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 Bio: Tasneem Ali is a ghostwriter, copywriter, blogger, writing coach and author of the series ‘The Most Handy Guide to Parenting’. She is also a small writing business owner at Ghostwriters’ World (https://www.facebook.com/ghostwritersworld/). On her blog: https://ghostwritersworld.blogspot.com, she shares her thoughts and posts helpful tips for budding writers.
I read your article and it seems that you completely correct totally. I am looking forward to get a better response from you and an updated version of this article.
Nice, but I haven’t been able to land decent-paying ghostwriting jobs, or even more than one crappy-paying job (a flat-rate job that I figured to be about 40 hours of work, the client figured to be about 20 hours, and actually took close to 80 hours–I ended up making $0.50/hr). How do I get decent-paying jobs when I can’t even land “interviews” for portfolio-building ones?
Hi Wendy,
It all depends on where you are hunting for these ghostwriting jobs. If you are trying bid sites like Upwork, chances are that you’ll always end up earning peanuts no matter how hard you work and how much time you spend working on such jobs.
Market yourself as a professional ghostwriter through your own website or social media or you can try looking for decent ghostwriting jobs on platforms like Freedom with Writing or Toptal. They always advertise the best of the best opportunities.
Hope this helps.
Tasneem Ali
Thanks, Tasneem, I had never thought of this as an option, it sounds like my style, since I am not particularly attached to my writing. Any opportunity to make more money than content mills is a winner in my book. Wish me luck, and continued good luck to you as well!
Thanks and all the best to you Kim!
I have often been told that I need to tell my story that I should write a book or make a movie. I am a single parent with limited income to spend on a ghost writer. How does one search for the ghost writer that would be right for me?
Kelly, a ghostwriter is going to charge you five figures to write a book. No decent ghostwriter is going to accept royalties, because so few books sell well today. But here are some links to find a ghostwriter. http://associationofghostwriters.org/ and https://nonfictionauthorsassociation.com
Hi, I came across your article. I was recently contacted by a company that claimed they offer 85% off ghostwriting services for a book and even offered a money back guarantee if I’m not happy with the service. It did sound very suspicious and especially since they requested payment upfront, before signing any contracts or connecting me with a writer for an interview. I, of course, did not sign up with them as it just sounded too good to be true and just suspicious. Can you please advise what is the typical procedure when hiring a ghostwriter? Do you interview your ghostwriter first, sign a contract, NDA or anything else and then pay? Also, when it comes to payments is there a certain percentage paid upfront? Thank you for any input and guidance.
Tatiana – Here is the writer’s bio for this article. Since she wrote this a while ago, she might not see your comment here. You might consider following her links to get in touch.
Brief Bio: Tasneem Ali is a ghostwriter, copywriter, blogger, writing coach and author of the series ‘The Most Handy Guide to Parenting’. She is also a small writing business owner at Ghostwriters’ World (https://www.facebook.com/ghostwritersworld/). On her blog: https://ghostwritersworld.blogspot.com, she shares her thoughts and posts helpful tips for budding writers.
Thank you so much! I will reach out to her via the links provided.
I can see that you are an expert at your field! I am launching a website soon on the same domain. Many Thanks.
I’m fascinated by the world of ghostwriting! It’s amazing how this lesser-known career path plays such a crucial role in the literary and publishing industry. Not only does it require exceptional writing skills, but it also demands the ability to adapt to various voices and styles. The fact that it can be so financially rewarding is a testament to the value of quality content. Kudos to all the talented ghostwriters out there who help bring others’ stories and ideas to life while staying behind the scenes. It’s a true art form!