Member Spotlight: Jonathan Jordan

How did you land your first book ghostwriting project?

My first official ghostwriting project came to me through a hybrid publisher I had just started working with in 2020. I’m pretty sure no one else wanted to take it on because the subject was so dense and dry, but it gave me SO much experience I needed for bigger and better projects to come.

What is your favorite type of project or client?

My favorite projects are ones that make connections between ideas that don’t seem connected at first. Likewise, with clients, I’m a fan of anyone with a touch of rebel in them and who has a different lens for how they see the world. Those are the clients who highly value storytelling and creative collaboration.

What’s your favorite question to ask clients during an interview?

My favorite question to ask clients might be, “What would your biggest critic say about that?” Bringing in an alternative view always strengthens the point they want to make and usually generates an interesting story they haven’t shared yet.

What are the best parts of this career?

The best part of ghostwriting is that it’s given me more financial freedom than any previous “job,” which means I got the last laugh over the naysayers who said it was impossible to make a career ONLY as a writer. The second best part is that it’s made me a much better writer and given me exposure to a world I couldn’t access before: publishers, editors, agents, and CEOs of billion-dollar companies. The wealth of knowledge I’ve received from these experts is beyond any dollar sign.

What’s one thing clients might be surprised to know about you?

This is a tough one because I’m a pretty open book… But clients might be surprised to learn that I used to record music for fun, and I can play multiple instruments though I’m badly out of practice. In my early twenties, I recorded several terrible albums with friends. And one of my earliest creative projects was being a lyricist for a Western-themed opera produced by CalArts.

How can people reach you?

People can find me on LinkedIn or at my website forwordwriting.com. I’ve recently been creating some resources just for new ghostwriters/editors too, because I want to make sure to pass on what I’ve learned the hard way and make it easier for newer freelancers to succeed much faster.