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Sally Miller
“And half of my fee is due up front,” I said.
I held my breath. I knew I was supposed to say this. But that didn’t make it any easier. I’d never asked for so much money up front before. What if I drove my prospect away?
I needn’t have worried. He didn’t even bat an eyelid. “Sure,” he said. And that was that.
One week later, my new client sent me a check for $1,000. I hadn’t written a word for him, yet he was happy to pay me what I considered a huge sum of money for the work I was about to do.
That was my first book ghosting client. I’ve since learned that experienced ghostwriters charge much more than $2,000. Established ghosts start at $10,000 for a book, and the best charge upwards of $20,000.
But for me, this was a big project. And way better than writing $100 blog posts.
It also turned out to be a lot of fun. My client was a blast to work with. Plus, I learned heaps. Not just about ghostwriting, but also about the book topic. I didn’t have to do any research; my client gave me all the content I needed. All I had to do was listen, learn, and write.
Such is the beauty of ghostwriting. It’s challenging, exciting, and can be extremely lucrative.
Which is why, I’m guessing, you’re here. And I’m so glad you are. My co-author, Cruz Santana, and I have much to share with you. I know you’re going to love it. But first, let’s make sure you’re in the right place.
THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU if you’re a freelance writer with a year or more experience. You’ve hit an income ceiling and want to move to the next level. You’re tired of chasing low-paying gigs.
In short, you want more clients, more projects, and more money.
In fact, you don’t just want more clients. You want to find the right clients. The gems in the rough. The kind of clients who challenge you and are a joy to work with. The ones who value you and your writing.
These are the clients you can build a long-term and profitable relationship with.
If this sounds like you, then you’re in for a treat. We have an answer that can solve your problems, but only if you’re brave enough.
So, grab a cup or glass of your favorite beverage and settle down to learn. What we have to say may surprise you. You may even feel resistant to the idea but stick with us.
I am talking, of course, about ghostwriting.
GHOSTWRITING IS A SPECIAL type of freelance writing. In chapter two, Cruz explains exactly what ghostwriting is. She also covers the different types of ghostwriting (it’s not only about writing books). For now, this simple definition will do:
Ghostwrite: To write a book, article, or speech for another person to use as his or her own. (source: http://dictionary.cambridge.org)
You may be wondering why you would write just so that someone else can claim your words. Let me explain.
If you have the patience to master it, ghostwriting can provide you with recurring work that’s rewarding and pays well. There are endless ghostwriting opportunities, as long as you know where to look for them. (Don’t worry, we have that topic covered in chapter five).
Cruz specializes in manuscripts. I’ve ghostwritten in the business-to-business (B2B) niche and have also ghosted one nonfiction book. Neither of us would recommend you take this step unless we had experienced the benefits for ourselves.
But why should you listen to us? First, here’s my freelancing story.
I turned to freelance writing after publishing my first book. I was a stay-at-home mom and wrote the book on a whim. I wanted to know if I could do it. In the process of creating my book, I re-discovered a love of writing. I decided to capitalize on my passion. That’s when I began freelancing.
Now, as a mom, I don’t have a whole lot of free time. In fact, I only work 10 to 15 hours a week. And not all of those hours are dedicated to freelancing. (I’m also a coach, author, and lifelong learner).
The bottom line is this: I don’t have time to spend on low-paying gigs. I need to find writing projects that pay well for the hours I put in. For me, that’s ghostwriting for B2B companies. Basically, I get paid to write articles, case studies, and white papers.
I’m still a relative newcomer to the freelancing world, but my co-author most definitely isn’t.
Cruz has been doing this for ten years. And for her, writing is a full-time job. As the sole breadwinner in her household, Cruz’s writing feeds her family. You’ll hear all about Cruz’s story in the next chapter. And it’s a good one! She’s someone you’ll want to listen to.
I’ve learned a lot from Cruz and am honored to have her co-author this book with me. She’ll give you the unbridled truth about what it takes to succeed as a ghostwriter. And let me tell you.... Cruz most definitely does not hold anything back. She’ll share the good and the ugly. You’ll be going into this with your eyes wide open.
We don’t want this to be another book that promises you a pot of gold and fails to deliver. Yes, you can earn good money ghostwriting, and you can land clients you love and want to keep working with.
But it takes guts and talent. It also takes know-how, which you’re going to get from this book. So...
Do you have what it takes? If you do, keep reading.
Sure, you could carry on as you are, continuing to hustle hard and earn just enough to get by.
Or you could take a leap of faith and start your ghostwriting journey today.
Are you ready? Great! I’m going to leave you in the capable and caring hands of my co-author, Cruz Santana. I hope you enjoy the ride.