Become a Ghost-Blogger: Cracking this Lucrative Market

I had lunch with a fellow freelancing friend (say that three times fast!) last week. We were talking about our current projects, and which were the most lucrative. Right now I'm in the midst of a rush ghosting gig, writing a book in twelve weeks. I'm a little crazed. But the money is good, the client is responsive, and I'm able to turn the chapters around fairly quickly. I'm close to making the hourly rate I aim for ($100/hour). (Want to know more about ghostwriting books? Check out Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books.) 

As for my friend? She's ghosting, too--ghost-blogging for several corporate clients, and is making good money from it. For example, for one client she's paid $300 for a blog post of 500-600 words. The work is relatively simple; the client chooses the topic, she interviews him, and then writes up the post for his review and approval. 

The first couple of blog posts may not pay that well in terms of hourly rate as she becomes familiar with his voice and gets up to speed on the topics and industry she's covering. But the longer she works for the client, the more money she makes per-hour--she's able to spend less time writing the posts and less time making any edits as she "knows" her client. 

That's great for any freelancer, but the benefits don't stop there. The more she blogs, the more irreplaceable she becomes to the client. After all, she knows his voice; she knows his company; and she knows his industry. That gives her job security (or at least freelance gig security) in an ever-changing environment and that is valuable. 

That's just one reason ghost-blogging is a smart choice for freelancers today. Blogs need feeding, and need feeding often--typically at least once a week, often more often. That's a lot of work for writers like you and me. While blogs typically pay anywhere from $50 to $500/post, ghostwritten posts tend to pay the most--up to $1/word. 

So how do you crack this lucrative area? First, yeah, you need some blogging experience; clients will want to see examples of your work. Second, consider your background and topics you've covered before. If you've written about a particular industry or profession, look for blogs in that subject area and draft an LOI highlighting your relevant qualifications. Make it your goal from the outset to nab an ongoing gig, not just write a post or two--that's hardly worth your while. 

While your client probably already has ideas for posts, coming up with your own can make you more valuable. Stay up on what's happening in the topic you're writing about--the more you know about your client's industry or business, the more valuable you become. Ask if the client wants your help coming up with art/photos for the post, and whether he wants you to promote the posts on social media sites. Your goal is become the go-to person for blog posts for your client; when you do that, you ensure steady work with zero marketing time, which boosts your hourly rate and your productivity! 

** Last chance! If you're reading this before July 1, 2013, you have a few hours left to take advantage of my 50 percent discount on print editions of  Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition or Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets. Order directly from Improvise Press,and use the discount code, THANKYOU (all caps/no breaks) for 50 percent off of your order, the best price you'll find in any brick-and-mortar or online bookstore. The last shipment of books will mail Monday, July 1, 2013, so don't wait! 

Another Post Round-Up, Redux: 8 Great Ghostwriting Posts

I was talking with a fellow freelancer last night about how and why I got into ghostwriting, and it made me realize how many misperceptions there are about the field. It's true than when you ghostwrite, you give up a byline. But I've found that I can make more money ghostwriting books for clients (including Pros with Platforms) than I can writing my own. 

The reason is simple. When I ghostwrite, that's all I do. I don't have to market and promote the book (the most time-consuming part of authorship). That's my client's job. I get paid to write the book and then I move on to the next project. And remember, too, I don't run the risk of wasting my time writing a book proposal that may not sell the way I would with my own books. My client pays me upfront to write the proposal. 

That's why ghosting is the subject of this post roundup:

• Why add ghostwriting to your freelance repertoire? (And fees for some recent projects.)
• Five more reasons to ghostwrite--including bigger advances.
• Sure, we think of celebs and "big names" as hiring ghosts, but your clients are more likely to be average folks who want to write books or professionals who want to become book authors; here's how to work with the latter.
• What attributes do you need to successfully ghost?
• Not all potential clients are worth your while. Here are ten red flags to run away, fast.
• Here are five simple ways to find ghosting clients.
• Book packagers often hire ghosts; here's what you should know about them.

What's that? You want to know even more about ghostwriting and how to succeed in this lucrative niche? Then you'll want to readGoodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books (Kindle version). From sample contracts to marketing advice to tips on setting fees and working with clients, you'll find everything you need to know to get started.

