What are some myths and truths about ghost writing?
Myth #1: Ghostwriters are never given creditYes, if you work for a celebrity or "big name," you'll probably never be acknowledged as the writer -- you may even have to sign a non-disclosure agreement that prevents you from telling anyone about your involvement. But many book authors who use ghosts do mention or recognize their ghostwriters in the book's acknowledgements, even if it's only for "assisting" in the book's creation.Myth #2: Ghostwriters don't make any money.Wrong! Sure, Craigslist is full of ads looking for ghostwriters who'll work for some nebulous promise of "a share of the royalties" -- most clients pay ghostwriters fairly. You should steer clear of any ad that ask you to work for free, or for the hope of pay somewhere down the line. Look for clients (think business owners, professionals, and companies) who understand that ghostwriting is a skill deserving of pay.Rates typically start in the $20 per hour range, but experienced ghostwriters charge $65-75 and up, or calculate project fees based on hourly rates. Freelancer Erik Sherman, who has ghosted a book, articles, op-eds and blog posts, conducted a survey of full time ghostwriters in 2011 that revealed they averaged around $60,000 a year.Myth #3: Ghostwriters only write books.While that's the best known gig, ghostwriters also write articles, speeches, blog posts, corporate pieces, and even tweets for clients. You don't have to have book-writing experience to be a ghostwriter.Myth #4: Ghostwriting takes special skills.This one does have some truth to it -- you have to start with solid writing skills. You also have to be able to listen to what your clients want, draw relevant information out of them and then write it in a style and voice that might be different from your own. Ghostwriters who can do that are in high demand.Source: The Writer, May 2013, Kelley James-Enger