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What it Takes to Be a Ghostwriter

The vast majority of Americans have a burning desire to become published authors whether their desired title is fact or fiction. For the most part, not only are statements like these the honest to goodness truth, it's also safe to say that very few of them will actually live up to those dreams.

It's sad, I know, but surprisingly, there are some individuals out there who are so solidly dedicated to that goal that they'll go to astonishing lengths to make it happen. Some writers (namely, ghostwriters) are so committed to the art that they're willing to share their skills with other hopeful authors without taking ANY

of the credit!

Some go as far as to sign away their intellectual rights forever!

"Why in the world," you may be wondering, "would ANYONE
do that?"

The simplest answer is this: because some writers just can't NOT
write!

That said, it's very important to remember that not all writers are created equally. A ghostwriter and a bestselling novelist lead very different lives. For that matter, so do a ghostwriter and a screenplay writer. While all writers must have some underlying writing talents, there are characteristics that distinguish these writers from one another.

So, for now, let's take a moment and look at the most popular types of ghostwriters...

Two Types of Ghostwriting
There are predominately two types of ghostwriters, but each type isn't mutually exclusive. The first type of ghostwriter is the one who is hired by the "real" author to pen the manuscript (which could be as small as a web-page or blog post or as in-depth as a full-length book) for a flat rate usually ranging for 4 to 5 figures. They create a contract around a specific payment price and decide how the payments will be broken down (for instance, some ghostwriters will work on a 25% up front, 25% upon completion and the remaining 50% upon final approval by the publisher/hiring author).

The second type of ghostwriter will write the entire manuscript, and instead of asking for a a set, flat rate payment, will insist upon being cut in on the royalties generated by the sale of the book, manuscript, eBook, eCourse, etc.

And, of course, ghostwriters may work under a system that employs both methods. For example, a ghostwriter may be paid a one-time advance (ranging from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand) and the rest of their money will be earned from royalties paid out by the publishing company.

Once you've decided which route you'd prefer to take in the ghostwriting

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