Another Great Review of Goodbye Byline!

If you're a book author, you know how important positive reviews are to sell books. Word of mouth may be the number one way to sell a book (at least that's been my experience), but good reviews make a huge difference. So I'm grateful for the great review of Goodbye Byline that Rochelle Melander (author of the newly released Write-A-Thon) just posted on her blog. If you check it out and follow the rules, you can also enter her giveaway. Thanks, Rochelle, and I hope you'll check out the review and her awesome blog.  

Post Roundup: 8 Great Ghostwriting Posts

According to my 2011 income survey results, a mere 3 percent of freelancers make money from ghostwriting. Ghostwriting and coauthoring have been producing the majority of my freelance income for the last four years, and it's not as hard to break into the field as you might think. (While I primarily ghost books, I know other freelancers who are ghosting articles and blog posts--one freelancer is currently ghostwriting for six different blogs!)

So ghosting is the subject of this post roundup:

• Why add ghostwriting to your freelance repertoire? (And fees for some recent projects.)
• Five more reasons to ghostwrite--including bigger advances.
• Sure, we think of celebs and "big names" as hiring ghosts, but your clients are more likely to be average folks who want to write books or professionals who want to become book authors; here's how to work with the latter.
• What attributes do you need to successfully ghost?
• Not all potential clients are worth your while. Here are ten red flags to run away, fast.
• Here are five simple ways to find ghosting clients.
• Book packagers often hire ghosts; here's what you should know about them.

What's that? You want to know even more about ghostwriting and how to succeed in this lucrative niche? Then you'll want to read Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books (Kindle version). From sample contracts to marketing advice to tips on setting fees and working with clients, you'll find everything you need to know to get started.

Five Simple Ways to Find Ghostwriting Clients

So, you've learned something about ghostwriting, and think you have the skills to do so successfully. Next step is promoting your ghosting business.

Here are five simple ways to reach potential clients:

• Use the web. Your website, your blog, and your email signature should all mention your ghostwriting work. You may also want to have a dedicated page for clients looking for a ghost telling them more about what you do and what to expect.
• Check craigslist. Yup, much of the posts there are dreck, but I've found clients through the popular site. Journalismjobs.com and FreelanceDaily.net are two other sites to check for work.
• Tell your sources. Reach out to your contacts. I specialize in health, fitness, and nutrition subjects. Whenever I interview an expert source for a magazine article, I let the person know I'm a ghostwriter as well. .
• Send out LOIs. I've contacted book packagers, literary agents, and book editors with a brief letter of introduction, asking that they keep me in mind for projects.
• Educate current clients. I do a mix of article and book work, and make sure that my magazine editors know I ghostwrite as well. This keeps people from pigeonholing me as "only" an article writer.

For more on this lucrative writing niche, check out my book, Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books (Kindle edition).

Ghostwriting feature in this month's Writer's Digest

I have a six-page feature on ghostwriting in this month's Writer's Digest; check it out if you want to learn more about this lucrative niche. It's a great overview of why you should consider ghosting and how to get started in the field; for everything else you need (including sample letters of introduction, bids, and contracts), check out Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books (Kindle edition).

Upcoming Ghostwriting Feature in Writer's Digest

Want to know more about ghostwriting? The March issue of Writer's Digest includes my six-page feature on everything you need to get started--and may just convince you to add "ghostwriter" to your freelance repertoire. It will be on newsstands soon, so watch for it if you're interested.

If you have the necessary skills, there are plenty of reasons to ghostwrite, including a higher hourly rate. If you want to know more about what you need to succeed in this field, and how to attract and qualify clients, set fees, market yourself, negotiate contracts, and work efficiently, you'll want to check out my book, Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books (Kindle edition).

Called the "comprehensive guide to becoming a ghostwriter" by Marcia Layton Turner, founder/executive director of the Association of Ghostwriters, it's the only book available that covers all aspects of this lucrative niche. (In fact, the lack of a good book on the subject is one of the reasons I wrote it!)

