It’s spooky how life works sometimes: my dad’s death led me to becoming a ghostwriter. After he died in 2017, I was spurred into action by the raw reminder that life really is just temporary, and I decided to finally leave my English teaching career to start my own editorial business. Now, nearly seven years later, I am still editing and ghostwriting other authors’ books, as well as writing my own novels. Three of my psychological thrillers have been published, so far, with Bloodhound Books.
So why do I continue to ghostwrite novels now that I am a published author in my own right? There are many reasons why I still choose to immerse myself in a variety of bookish projects and there are, of course, factors that aren’t as favourable. But for me, the positives far outweigh the negatives.
However, ghostwriting can become a dispiriting career if you don’t investigate every potentially scary pitfall beforehand. Let’s consider 5 cons and 5 pros of being a ghostwriter.
Pros:
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Enhanced Creativity
I mainly ghostwrite crime fiction novels now, but I’ve also written romance books in the past. Ghostwriting in a variety of genres allows you to expand the boundaries of your creativity. Writing different books for different clients offers you a chance to tackle storytelling challenges, which in turn can make you a stronger author. This is beneficial for your ghostwriting clients as well as any future books you write under your own name (or pen name).
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Expanded Portfolio
Each ghostwritten novel adds another piece of evidence to your portfolio, whether across multiple genres or for similar types of stories. Diversity will showcase your versatility as a writer whereas similarity will highlight your knowledge of – and expertise in – a particular genre/subgenre. Both are desirable for clients.
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Financial Stability
Ghostwriting novels can provide a steady income stream, with clients often willing to pay well for quality work. Although it does take time to build a reputation for delivering captivating stories initially, once you’ve created a case file of writing samples showcasing what you’re capable of, gained experience of working with a collection of clients, and created networking opportunities for yourself, you can charge higher fees. I’ve found that taking a deposit for every project as well as offering payment plans for the balance is an effective strategy for creating financial security.
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Professional Growth
Working with diverse clients exposes you to different styles, perspectives and preferences. As a ghostwriter, you may work with individual clients or a team of people, especially if you are ghostwriting for a publishing company. This collaborative process (which can be as fraught as it is fun) fosters continuous learning and professional growth, sharpening your skills as a storyteller and communicator.
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Anonymity
Ghostwriting novels offers the freedom to work without of the pressure of public recognition. Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are usually signed by both parties to ensure your anonymity and that all rights are owned by the client. You can immerse yourself in the art of writing without the burden of personal branding, focusing solely on crafting compelling narratives.
Cons:
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Lack of Recognition
While ghostwriting does remove the personal pressure of book sales and rankings and reviews, the flip side is that you remain uncredited. Despite pouring your precious time and energy into creating captivating novels, you won’t receive public recognition for your work. This is especially tough if the book becomes a bestseller as you can’t tell anyone that you wrote it, or include it in your professional portfolio if you’ve signed an NDA. Celebrating the achievement privately can feel empty.
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Limited Control
As a ghostwriter, you’re always bound by the vision and preferences of your clients. After all, they’re paying you to write the book that they want you to write, even if certain elements of the story do not align with your preferences and/or genre expectations. Although you can offer your creative and professional input, too many conflicting opinions may jeopardise a project.
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Ethical Dilemmas
Ghostwriting may raise ethical concerns, especially if you’re writing stories that clash with your personal values or beliefs. As mentioned previously, balancing artistic integrity with client requirements can be challenging at times. Therefore, ensure you have all the information you need before agreeing to undertake the work, and if you feel it’s not a good fit, don’t be afraid to decline a project.
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Portfolio Limitations
As ghostwriting involves writing for others, it can limit the visibility of your portfolio. This can make it challenging to attract potential new clients or publishers. Therefore, creating a bank of original writing samples or directing possible clients to check out any published books you already have are effective ways to prove your writing capabilities.
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Emotional Disconnect
Writing novels anonymously can sometimes lead to a lack of attachment to the work. Without the sense of ownership that comes with having your name on the cover, it may be more difficult to invest yourself in the storytelling process. Although this isn’t impossible to overcome, writing can become a slog if it feels too prescriptive or if you are writing outside of a genre you enjoy. To combat this, be selective about the projects you take on, if you can, to ensure you always feel that delicious shiver of writerly enthusiasm.
If you have any questions about ghostwriting, feel free to contact me – I’m always happy to hear from fellow crime authors!
If you’ve found 5 cons and 5 pros of being a ghostwriter helpful, check out these related posts:
Which POV Makes the Most Impact in Crime Fiction Novels?
How to Plan and Write More Than One Crime Novel a Year Without Burning Out
