ghost writing

I have been getting a lot of questions in my writing groups about my ghost writing. A surprising number of the comments are that people didn't know that it was a big thing outside of non-fiction. Even I am surprised the more I learn about how prolific it is at all levels of writing. I picked up my first ghost writing job on the freelancing site I was using for design work. A job listing popped up and it looked interesting so I sent over a cover letter and some samples of my writing. I got an answer back pretty quickly and got the job! Now that one didn't pay much - but I wasn't sure if I could even do it (yay writers doubt!) but even on a  tight schedule I worked with the client and we finished a book that I really liked. Better yet, this one will end up coming out as a co-author novel meaning my name will be on it! So stay tuned for updates on that. It is currently in editing with the client.

That one I was given a first chapter, and an outline of how the story should unfold. Beyond the two main characters I was free to add to the world however I saw fit. YA fantasy was not always my go-to even though sci-fi is and I was able to bring in elements that worked for me to make it the best story possible.

With that success I looked for my ghostwriting. I found another client who had a very detailed outline that was written in preparation for a screenplay that never came to fruition. So they decided to go the novel route. This one YA sci-fi and totally up my alley. I had a detailed world and backstory along with the characters and their arcs. We brought in common and current issues so that our characters not only learned the lessons themselves but it gave readers something to think about. I got to work closely with the client on this one, sharing chapter by chapter for feedback and that was a lot of fun. It even paid a little better too!

My current gig is a on book two of a series, we wrote book one and started book two as an editor took over the first then moved back and forth to rework what was needed in the first novel. This one has been more tricky, we have not only a major time difference but also a bit of a language barrier with the client. They have a detailed outline but I have to work to sway their vision towards things that ‘work’ in novel form. The book is also a challenge as we opted to write in present tense, which is new for me. Challenging as it is, all the editor's notes are being shared with me. Which is great as I have not had the funds to hire a professional for my own work at this point so even with the challenges it is a very valuable experience.

Those are just my stories on ghost writing. But I think that it is a great way to get out and get writing. You have real deadlines, real collaborators and a guaranteed payout. (Sorry to my own books on amazon, but you guys are slacking!)

Finishing things even for other people - or maybe especially for other people is giving me a ton of motivation for my own pieces that are sitting partly done on my hard drive. Helping others get their stories on the page only makes me that much more eager to work on my own. The anonymity of ghost writing might not be for everyone, but if you have even the slightest inkling I think you should give it a try. You may be surprised what it opens up for you.