10 Questions to Ask Potential Ghostwriting Clients

I've corresponded with three freelancers in the past week who had questions about bidding on ghostwriting gigs. There's no magic formula to use, but your bid should be based on factors including your experience, the amount of work you're expected to perform, and the client's deadline.

Before I can determine whether a project has merit (at least for me), I need some background information. I ask every potential client the following ten questions:

• What kind of book (or other project) do you have in mind?

• How long will the book be?

• Why do you want to write this book? (Does the client want to attract more business or simply get her memoir in print? Is she expecting to make money from her book?)

• What kind of material do you have for your ghostwriter to use? (Has the client started the book? Does she have an outline or other research/notes I can use as a starting point?)

• What's your deadline?

• Why are you considering using a ghostwriter? Have you worked with one before?

• What kind of publisher do you plan to work with? (Is the client planning to try to sell the book to traditional publisher or use a POD publisher?)

• Who's the audience for your book?

• How do you envision working with a ghostwriter? (In other words, does he want you to do all of the research and writing, or will he be doing some of the writing himself?)

• What budget do you have in mind for this book? (I'm happy to bring up money last, but I always find out what my client's financial expectations before I even consider bidding on a job. I've learned that lesson the hard way.)

With the answers to these ten questions, I know whether I want to pursue the project, first off. I also have enough info to make a sensible bid, based on my expectations of the work involved.

Even in a down economy, the market for ghostwriters is broad and continuing to grow. If you want to know more about how you can break into and thrive in this lucrative field, check out my new book, Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books. Or buy the Kindle version.

Book Packagers--What They Do and How to Pitch Them

As a ghostwriter, you have a slew of clients to choose from. In addition to Everyday Joes and Pros with Platforms, book packagers hire ghostwriters on a regular basis. But what are packagers, and how do work with them?

Book packagers are similar to book publishers with one primary difference. Traditional book publishers offer a contract (that usually includes an advance, even a small one) for the right to publish a book. A packager is paid by someone else to publish a book. Often the packager is an individual who wants to get a book into print; in other cases, a traditional publisher hires a packager to create the book that the publisher will then sell.

Packagers hire ghostwriters all the time. They look for ghostwriters who have authored at least one book and usually prefer to use writers with ghosting experience. However a background in writing about the subject of the book gives you a leg up on other writers competing for the job. Case in point: my first job as a ghostwriter was for a packager and while I hadn't ghosted before, my interest in and experience writing about psychology helped me get the job.

What about money? Fees range across the board, depending on the client, the type of book you’re doing, and how long it takes you to complete it. I’ve seen packagers offer in the mid-five-figures for business books, and in the $15,000 to $40,000 range for books on other subjects. It’s the client’s budget (the individual or publisher that has hired the packager) that sets the fees.

To market yourself, reseach packagers and send an LOI highlighting your subject areas of specialty, asking that you be kept in mind for possible jobs. And if you respond to a packager's ad looking for a ghost for a particular book, make sure your LOI is customized for that project.
In addition to using Google to find book packagers, check out the American Book Producers Association for a list of members.

Intrigued? Thinking, "hey, mabye I should get in on this ghostwriting thing"? Then check out Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books for samples of LOIs that work for packagers and other clients.

The Big Reason Writers Don't Ghost--and A Way Around It

I want to address a problem many writers have with the concept of ghostwriting—they don’t want to work “in the dark.” In other words, the idea of spending months laboring over a book and having no one ever know about it rubs them the wrong way. And I can understand that—because I felt the same way for years. (Plus, I only wanted to write my own books. The idea of penning someone else’s held no appeal for me. An epiphany changed my mind.)

If being recognized for your work is important to you, you may not be interested in abandoning your byline. Fair enough. But have you considered working as a coauthor on book projects? Coauthoring, where you collaborate with another person and share credit, gives you an opportunity to expand your platform, and command bigger advances than you would on your own—and be recognized for it.

I approach coauthoring and ghosting projects the same way—the only difference is that in the former cases, I get a byline and in the latter, I don’t. (If that’s the case, I’ll try to negotiate more money for giving up my byline.) But many clients are willing to share their byline—provided their name is first, and in bigger type on the cover.

