In a 2009 US News and World Report article, Marty Nemko labeled ghostwriting one of the “best careers” for writers.
It certainly has been for me. After 25 years and nearly 140 books since ghostwriter Dick Coté counted his fellows and dubbed me #46, I can honestly say ghostwriting has been a fascinating, frustrating, educational, disconcerting, mind-blowing, fun, and (thankfully) profitable experience.
Today, with 81% of Americans longing to see their name on a book cover, ghosts are in greater demand than ever before to write for:
- Speakers
- CEOs & Entrepreneurs
- Politicians (practicing, aspiring, and retiring)
- A, B, and C-list celebrities
- Current and former warriors
- Grandparents
- Survivors of all ilk
- Lawyers
- Judges
- Doctors
- Economists
- Activists
…you get the idea.
Most of those folk—maybe 90 percent, or 225 million—have neither the felicity of expression nor talent for composition, as John Adams would say, to pen their own manuscripts. But don’t get too excited; they’re not all prospective clients.
If we extend the math to the 1% who have a fire-in-the-belly need to share their story with the world AND possess both the means and willingness to hire a professional, the market narrows down to a mere 2.25 million.
And here’s the fine point of the matter: I can only ghost three or four titles a year. That leaves 2,249,996 aspiring authors looking to pay $35-$150,000 to some other accomplished journalist, author, or editor.
Someone like, say–you.
But let’s face it: not every writer can do the job, and those who try it without knowing the ropes often sully the profession’s reputation and undermine its value with their well-intentioned-yet-misguided efforts. After all, making literary dreams come true requires the apex of all editorial skills. A ghostwriter is, at once, a creative artist, a project manager, a best friend and confidante, a therapist, an industry insider, a publishing guide, a writing-and-life coach, a mentor, and a business person. In short, ghostwriting is the simplest, most complex task a writer can undertake.
- It’s not editing, although you must know how to edit.
- It’s not reporting, although you must know how to analyze and manipulate facts.
- It’s not writing, although you must know how to beautifully craft prose.
- It’s not pretending to be someone else, although you must know how to immerse yourself in the author’s psyche.
- It’s not originating, although you must know how to create out of nothing.
- It’s not counseling, although you must know how to advise, guide, encourage, and support.
It’s merely all of the above, plus a little bit more. But for those who know what they’re doing—or are willing to spend the time figuring it out—it’s a wide-open market that pays extremely well.