Posts
The secret to getting paid what you’re worth as a ghostwriter
Charging a fair price for ghostwriting work – or writing work in general – has become far more difficult now that we have to compete with overseas writers willing to accept $.01/word or less for their work. Granted, the finished work product is rarely of the same quality as that of a professional writer, but…
Overcoming the feast or famine cycle in ghostwriting
Ghostwriting, like so many forms of freelance writing, has feast or famine work cycles. One month you’re bombarded with so many new projects and assignments that you wonder how you’ll ever get all the work done by the deadline. Then the deadline arrives, the work has magically been done, and you’re left wondering, “What’s next?”…
How one ghostwriter gets past overwhelm
Sometimes when I am fortunate enough to have more work than I need, I get overwhelmed. Panic creeps in and immobilizes me momentarily. Client projects I should be working on come to a standstill as I wonder how in the world I can research and write and edit what needs to be created. It…
How much of a specialist should you aim to be?
Some of the most successful ghostwriters specialize in a particular niche or subject, such as health, or business, or parenting. By knowing more than most about a particular topic, writers who specialize reap a number of rewards, from needing to do little background research when given an assignment, to being connected to major industry players,…
Ghostwriters: What are you really good at?
I just got off the phone with a potential ghostwriting client who asked a question far too potential clients bother to ask me. She said, “Before you tell me about the types of writing projects you’ve done, tell me about what you’re really good at.” Fortunately, I had previously spent some time contemplating this…
4 Ways Ghostwriters Can Get Paid Faster
We’ve had discussions on past Association of Ghostwriter (AOG) teleseminars about getting paid and, in particular, getting paid in a timely fashion. Contract terms seem to be the most popular way to establish a working relationship that gives the writer better odds of being paid sooner rather than later. But there are other tactics…
Avoiding Brain-Pickers and Time Wasters
I once worked with a local businessman who decided he wanted to be an author. I had done some small projects for him so it was natural that he would turn to me for information about writing and publishing a book. When he called, I was happy to chat about the process, how a…
Get More Writing Done in Less Time
Long ago while working in marketing at Kodak I heard the phrase, “Tasks will expand to fill the time allotted.” Then we were typically talking about meetings, but the notion applies to nearly all business-related activities. Shorten your deadlines. I was skeptical of the adage at first but have seen it hold true consistently. Give…
Should Gender Matter in Ghostwriting?
As many of you know, I’m a female ghostwriter. I have worked with male clients and I have worked with female clients – actually, more male than female. Nearly all the books I’ve ghostwritten have been entrepreneurial memoirs or how-to business guides based on a client’s unique approach or technique. Some have been technology-related, others…
The Ghostwriting Process
I’ve come to realize that while writing is an art, I’m not an artist – I’m the owner of a ghostwriting business. For that reason, I should have processes and systems in place in my company to ensure consistency of quality and to improve my own efficiency. Do I believe that you can create a…
Take a Blues Lesson from Buddy Guy and Mark Hummel: Expand Your Brand with a Book
Guest Post by Douglas Glenn Clark The excellent memoir When I Left Home by legendary blues guitarist Buddy Guy was not penned for fame and fortune. He already has both. Guy wrote his book (with the help of a ghostwriter) because long ago he made a vow to do anything and everything he could to…
Secrets to Writing Faster
One of the biggest reasons clients decide they need a ghostwriter is time. They don’t have enough of it yet they still need to regularly post articles on their blog, or prepare a speech for next month’s professional conference, or get started on that book they’ve always wanted to write. Without enough time, non-writers decide…