The advantages to coauthoring are the same as ghosting, too. You can make more money as you’re typically not responsible for actually marketing the book when it comes out, so you spend less time on each book. You’re able to command a bigger advance with a well-known expert than you could on your own. And you’re not responsible for coming up with a book from scratch—your client provides you with ideas and, if you’re lucky, research and other material you use as a starting point.

I once said, “I would never want to write someone else’s book.”

Well, guess what? I was wrong. Today I enjoy writing other people’s books. Part of the reason is that I take on clients who are smart; who have interesting ideas; who pay well (and promptly); and who respect me and my work. Is that worth trading my byline? To me, yes…but I realize that other writers may not feel the same way. I’d suggest that you consider alternatives before insisting that any kind of collaborating isn’t a good fit for you.

Want to know more about coauthoring and ghosting--even if the latter isn't of interest? Check out Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer's Guide to Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books, and as always, let me know if you have any questions about the field.

First Time Ever! Learn How to Break into and Succeed in the Ghostwriting Biz

Thanks to all who tuned in last night for my teleseminar on Six-Figure Freelancing. My big news? After more than a decade of teaching in-person classes, I'm teaching my first eclass--on ghostwriting.

SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR BYLINE: GETTING STARTED IN GHOSTWRITING is a 6-week class that will start on September 6, 2010 (yup, that's Labor Day!). The classes will be emailed or posted that day (still deciding which), and for the five Mondays thereafter. So you needn't tune in at a certain time--as long as you read the class material and do the relevant homework.

Here are the details about the class:

Want to make more as a book author or freelancer? One of the most lucrative freelance fields is ghostwriting and coauthoring yet most writers know little about this niche. What do you need to get started? What makes ghostwriting more challenging—and yet more rewarding—than writing your own books? Why is this field a great way to expand your freelance career? In 6 weekly lessons, you’ll learn:

*What you need to be a successful ghostwriter;

*What types of clients hire ghostwriters and how to market to them;

*How to determine what clients are a best fit for you;

*How to help your client decide what publishing options are right for them;

*How to interview potential clients—and know which are worth your time;

*How to set and negotiate fees; and

*How to capture your client’s voice and work efficiently.

Remember, I’m a long-term freelancer who’s taught classes on magazine writing and successful freelancing to thousands of students and writers’ conference attendees in the last 13 years. This is the first time I’m teaching a ghostwriting class, and I promise you’ll learn everything you need to know to break into this niche, whether you want to be a fulltime ghostwriter or simply want to add it to your freelancing repertoire. If you sign up for the Premium version (with includes critiques and feedback), you’ll also develop a customized letter of introduction, and a marketing plan designed to help you attract the clients you’re best suited to work with.

For this first offering (prices will go up in the future), the class is $219 for the Premium version with 6 weeks of e-mail support and feedback. $99 for the Basic version with no e-mail support. Visit http://www.becomebodywise.com/eclasses.htm to sign up and please post here or email me (kelly at becomebodywise.com) with any questions.

Big News for Would-Be Ghostwriters, Coauthors and Collaborators

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.

Get in on Ghosting: Free Write Now! Mastermind Class Wednesday, July 28

Just a reminder...if you're interested in learning more about ghostwriting, this Wednesday, July 28, I will be appearing at the Write Now! Mastermind Class to talk about ghosting--and making money doing it. If you want to know how ghostwriting works, what’s in it for you, and whether it's a good fit for your freelance career, please visit http://www.writenowmastermind.com/ and sign up for the call. And stay tuned for a big announcement of my own in a similar vein...

Getting Started as a Ghostwriter

So, you've got at least one book under your belt and you think you'd like to start ghostwriting. That’s great, but now you need what every writer who works for money needs—clients.

Clients for ghosting and collaborating range from book publishers, literary agents, book packagers, corporations, associations, subject matter experts, and people who just want to write books. In this post, I'll focus on the most “basic” of ghostwriting client, the people I call "Everyday Joes" (or Janes), or EJs.

EJs run the gamut from dream clients to time-sucking remoras. The typical EJ believes his book will be a bestseller. That’s great! What isn’t is when he expects you to be paid when it becomes a bestseller. Be very afraid when you hear phrases like “Everyone says I should write a book,” “No one would believe the story of my life,” and “I’ve got the makings of a bestseller right here” (pointing at his head).

