I am a huge scaredy-cat so Halloween is not my favorite holiday. I can’t watch horror movies without having nightmares. In high school, I ran out of the movie Ghoulies and waited for my friends in the lobby for it to end. Forget about haunted houses! I’d be a wreak. But in the spirit of the spooky season, let’s talk about ghostwriting, another scary subject.
JK. Ghostwriting is not scary at all. I provide this service for many of my clients. Before I became a writer, I thought ghostwriters mainly wrote books for celebrities. True, but not the whole story. Ghostwriting happens when a client hires someone to write a piece of content for them. It could be an article, blog, whitepaper, case study, newsletter, social media post, or a book. The piece is published with the clients name, not the ghostwriter’s. The ghostwriter gives up all ownership of the content once the client takes possession and pays for it.
Many writers don’t like to ghostwrite because they feel that they should get the credit for their content. I get that. It can be hard to let something I’ve created go. Also, I’m often proud of my work and want to celebrate it. As a new writer, it can hard to build a portfolio when you ghostwrite content.
Some writers also think ghostwriting borders on unethical. It can be when the client passes off my words as their own without my knowledge or input. Or I write something without collaborating with the client. However, when I am immersed in a brand and can write in the voice of the client and then I work with the client to discuss the topic and get their thoughts for the piece, I think ghostwriting content is completely ethical. I am just presenting the client’s position in way the client cannot. Each ghostwriter has that line they draw when working with a client, where they either feel comfortable with a project or not.
I love writing in the voice of my clients. I get to adopt a different personality every day and be creative with my writing. When I’m writing wellness content for families, I am caring, understanding, and approachable. When I’m writing medical content for doctors, I am professional, business-like, formal. Certain clients like their content to be sassy and conversational, so their content feels very inclusive. Other clients want the tone to be credible, urgent, and competitive because their content is focused on sales. Ghostwriting is fun.
I’ve been able to build my portfolio with other content I’ve done and by hiding client names in ghostwritten pieces. I’ve also created case studies that kept my clients anonymous. So, I have not had a problem with that point of view.
I’ve heard ghostwriting can be very lucrative. Ghostwriters tend to charge 15-20% more for their content. I’m too new to know if that’s true but it gives me hope. I need to remember this tidbit during my next client negotiation.
I also think ghostwriting is getting me in doors that I wouldn’t necessarily have gotten into. I’m writing for companies that are big players in their sector and in my community. I hope that I can build a solid working relationship with these clients that will take me far in the future, both financially and professionally.
So, when it comes to ghostwriting, I am not a scaredy-cat. I’m all in. And my clients seem to think I’m really good at it.
If you’d like to talk about how I can help your brand build a reputation of thought leadership and elevate your brand awareness, click on the Contact Me page. Let’s talk!
