The Secret Life of a Ghostwriter
Ghostwriting is a paid gig many writers have heard of, but is also rather enigmatic in terms of how to do it and who for. Ironically, dozens of celeb memoirs are released each year that are actually penned by a face and name no one would recognize–nor ever sees or hears. Which leaves a lot of writers puzzled as to the logistics of finding clients like this. But opportunities like this are actually more abundant than one might initially think. Becoming an anonymous author-for-hire could include crafting speeches for a political candidate or creating informative content for a business owner to post on LinkedIn. And for additional insight, I decided to interview one of the most seasoned and successful ghostwriters I know: Eliza Waters.
Eliza Waters has a background in international and community development, and has dedicated her career to improving the lives of people around the world and at home. She has nearly 10 years of experience writing and editing for a variety of formats, and is the co-author of Thoughtfully Fit: Your Training Plan for Life and Business Success. As a freelancer, she has worked for clients including the University of Wisconsin, the Inter-American Development Bank, business owners, coaches, realtors and more. She currently works as a project manager in the Office of Sustainability at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as continuing to do writing and editing as a side gig.
R: How did you become a ghostwriter?
E: I kind of stumbled into it, really. I had a friend who owned a coaching business and wanted to have a blog. But she didn't want to write it. At the time, I was running a small business yet had (extra) time to write, so I suggested she hire me to write it. From there, I worked on blogs, social media, and newsletters for a while. We kept going, and eventually, I wrote a book for her.
R: What are potential challenges those new to ghostwriting may encounter?
E: I think the most challenging part is learning to write in someone else's voice. This was especially true for me since I was writing for a brand that already had a voice and identity when I started writing for them. However, I think this is true for all ghostwriters to some extent. You have to tell the story the way your clients want it to be told, which may or may not be the way you would tell it if you were writing for yourself.
The other challenge–if you are trying to make it a business–is continually finding clients who are looking for the kind of writing that you want to do. You also have to keep shifting gears to adjust to the voice, preferences and other specifications of new clients.
R: How is your compensation decided?
E: I negotiated my rates with employers based on their budget and prioritized clients who were willing to offer more (consistent) work, not necessarily the highest rate. In addition to ghostwriting, I also did a lot of freelance editing–and would adjust rates based on the client, the scope of work and other project details. I do think it's important to be clear on any floor (aka minimum pay rate) you might have. This will ensure you don't end up doing work for an amount that you don't think feels fair or worthwhile to you.
R: What do you tend to enjoy most about the ghostwriting process?
E: My favorite part was helping bring someone else's vision to life. To have someone explain what they wanted then figure out how to bring the words to life. I really enjoyed the collaborative process as well. Talking through ideas, brainstorming different ways to approach it, and pivoting based on edits were all a lot of fun for me. Writing can be kind of a lonely process, but ghostwriting lets it be more of a partnership.
R: How has your time as a ghostwriter impacted your creativity or other writing projects?
E: I think it helps your own projects feel a little more freeing because you can write what you want and use your own voice. The downside is that doing a lot of writing for others can mean you have less time, energy, or inspiration to write for yourself, although it does also give you an opportunity to learn about new types of writing that you might not have done for yourself. I did not have ‘writing a book’ on my personal agenda. But ghostwriting was an amazing opportunity to learn about that whole process and the publishing industry. So if I do ever decide to write my own book, I think it would give me a real leg up.
Want help brainstorming how to boost your earning potential as a writer? Be a part of the How to Earn a Living as a Writer workshop Rachel is facilitating online on December 13.