If you're going to work as a ghostwriter, you should care less about your client's story and more about his budget. EJs must have cash to be viable clients. And most don’t. But some do, and will pay (even pay well) to get their words in print.

So how do you find EJs? Take a broad approach to marketing yourself and let everyone know you're a ghostwriter as well as a freelancer. (You do need to have published at least one book on your own to get into the biz.) Your website or blog, your email signature, your bionote on the articles you write, word of mouth, and social media can all help you find clients. Checking and responding to advertisements on craigslist.org and other sites may also turn into work, and teaching classes or leading workshops on book publishing can also raise your profile and help you find ghostwriting clients.

Want to know more about ghostwriting? On July 28, I will be appearing at the Write Now! Mastermind Class to talk about Ghostwriting. If you’re interested in hearing about how ghostwriting works, what’s in it for you, and how you can earn money as a ghostwriter, please visit http://www.writenowmastermind.com/ and sign up for the call. It will be well worth your time!

Can *You* Disappear? (Determining your Ghostwriting Potential)

I didn’t get into ghostwriting and coauthoring until about six years ago, after I’d published both nonfiction and fiction books. Now ghosting and collaborating bring in the lion’s share of my income, but I can tell you that not every writer can ghost. It’s not a question of writing skills per se, but of personality.

To succeed as a ghostwriter (or even a coauthor), you must have:

• The ability to set your ego aside. My mom had one complaint about my first coauthored book, (Small Changes, Big results: A 12-Week Action Plan to a Better Life). “Your name is too small on the cover!” she said. "It should be larger!" I had to explain that I had no say in the cover design, and that I was happy my name even made it on there. But as a ghost, it’s not about you. It’s about your client and what your client wants. If you can’t set your own ego aside, your career will be short-lived.

• Organizational skills. When you’re ghostwriting, you must stay on top of your own research, organize information you receive from your client, track various drafts (in progress or approved), and manage a schedule that may be ever-changing depending on your client’s needs. If your desk typically looks like a bomb went off, ghosting may not be a good fit for you.

• Creativity. Ghostwriting isn’t as simple as filling in an outline or connecting the dots. If you’re writing a memoir, a novel, or “creative nonfiction,” you’ll need a narrative arc and an overall theme or message for the book. Even a relatively straightforward how-to manuscript requires an ability to organize material, structure the overall manuscript (unless your client has determined this already), and to identify and maintain your client’s voice—in addition to writing 50,000 to 75,000 words or more. And that takes creative skills.

• Stress management skills. If you work for what I call a “PIA” client (think Pain In the A…) occasionally, your contact with the person is limited. But when you ghost or collaborate, you’re stuck with that person for months. Some clients will decide on a plan of action, then follow it to the letter. (I love those people!) Others will second-guess their decisions, change the scope of the book as you’re nearly completion, or need continual handholding. And that takes patience, deep breathing, goblets of pinot grigio, you name it.

• Knowledge of the publishing industry. Have you published your own books? Written and sold book proposals? Worked with an agent? Do you know the difference between traditional publishing, self-publishing, and print-on-demand, and what the advantages and drawbacks are? The more experience you have with books, the more valuable you are to a client, and the more potential you have as a ghostwriter.

Want to learn more about the field of ghostwriting? Sign up for a free hour-long Mastermind tele-class hosted by Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander on July 28, 2010 at http://www.writenowmastermind.com/

5 More Reasons to Ghostwrite

Last post, I talked about how ghostwriting eliminates the need to promote and sell a book after it’s published—that’s the client’s job. That huge time savings (and potential money-making factor) is, in my opinion, the biggest advantage to ghostwriting but there are other advantages as well:

• Bigger advances. If your client is a subject matter expert or well-known person, it’s likely you’ll get a bigger advance (even if you only get a portion of it) than for a book under your own name. Today publishing is driven all by platform—to get a book contract, you’ll need platform, and the bigger, the better. As a fulltime freelancer, chances are your platform isn’t too big, but as a ghost you don’t have to worry about that.

