How to become a ghostwriter

So, you want to become a ghostwriter? Great idea! But how do you go about it? What skills and experience do professional ghostwriters need? What can you expect to get paid? Can anyone embark on a ghostwriting career?

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In this handy guide to becoming a ghostwriter, you’ll find answers to all your questions and more, including:

• What does ghostwriting involve?
• Is it illegal to be a ghostwriter?
• Do ghostwriters get copyright?
• Are ghostwriters in demand?
• What skills do ghostwriters need?
• How do I get started in ghostwriting?
• How can I become a ghostwriter with no experience?
• How much do ghostwriters get paid?
• How much should I charge as a beginner ghostwriter?
• Top tips on becoming a ghostwriter.

But before we jump in, let’s start by making sure you understand what ghostwriting is. 

What does ghostwriting involve?

A ghostwriter writes all kinds of content — from books to blogs and screenplays to social media posts — but they won’t be named as the author of the work. As the name suggests, a ghostwriter’s part in the process is invisible. They write the words; they just don’t get the credit.

Ghostwriting is not the same as co-writing. When a book is co-authored, the writers who contributed to the work will be named on the cover.

For a more in-depth look at what ghostwriting involves, read my article, what is a ghostwriter?

Is it illegal to be a ghostwriter?

In short, no, it’s not illegal. This is because both the ghostwriter and the named author (the client) enter into a joint agreement. It’s a service that the client pays for, so it doesn’t break any laws.

However, there are some things to consider, like copyright.

Do ghostwriters get copyright?

Under UK law, unless the contract states otherwise, the person who has paid for the service — the client— owns the copyright. 

Ghostwriters and their clients should have signed a contract stating that they are being compensated in return for giving up their rights to the work they produced.

Are ghostwriters in demand?

You betcha! According to research by Gotham Ghostwriters and the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), ghostwriters ‘have never been more in demand or better compensated’. In the UK, demand for ghostwriting services is skyrocketing too. Although pay still lags behind the US.

What skills do ghostwriters need?

Writing

It may seem obvious, but ghostwriters need to be good writers. Aside from writing talent, you should also have an excellent grasp of grammar, syntax and punctuation.

You also want to have experience writing in a variety of styles and forms. You may want to specialise later on in your ghostwriting career. But to begin with, the more varied your skill set, the more jobs you can go for.

Researching

Researching plays an important role in the ghostwriting process. You might need to fill in gaps in your client’s knowledge as well as your own.

Knowing how to identify credible sources, critically evaluate information, and fact-check is essential. So is having a system in place to back up and store your notes, useful links, images and interview transcripts.

I use Scrivener. Software designed with writers in mind, Scrivener is like having a typewriter, scrapbook, corkboard and ring binder in one. You can keep all your research notes, outlines and drafts in one place and back it up to the cloud. To be on the safe side, I also back up all my projects to an external hard drive. Because, well, you never know… do you?

Interviewing

Interviewing is inevitably part of the research process. Often, clients may have notes or even a rough draft of the book already. That’s useful but you’ll still need to interview them too.

Brush up your skills. Practice asking open-ended questions and active listening. Be prepared.

To work out in advance what questions you’ll need to ask during the interview, imagine yourself sitting down to write the book. Do you have a rough structure for the story in mind? If you do, the right questions naturally present themselves. It also helps to think, “What does the reader need to know?”.

If you’re writing a non-fiction narrative rather than a ‘how to’ book, I find it helps to work chronologically through events with clients. Of course, it doesn’t mean the narrative will run ‘cradle to now’ but it’s something to work from.

If you’re like me and love a spreadsheet, it’s a great excuse to use one to create a timeline. I find it’s easier to spot the gaps that way. But use whatever method works for you.

Interpersonal skills

Writing is a pretty solitary occupation for the most part. So why do ghostwriters need good interpersonal skills? Simple: engaging with clients is also part of the job.

“There’s no room for shyness in ghosting,” ghostwriter Teena Lyons says. And I agree. From the get-go, you need to be able to make clients feel at ease with you.

Making your clients feel comfortable talking with you — even if it’s over a video call — is paramount. If they don’t feel they can trust you, how will you get them to open up? This is particularly important when you’re ghostwriting a memoir or autobiography for trauma survivors. Talking about traumatic experiences can be triggering.

Don’t be shy, but do be empathetic. Know when to back off, take a break, and tread carefully.

How do I get started in ghostwriting?

I know it seems daunting. But if you’re dead set on becoming a ghostwriter, at some point you need to stop reading articles like this one and just do it! Here are some tips to get you started.

Network

Network at every opportunity you get. People are usually intrigued when they hear I’m a ghostwriter. Use their curiosity. You’ll be stunned to discover how many people are thinking of writing a book or know someone who is.

Talk about what you do at the doctor’s surgery, down the pub, after yoga or in the supermarket checkout queue. One of my favourite projects came about as a result of a sale on Facebook marketplace.

Create a portfolio of writing

If you’re starting from scratch, it’s probably best to start small here. If you have nothing published offer articles to magazines and online platforms or other bloggers. Or start a blog yourself. You need to show off your writing skills.

Contact people you’d like to ghostwrite for. Again, start small. Offer to ghostwrite an article for a business you admire. Or a handout for a conference.

