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Freelance Ghostwriters

Guess what? Approximately 40% of published books are ghostwritten... a difficult statistic to quantify given the opaque nature of ghostwriting but more importantly, it demonstrates a very real need in the publishing world.

Autobiographies, self-help books, training manuals... all have been written by ghostwriters. A ghostwriter is "A person who writes on behalf of the credited author of a work".. hey, but it's your bank account that's credited!

So what does it take to break into this area?

Talent. You have to be a good writer with the ability not only to assume the character of the author/originator but to tell the story in a way to keep the reader gripped. No place for dullness and predictability: this isn't a job for novices.

It can be important to have a specialism, to be an expert in your field so that you can convey your knowledge authentically. Mills & Boon writers would not be advised to tackle a manual on neurosurgery.

To a large extent, you may have to adopt the persona of the author and need to be very familiar with their style and "voice". This means spending time with them, taping their story, familiarising yourself with every part of their story/knowledge. For celebrity autobiographies and their forays into fiction, this is of paramount importance.

Where to start? If you feel you have a way with words, robust writing experience and the patience of a saint, start by approaching people, for example, a family member with a story to tell, or a colourful local character in your town. It's a widely known truth that people love talking about themselves! Win their trust, show an interest, press "record", commit time, energy, stamina and the inspiration of your personal Muse and get writing.

You need to remain impartial, non-judgemental and reliable. You're not there to dispute, refute or verify - your role is to act as the author's mouthpiece, using your innate gift of language. It's linguistic devilry! It pays.

Set your ghouls, we're here to help...
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