• You can write about subjects that conflict with (or at least don’t contribute to) your overall reputation as a journalist. I’m known as a health, fitness, and nutrition specialist but ghostwriting lets me tackle different subjects without “diluting” my platform. If you’re a well-known parenting writer, for example, you can still ghostwrite a raunchy bio for a former porn star and your readers (and Facebook fans) will be none the wiser.

• If a book doesn’t sell, it won’t hurt you. If you publish a book under your name that sells poorly, that may hurt your chances of selling another book in the future--or at least your chances of getting a decent advance. (Unfortunately I’ve experienced this firsthand.) But with a ghosted book, poor sales figures aren’t your problem.

• You can stretch yourself as a writer. Last year I worked on a memoir for a client that was a far cry from the “how-to” service journalism I typically do. I had to develop a narrative arc, employ telling characterization and dialogue, demonstrate conflict, and develop symbols and an overall theme for the book. Revisiting these skills (I’m a published novelist) strengthened not only my client’s book but my current writing ability as well.

• You can step outside yourself. As a freelancer, you're usually writing in your own voice. It comes naturally. When you ghostwrite, you have information to convey—whether it’s a compelling life story or a new technique to beat stress—and you have to convey it in someone else's words and someone else's voice. That forces you out of your usual writing style, and makes work that may have become rote much more challenging—and fulfilling.

How about it? Let me hear from the ghostwriters out there…what do you find fulfilling about ghostwriting?

Why Invisible Authors Can Make More Money

Writers Digest publisher Jane Friedman recently tweeted an eye-catching stat from Book Expo America, or BEA. According to a recent Publishers Weekly article, 7 percent of traditionally-published books generate 87 percent of book sales, and 93 percent of all published books sold less than 1,000 copies.

For a midlist author like me, that’s pretty scary. But here’s the thing—despite sales projections, marketing plans, big-name endorsements, a kick-butt social media presence, thousands of Facebook fans and Twitter followers, and oh yeah, a compelling book, you simply don’t know how many copies of a book you’ll sell. That’s why as an author, you should assume the advance (the money you’re paid upfront to write the book) is the only money you’re going to see for the book.

The vast majority of books (more than 80 percent) fail to “earn out,” or pay royalties. But you still want your book to sell, right? You want royalties. You want big sales. Let's admit it, you want a bestseller. So you spend months both before and after it’s published securing blurbs, getting reviews, writing articles, blogging, speaking, printing up postcards, visiting bookstores, you name it…all to help sell your book. And it may pay off—or it may not.

Because there's an essential conundrum every book author faces:

1. To sell your book, you must commit substantial time to marketing it.

2. The time you spend marketing will not make you money (unless you eventually earn out and receive royalties), forcing you to either work more to make up the difference in lost time and income or take a cut in what you're making (which most of us freelancers can't afford to do) … or both.

That's why I started ghostwriting and collaborating on books as opposed to only writing my own. As a ghostwriter or coauthor, when the book is done, I'm done. I’m not “stuck” spending my limited, precious time promoting the book and going broke in the meantime--that's my client or coauthor's responsibility.

And ghostwriting can be lucrative, even while the average advances given by traditional publishers stagnate and fall. Here’s what I've made on some recent ghosting and coauthoring projects:

• $20,000 for a 60,000-word book for a nonprofit organization.

• $15,000 for a 40,000-word book for a book packager (the author already had 14,000 words written).

• $12,000 for a 55,000-word book; while this was a “ghost” project, I actually worked more as a developmental editor as much of the book was already written but needed expanding, editing, and rewriting for voice and flow.

• $25,000 for an 80,000-word manuscript for an expert who had a contract with a major publisher; my client wrote one-third of the manuscript while I wrote the rest of it and edited her section for voice and consistency.

These numbers aren't huge advances, true. But I'm being paid for the writing of the book, not its promotion, and that more than makes it worthwhile.

What about you? Are you ghosting, or considering it? What do you want to know about this niche?

In future posts, I’ll report more on the lucrative field of ghostwriting, how to break in, and how to determine whether it’s right for you. In the meantime, for an insider’s look at ghosting, check out http://ghostwritingrevealed.blogspot.com/, an excellent blog hosted by two smart, successful ghostwriters.