From there, you can start gathering testimonials and building a portfolio. Use an online platform like Authory or Clippings to host your portfolio. It’ll make it more readily accessible and easier to share.

Build a website

Create a website to showcase your services. Make sure it’s well-written, obviously. And add client testimonials (without naming names, of course).

Market yourself

Marketing is key. Promote yourself and your website on social media. If you haven’t done so already, create accounts on platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok to spread the word about your ghostwriting service.

You could also do some DIY PR. Contact editors and offer an article about ghosting or a project you’re working on (NDA-permitting). If you’re successful and your article is commissioned, don’t forget to promote it on your social channels.

Write to literary agents and publishers

Let the publishing industry know you’re a ghostwriter for hire. Literary agents and publishers are often on the look-out for good ghostwriters. You’ll find their names in the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook. Equip yourself with the latest edition so you can be sure the details are up to date. (Although you might want to check their websites too, just in case.)

How can I become a ghostwriter with no experience?

Even if you have no experience, there are plenty of things you can do to kickstart your ghostwriting career.

Read

If you want to be a writer you must read — a lot. Challenge yourself: read outside your usual genre. And read critically.

If something doesn’t work for you, why doesn’t it? You can learn a lot from other writers plotting techniques, and the way they structure a narrative, develop characters and build worlds.

Write — hone your craft

Write, write, write. Write every day, come what may. Get into the habit and you should soon start to see an improvement. There are no shortcuts; writing well takes practice.

Learn to write in other voices

If you want to be a successful ghostwriter, you need to be able to write in different voices. It’s not an easy skill to learn. And certainly not a case of just dropping the transcript of an interview into the text and hoping for the best…

It takes close listening, observation and noting those little ‘tags’ or ‘tells’. We all have them, even in our writing. Don’t believe me? Take a look at some of the personal emails in your inbox. Each will be written in the sender’s distinctive voice. Note the grammar and punctuation choices, the cadence and the rhythm too.

Take a writing course

Taking a creative writing course may help build your confidence in your skills. There are loads of courses out there — some are online, some in-person. Here are several I recommend:

Kathryn Aalto offers a range of online courses in creative non-fiction. Choose from narrative non-fiction, nature, erotica and book proposal writing. Kathryn’s courses are for beginners, intermediate or advanced level. She also runs masterclasses on story structure, research and character development.

As an alumna of UEA’s creative writing MA, I’m biased, of course. But the creative writing programmes at Bath Spa University and Goldsmiths also have a great reputation.

If cost is an issue, Curtis Brown’s Breakthrough Writers’ Programme offers scholarships.

Find a mentor

There are plenty of well-established ghostwriters, who may offer mentoring. Why not contact some and see if they can help you get started?

I think I know at least one…

Offer your services to established ghostwriters

If you’re struggling to get started with little or no experience, why not contact established ghostwriters and offer your services? Send a writing sample or two attached to an engaging, well-written email. Follow up politely if you don’t hear back. Most good ghostwriters are busy people.

How much do ghostwriters get paid?

The short answer is: it depends. Ghostwriting pays anything from £7,000 to £70,000 for a full-length book. The best in the business command six figures.

A ghostwriter’s skill level and experience will determine how much they charge. But it also depends on the scope and genre of the project. A piece of short-form content will cost a lot less than a novel-length book, for instance.

How much should I charge as a beginner ghostwriter?

Knowing what to charge for ghostwriting is often tricky, especially when you’re just starting out. Find out if your potential client is aware of current ghostwriting rates. If so, ask if they have a budget in mind.

Here are some things to take into account when quoting:

• What is the scope of the project?
• How long do you think it will take you to complete?
• How much do you need to live on while you work on this project?
• What will research cost? Will you have travel and accommodation expenses?
• Where is your client based? Will you meet in person or online?

Top tips on becoming a ghostwriter

Before you dive into a career as a ghostwriter, here are some top tips from those in the know:

‘If you don’t do it from the heart, you won’t succeed.’ – Caroline Brannigan.

‘Be honest with yourself, if it bothers you that you’ll never get the credit, ghostwriting is not for you.’ – Charlotte Peacock.

‘If you are temperamentally unsuited for it, then the whole process is likely to become a nightmare.’ – Andrew Croft.

Ghostwriting handbooks

Google ‘guides to ghostwriting’ and you’ll find few are truly comprehensive. When I first started out in the industry, ghostwriting guru Andrew Crofts’ book Ghostwriting was my go-to guide. His Confessions of a Ghostwriter is worth a read too. 

Fellow ghost, Teena Lyons, has recently published The Complete Guide to Ghostwriting which has a section on the skills and knowledge ghostwriters need. Plus, what to do when the process doesn’t go to plan.

But watch this space… Because yes, you guessed it, a book on ghostwriting is coming soon from yours truly. In the meantime, for more insight into this secretive art, read my articles on What is A Ghostwriter and A History of Ghostwriting.

Ready to get started now?

Go for it! And good luck.

Ghostwriting books, articles and sources quoted

‘Ghosting Around‘, Simon Whaley, Writing Magazine, October 2024

Ghostwriting, Andrew Crofts.

‘Bestselling ghostwriter reveals secret world’, Andrew Crofts, The Guardian, July 2014.

The Complete Guide to Ghostwriting, Teena Lyons

‘Trade reports ghostwriting boom, but pay and transparency still lags behind US,’ The Bookseller, January 2024.