Find Jobs
Hire Freelancers

5 tips to become a great ghostwriter

The secret to being a successful ghost writer is to accurately represent the unique voice of the client. Follow our tips to be a great ghost writer.
Jun 4, 2019 • 4 minute read
Updated on Jan 21, 2020 by Adam S.
Cover Photo

Being a ghostwriter can be a lucrative career if you can show clients you've got the chops

Let's get this out of the way right at the start: ghostwriting can be a thankless task. You put in hard work and research, and somebody else takes the credit. It's not the most glamorous of writing jobs, but it can be very lucrative.
Getting started as a ghostwriter can be tough, but if you follow these tips you can set yourself apart from your competition.

1. Get to know your client

The primary job of a ghostwriter is to be the voice of their client. This means you'll have to get to know your client extremely well.
You need to understand your client's goals with each project. What are they looking to achieve? Are they trying to position themselves as an authority on a particular topic or industry, or are they just looking to tell their story?
Understanding your client also means you'll get a feel for their personality, and you'll be able to bring that through in your writing. Good ghostwriting should reflect the client and echo their natural voice. You're not trying to commandeer their thoughts and opinions. You're merely helping them to put their thoughts and opinions in order, and give a coherent voice to them.

Freelance Freelance Writing Experts

User Avatar
Flag of Samina K.
10 USD / hour
4.8 (631 reviews)
JavaScript
Website Design
Graphic Design
Translation
Internet Marketing
Visit profile
User Avatar
Flag of David Dundas
35 USD / hour
5.0 (1256 reviews)
Copywriting
Legal
Internet Marketing
SEO
Research
Visit profile
User Avatar
Flag of Mark H.
30 USD / hour
5.0 (1488 reviews)
C Programming
Python
Visual Basic
Copywriting
Legal
Visit profile
User Avatar
Flag of Happymarli
15 USD / hour
4.9 (3062 reviews)
PHP
Website Design
Graphic Design
Copywriting
Internet Marketing
Visit profile
Spend some time interviewing your client. Note how they express themselves verbally. What subjects do they feel passionate about? What are their areas of knowledge and expertise? Your writing should reflect their personality, not overshadow it.

2. Get organized

As a ghostwriter you'll have to keep track of multiple projects and clients, as well as multiple deadlines. This means you'll need to be organized. Keep a calendar of deadlines, and consider setting smaller milestone deadlines to deliver work throughout the process.
Even if you're only working on one project at a time, you'll have to organize your client's notes and research and put them in logical order. Keep meticulous notes from interviews with your client, and collate all your research in the order it will appear in the piece. You'll also have to organize logistics like non-disclosure agreements and invoices. Keep track of any expenses, and document how you spend your time on the project. Not only will this help make your workflow smoother, it will also build trust with your client.

3. Let go of your ego

This is perhaps the most important tip for ghostwriters, and it's also the hardest to achieve. Remember at all times that you're writing for someone else. Their name will go on the finished piece, and it needs to reflect their thoughts, feelings and opinions. Most of all, it needs to achieve their goals.
Letting go of your ego also means developing patience. Some clients can be difficult to work with. It may be hard to get information from them or to get them to clearly elucidate what they want from the project. They may misunderstand your work, and may give unclear instructions.
It's in situations like these that you really need to put your ego aside to succeed. Remember that the client is your customer, and your goal as a ghostwriter is to create satisfied customers. After all, that's how you get more work. Be patient with clients who don't understand the process, and make sure the work you produce satisfies their needs and goals. In ghostwriting, your words are not your children. Ultimately, it's the client whose name will go on the piece, and it's important that they're happy with the work.

4. Learn how to develop different voices

As we've said above, a good ghostwriter reflects the voice and personality of their client. That means you need to learn to write in different voices. You need to craft your tone to reflect the personality of your client. Imagine your client's friends and family reading the work. If it wouldn't sound natural to them, as though it was something the client might say in conversation, you've missed the mark.
Writing in different voices is challenging. This is where great interviewing skills are an asset. Get to know your client and the way they speak. If your client speaks in colloquialisms, adopting an overly formal tone is going to come across as inauthentic. Likewise, if your client is very serious and stoic, injecting levity will ring untrue.

5. Consider specializing

If you want to set yourself apart as a ghostwriter, think about specializing in a particular field. Not only does this give you credibility and authority, it means you'll cut down on your research time.
Pick a niche industry or subject area and learn everything you can about it. While you don't want to go too niche and risk limiting your job opportunities, having an area of expertise gives you an edge with potential clients. 

Freelance Freelance Writing Experts

User Avatar
Flag of The Research Hub
15 USD / hour
4.7 (20 reviews)
Data Processing
Data Entry
Excel
Powerpoint
Editing
Visit profile
User Avatar
Flag of Hemina S.
80 USD / hour
5.0 (104 reviews)
Copywriting
Translation
Legal
Internet Marketing
Data Processing
Visit profile
User Avatar
Flag of Muhammad Naeem S.
100 USD / hour
5.0 (343 reviews)
Copywriting
Translation
Audio Services
Research
Proofreading
Visit profile
User Avatar
Flag of LeslieTailor, MA©
25 USD / hour
4.9 (190 reviews)
Copywriting
Internet Marketing
Research
Proofreading
Blog
Visit profile
 
Tell us what you need done
Enter your project name
Start your Project
Related Stories

Talk to one of our Technical Co-Pilots to help with your project

Get Help Now

Recommended Articles Just for You

Article Thumbnail Planning your startup
Our ultimate guide will help you write a business plan investors will be ripping out of your hands. Learn how to expertly craft each section of it.
22 min read
Article Thumbnail 10 local SEO tips you can't afford to ignore
Local SEO helps your business get noticed and sends customers to your door. We've got 10 superb local SEO tips you need to start implementing today.
6 min read
Article Thumbnail 2020 SEO Guide: How to write website content
Need to write content for your website? Follow our guide to make sure it's optimized to rank on the first page of Google
20 min read
Article Thumbnail How to use Google Search Console to track your SEO
Google Search Console is an essential to monitor your SEO effectiveness and if it confuses you, you're not alone. We've demystified this tool for you.
5 min read
Thanks! We’ve emailed you a link to claim your free credit.
Something went wrong while sending your email. Please try again.
Registered Users Total Jobs Posted
Freelancer ® is a registered Trademark of Freelancer Technology Pty Limited (ACN 142 189 759)
Copyright © 2024 Freelancer Technology Pty Limited (ACN 142 189 759)
Loading preview
Permission granted for Geolocation.
Your login session has expired and you have been logged out. Please log in again.