What Is Freelance Ghostwriting?
By Brian Konradt
Becoming a successful ghostwriter demands two things: discretion and the ability to work quickly based on someone else’s outline. Ghostwriting may not be the most creatively satisfying opportunity in the general field of freelance writing. Many writers don’t like slapping someone else’s name on their words; however, freelance ghostwriting can pay well, and can provide you with some much needed income and networking contacts during lean phases of your writing career.
Being a successful ghostwriter means sacrificing some of your own creative principles and work ethics in favor of the work. A client will sometimes come to you with nothing more than a topic idea and title, or may come to you with full chapter outlines and a directive to mimic the style of a well-known writer. This is where the question of ethics comes in. Ghostwriting is inherently on shaky ethical ground, at least in the public’s eye, because the author whose name is on the book or article may not have written a single word. Readers may feel duped if they found out. However you look at it, the essence of ghostwriting is a contract: you’re trading your writing ability and your agreement not to claim credit on a work for money, usually a decent amount.
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Posted: February 6th, 2007
Tags: All, Ghostwriting, Freelance writing
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