their books and have me jot them down for them. So many people have a story, but not the skill nor time to bring them to fruition. Is Ghostwriting for You? If you are attached to your writing, probably ghostwriting isn’t a good fit for you. However, if you enjoy playing with others’ ideas and molding them into your own words, it might just be your niche. Does Ghostwriting Pay Better than Traditional writing?   It sure does, but you don’t get rich overnight. There are some freelance ghostwriters claiming six figures a year. They do earn that amount, but they didn’t right away. Build upon your portfolio and reputation first. Initially, ghostwriting will pay your bills; your ghostwriting money. I enjoyed my first holiday to the south of France and then in the States in 2015 and 2016 respectively. In 2017, my family went to Spain and Pakistan. For 2018, I’ve planned a special surprise as we will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary in December. All thanks to ghostwriting, I am enjoying a life that many just dream of. Brief