It's time to announce my big news, at last!
What do Hillary Rodham Clinton, David Beckham, Donald Trump, Naomi Campbell, and Clay Aiken have in common? They’re all well-known, and they’re also all book authors—authors who used ghostwriters. In addition to the estimated 80% of celebrity-authored books which are ghostwritten, the market for ghosts and collaborators is broad and growing. Publishers, agents, book packagers, individuals, subject matter experts, and corporations all hire ghostwriters.
Yet often even experienced writers know little about this lucrative area of freelancing—ghostwriting and collaborating on books. Typical book projects start at about $10,000, with many paying in the mid-five-figures, and once you’ve established yourself as a ghost, it’s easy to market yourself to potential clients. (Three out of four of my last projects all came through word-of-mouth referrals.)
Intrigued? Want to know more about this lucrative field? Then you'll want to read my new book, Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks! The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books, which will be in print October 15, 2010. Just as Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money shows readers how to suceed as self-employed writers, Goodbye will help you launch a thriving ghostwriting business. You'll learn what skills are essential, what kinds of clients hire ghostwriters, how to find clients, negotiate fees, work efficiently, and address problems that can arise in the ghostwriting/coauthoring process. If you're a book author who wants to make more money, or you want to expand into a lucrative area, you'll want to read this book.
I'll remind readers when the book is available. Can't wait until then, or want one-on-one advice from me? I'm teaching a ghostwriting class starting September 13, 2010, through RenegadeWriter; check out http://www.therenegadewriter.com/new-renegade-writer-classes/#kelly for more info about the class and the other excellent courses RW offers.
Writing Is Hard Work
5 years ago
Congratulations, Kelly!
ReplyDeleteSounds great! I'm looking forward to your new book.
ReplyDeleteKelly,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update! I am really intrigued by ghosting/co-authoring. However, I haven't written a book, unless an ebook that I self-published, counts. I'd love your thoughts on this.
Looking forward to reading your book in October!
Congrats, Kelly! I love the way you're bundling it all together too -- the book, the class. You've made a name for yourself in this business for a reason!
ReplyDeleteThank you all! I've been working on this book since last fall when I realized:
ReplyDelete1. most of my income was coming from ghosting/coauthoring work
2. the field was continuing to grow and demand was continuing to increase
3. there was NO BOOK (well, worthwhile book) out there showing freelancers how to do it!
Inspiration struck...perspiration followed. :)