Tips for Breaking into the Ghostwriting Industry

Ghostwriting isn't for everyone, which isn't a surprise. No job is for everyone. Becoming a ghostwriter isn't a get rich quick scheme either. It takes dedication, perseverance, knowledge and specific personality attributes to become a professional ghostwriter.

However, the rewards are HUGE. If you're a new mom or dad, you can make a decent living ghostwriting from the comfort of your own home. If you're an independent spirit with lots of drive, ghostwriting may be the profession for you.

Let's have a look at some of the traits you should possess if you want to become a professional ghostwriter.

1) Ghostwriting can be a lonely profession. I enjoy it because I'm a bit of a lone wolf. I don't like getting blamed for other people's mistakes, which often happens in an office environment. If I make a mistake, I have only myself to blame. I like it that way. I'm in charge of every aspect of my work-from-home ghostwriting business. I make the decisions, and if something goes wrong, it's my fault. If you don't mind working alone, ghostwriting may be exactly what you're looking for.

2) Are you deadline oriented? Meeting deadlines is a major aspect of a ghostwriters business. While you're in charge of what projects you take on, once you take on a project you have to meet the deadline set. I usually set myself a longer deadline than most ghostwriters I know. I hate breaking my word, and by setting myself a comfortable deadline, I not only have time to do the best job possible, but I also avoid breaking deadlines.

3) Do you love to read? I read books every day. Sometimes it's fiction but not always. Reading helps your grammar and spelling skills, plus it helps add to your diction. You might not have to be a reader to be a ghostwriter, but it sure does help.

4) In order to be a ghostwriter, you have to be able to do research. While this might not appeal to everyone, in my opinion this is one of the best aspects of my job. How many jobs let you learn something new each and every day? The internet is a wonderful resource that significantly cuts back on the amount of time you need to research. Plus, once you've written about a subject a few times, you'll have most of the information you need in your head.

5) An attention for detail is a big plus when you're a ghostwriter. I always read through my articles when I'm finished to make sure that it doesn't contain stupid mistakes. Does the article flow well? Are there spelling mistakes? Does it answer the questions that the client wants or needs answered? These are all questions you should ask yourself once you've finished an article.

6) Can you work with distractions? I know writers who can't work with distractions. It's possible to be a ghostwriter and need silence, but it's a major advantage if you can work with distractions. I have three kids, which means I very rarely get to work with little or no noise. In fact, while I'm writing this, the TV is on and two of my kids are talking non-stop to my wife. When I first started ghostwriting, I had a very hard time writing with distractions, but you can train yourself to block out noise.

7) Most ghostwriters love to learn new things. We thrive when confronted with a challenge. It's one of the traits that make us good at our job.

8) Being able to type fast isn't essential, but a definite asset. It's something that I work on all the time. In this business, time equals money, and the faster you can type, the more money you'll make.

9) Being organized is one of my weak points. My desk is often messy and I write things on pieces of scrap paper that get lost. I work on this trait all of the time. Being organized can greatly increase your chances of becoming a successful ghostwriter.

10) Like any other business, marketing yourself is important. Word-of-mouth is the best way of marketing your skills as a ghostwriter, but there are a myriad of other ways, such as a Squidoo lens.

If you possess some or all of the traits mentioned above, ghostwriting may be the profession you've been looking for. I'm living proof that you don't need ALL of these traits, but the more you have the better. The traits that you don't possess can always be worked on. I should know, I'm working to improve my skill-set all the time!

Now that you have your samples in hand, it's time to find some offline work! In my experience, online work is plentiful and the internet certainly offers a myriad of opportunities for the eager writer, but nothing pays as well as offline work.

You see, online, you're usually bidding against other writers for the right to work on a project. For each project you bid on, there might be 20-30 bids. In other words, you're up against some stiff competition. When you find offline work, you don't have to compete with anyone else. The only thing you have to do is sell your services.

In most cases, whoever you've targeted as a potential client doesn't know that he or she could hire someone in a foreign country for a fraction of the cost it will take to hire you. You have the advantage going in!

Here's an important tip though-one that I've found extremely useful in the past. Before you approach a potential client, have a plan of action in place. Do your homework. For example, if you've targeted a business in your community that sells natural supplements, visit their website, browse through their store, make small talk with the owner and get to know them better. Make sure that you'd be comfortable working with them, and while you do that, think of ways that you could benefit them.

-Is their website shoddy?

-Do they need more keywords to boost their search engine rankings?

-Are there glaring spelling and grammar errors throughout their website?

-Do they have a newsletter to promote their business? How about a business card-maybe you can fashion one for them?

There are all sorts of ways that a ghostwriter can help a small business. And most of the time, small business owners are unaware of the services you could provide. Make sure that you educate them on your services, and show them that you could be a huge asset-an asset that could help them compete against their competition.

If you get the job, make sure that you do the best job possible. Make them as happy as you can. Word-of-mouth is one of the best ways to promote your ghostwriting business, and you can bet your bottom dollar that if you do an outstanding job, your new client will tell others about you. Not only that, but they'll come back and offer you more business in the future.

Being able to write is crucial to a ghostwriter's success, but being able to market yourself is just as important. Everyone you meet is a potential client. Never forget that.

In the guestbook below, you'll find a comment by WhichCraft that caused me a bit of distress. However, it did raise a valid question: Does age matter to a ghostwriter?

The answer is 'no'. One of the perks of being a ghostwriter is that it is a profession that has no age limits. You can be 15 or 90 years of age and still be a great ghostwriter. You can be retired and make extra income or you can be young, employed full-time and still make money as a ghostwriter. You can create articles, eBook, sales letters, web content or press releases while on vacation, visiting relatives, sitting in a trailer camping or from your living room watching TV. There are no constraints. You can make as little or as much money as you want.

In my humble opinion, age should not be a barrier. You can be successful at anything if you put your mind to it. If you like to write, you can be a ghostwriter, no matter how old you are. In fact, I'm 32 years of age now, but I started when I was 25. I had two kids at the time, and I worked full-time. I was scared to quit my job at first, but I still succeeded. I now work full-time from home and ghostwriting is my primary source of income.

I also know ghostwriters who are elderly. They too enjoy the freedom that a work-from-home job offers them.

Keep in mind that while ghostwriting is a wonderful job, it isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. If you're looking for a job that promises to make you a millionaire within days, ghostwriting isn't the job for you. However, it does offer you freedom, and you CAN make a lot of money doing it. It all depends on how motivated you are and how much you want it. Age is not a factor.

I wanted it badly. I've never liked to be told what to do, and regular jobs working for someone else were unsatisfying. I like the idea that if I succeed, it's to my benefit. When I find a new client, it's because I put in the work. I'm not a number on a computer screen, but someone who is valuable-someone who has a skill that entrepreneurs value highly. I've turned business' around by typing on my laptop. I've made their websites better, created newsletters that their customers found informative and I've added to their bottom-line and you can too.

Age isn't a requirement and it certainly isn't a barrier that should stop you from doing what you want to do.