Posts
Why the Association of Ghostwriters Instituted Membership Auto-Renewal
The Association of Ghostwriters (AOG) has been very fortunate to attract as members professional writers who aspire to become ghostwriters or who are already earning money from their ghostwriting work. The community is active, members are kind and forthcoming with information, and most remain members for years. We offer a private Facebook group for discussions,…
Always Go to the Original Source for Verification
Most writers understand the importance of finding the original source of information before using it in a book, article, blog post, report, speech, infographic, or anywhere else it may be cited. Those who attended journalism school likely had it drilled into them, while others learned through other methods, such as books or workshops. The core…
Ghostwriters Who Operate as Business Owners Are More Successful
Do I have solid numbers to back up this assertion? No. However, based on conversations with other ghostwriters, editors, and coaches, I’m very confident that behaving like a business owner will earn you more money than operating as a hobbyist or pure creative. I speak from experience. Many of you know that my dad was…
The Art of the Initial Client Interview: 11 Questions Every Ghostwriter Should Ask
When issues arise between a ghostwriter and their author-client, on reflection, the ghostwriter almost always admits that there were red flags during early conversations that they ignored. Sometimes, those red flags are as minor as a questionable comment or off-hand remark that the ghost chose to ignore. Other times, the red flags emerge as the…
Building a Ghostwriting Portfolio When You Can’t Share Most of Your Work
Ghostwriters face a marketing conundrum unique to the industry: How do you market your services when you can’t talk about previous clients? Many authors demand that their ghostwriters sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and/or confidentiality clause that prevents them from talking about their work together. This means that some of the most capable and qualified…
8 Questions Every Ghostwriter Should Ask Before Saying Yes to a Book Project
We’ve been having discussions in the Association of Ghostwriters (AOG) about prospect red flags, likely because our colleagues have run across some challenging clients. It’s easy to get stuck with a client who has unrealistic expectations regarding what you can do to help write their book. In many cases, it’s not their fault if we…
How I Would Get Started as a Book Ghostwriter Today
Like many of my colleagues, I became a ghostwriter out of happenstance rather than strategy or intention. When my agent asked if I wanted to help an author write a book that was overdue to a major publisher, I jumped at the opportunity. I also admitted to her that I had never written a book…
4 Ghostwriting Industry Predictions for 2025
As we kick off a new year, now is a good time to reflect on changes within the ghostwriting industry that we witnessed or got a glimpse of in 2024 as a clue to what may come. Which trends are taking hold and which are just starting to emerge? Which ones will impact demand for…
Guest Post: Working with a ghostwriter is shameful … or is it?
By Tracy Hume I’ve got a secret to share: my secret is that I believe in hiring professionals for complex tasks rather than trying to tackle those tasks by myself. For example: I’ve tried the DIY route: 24/7 access to Google and YouTube creates the illusion that you can Google your way to expertise in…
Guest Post: The Transformative Power of Sincere Ghostwriting Collaboration
By Albo Devine Over the past 12+ years helping bring 25 ghostwriting projects to life— from paradigm-shifting nonfiction to gripping memoir to illuminating fiction—the most important ingredient I’ve discovered for success in a collaboration is sincerity. Believe it or not, this sincerity is always the same. Whether an author is a billionaire ‘somebody’ or a…
Guest Post: How Much Time Should a Ghostwriter Invest in a Prospective Client?
By Thomas Hauck If you’re like me, you’re a sole proprietor who serves a revolving set of clients throughout the year. A new client comes on board, you write their book, and then you say goodbye and move on to the next author. I ghostwrite five or six books a year, both fiction and non-fiction,…
Guest Post: How to Find Ghostwriting Clients in Your Own Backyard
By Robert Bruce Woodcox I am a veteran ghostwriter (27 years) and a veteran AOG member (8 years). However, I also spend a great deal of time consulting/counseling by the hour, other ghostwriters on the “business” side of this profession. The first question most new clients ask is: “How do I find new work, market…