3 Simple Exercises to Becoming a Ghostwriter

by Cris Yeager
DIGITAL MEDIA GHOST
Ghostwriting

The dream of becoming a successful ghostwriter is an alluring one, but it’s also one that many aspiring writers will never realize unless they take the right steps to get there. Fortunately, becoming a ghostwriter only requires following three simple exercises — including how to handle your first few clients. It's a noble career to aspire to be a ghostwriter, but it might not be every writer's dream. No matter what you write, whether it is fiction or business content, you’ll be helping someone tell their story without expecting any credit.

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Ghostwriting services are in high demand, becoming an official ghostwriter isn't just about showing up with pen and paper. There are certain skills and attributes that your prospective clients will be looking for in an aspiring ghostwriter. Becoming a ghostwriter is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Just follow these simple exercises to become the successful ghostwriter you always wanted to be!

What a ghostwriter does
A ghostwriter is someone who writes for another person who will be credited for the work. Despite this not being every writer's dream, it is a prestigious profession. A ghostwriter enables someone to have their story told without them having to worry about the lack of credit they'll receive. Additionally, you can make quite a bit of money as a ghostwriter. If you’re interested in becoming a ghostwriter, there are a few things you can do to get started. However, in order to become a ghostwriter, you already need to possess writing skill. If not, turn back now.

1. Read a lot and often
Reading is critical for any writer, but it’s especially important for ghostwriters. That’s because the more you read, the better you’ll be able to understand and meet your clients’ wishes. Read things in your prospective client's genre — or related genres if they're not sure what they would want. Familiarize yourself with their style of writing, so that you can adopt their voice and even mimic their structure when needed. Read things in your own genre — or the genre of content that most intrigues you — to see how other authors tackle certain subjects. This will help give you ideas on how to approach topics originally without duplicating someone else's work too closely.

2. Start a blog
Before you can start soliciting your services as a ghostwriter, you need to have a strong portfolio. The best way to do this is to start a blog within a niche you’re knowledgeable in. This will serve as a way for potential clients to see your work and get an idea of your style and voice. You may even find some freelancing gigs with smaller publications that are looking for someone to help them build their site content or who need copywriters on a contract basis. If you don’t know where to start, try writing about something you care about or want to learn more about. For example, if you love dogs but don't know anything about training them, consider starting a blog that focuses on all things dog-related — from breeds to obedience training — so that you can educate yourself while also building up your freelance profile.

3. Challenge yourself
If you want to become a ghostwriter, you need to be able to write every single day. It's important to get into the habit of writing so that when you're assigned a project, you're able to complete it without any issues. But becoming a ghostwriter isn't just about writing, it's also about capturing voices. To practice this, try recording yourself reading something aloud, then transcribing it. This will help you get used to hearing different voices and figuring out how to capture them on the page. Plus, these exercises are great for boosting your confidence. When you're practicing different voices, it feels like someone is there with you — which is exactly what a good ghostwriter needs.

In conclusion
You don’t need to be an expert, but the more you know, the better equipped you’ll be. Take on a few small projects. These can be for friends or family members who just need a little help getting their thoughts down on paper. Once you’ve got a few under your belt, start marketing yourself as a ghostwriter. This can be done through online platforms or by word-of-mouth. As you start to get more clients, begin thinking about what genres or topics you’re most interested in writing about. Having this in place will help you attract more of the clients you want to work with. Only then can you truly celebrate the path to becoming a ghostwriter!

​Help your business promote itself with a ghost!

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