5 Mistakes New Ghostwriters Make (And How I Avoid Them)

How to avoid the pitfalls and problems that new ghost writers often face? Find out in this 2 min read.

You've heard of ghostwriting, right?

It’s when you summon a ghost to write your mid-term papers.

Hahaha. No, I’m kidding.

It's when someone writes content for someone else, but lets them take all the credit as the author.

It sounds like a sweet deal, doesn't it?

You get to write about different topics, work with different clients, and earn good money.

But you also get to stay behind the scenes, without having to deal with fame, criticism, or marketing.

You just write and get paid.

What's not to love?

Well, as a ghostwriter myself, I can tell you that it's not all sunshine and rainbows.

Ghostwriting can be a rewarding and challenging career, but it also comes with its own pitfalls and problems.

And if you're new to ghostwriting, you might make some mistakes that could cost you your reputation, your clients, or your income.

I know this because I've been there.

I've made some of these mistakes myself when I started out as a ghostwriter.

But I've also learned from them and improved my skills and practices over time.

I now feel comfortable to share with you some of the most common mistakes that new ghostwriters make, and how I avoid them.

Mistake #1: Not Understanding Your Client's Voice

One of the most important skills of a ghostwriter is being able to mimic your client's voice.

Your client's voice is the way they express themselves through words.

It's their tone, their style, their personality. It's what makes their content unique and recognizable.

But as a new ghostwriter, you might not know how to capture your client's voice.

You might write in your own voice, or in a generic voice that doesn't match your client's brand.

This can make your content sound bland, inconsistent, or unauthentic. And that could result in your client being unhappy or dissatisfied with your work.

How I avoid it:

• I spend time getting to know my client and their voice before I start writing for them.

• I interview them, read their previous content, find their influences, and ask for feedback.

• I try to match their word choice, sentence structure, punctuation, humor, and emotion as much as possible.

• But I also add some of my own flair and creativity to make the content engaging and original.

I find a balance between staying true to their voice and adding my own touch.

Mistake #2: Not doing enough research

Another important skill of a ghostwriter is being able to do research.

Research is essential for writing informative and credible content that reflects your client's expertise and authority.

But as a new ghostwriter, you might not do enough research for your topic.

You might rely on your own knowledge or assumptions, or use unreliable or outdated sources.

This can make your content inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading.

And that can make your client lose trust or credibility with their audience.

How I avoid it:

• I do thorough research for every topic that I write about for my clients.

• I use reputable and relevant sources, such as books, articles, podcasts, videos, or experts.

• I also use tools like Grammarly to check my facts and citations for accuracy and consistency.

• I also verify any information that I get from my clients or their network, especially if it's personal or sensitive.

• I don't make any claims or statements that I can't back up with evidence or examples.

I also acknowledge any limitations or uncertainties in my research and invite feedback or corrections from my clients.

Mistake #3: Not communicating with your client

Another important skill of a ghostwriter is being able to communicate with your client.

Communication is vital for establishing a good relationship and a smooth workflow with your client.

But as a new ghostwriter, you might not communicate enough with your client.

1. You might not ask enough questions, clarify expectations, set deadlines, or update progress.

2. You might also not listen to their feedback, suggestions, or concerns.

This can make your client feel confused, frustrated, or ignored.

And that can make your client unhappy or dissatisfied with your work.

How I avoid it:

I communicate regularly and clearly with my client throughout the project.

• I use tools like Google Docs, Slack, Zoom, or email to communicate with them.

• I ask them about their goals, their audience, their tone, their format, and their budget.

• I also ask them for any materials or information that they want me to use or include in their content.

• I also update them on my progress, send them drafts for review, and ask for feedback.

• I also listen to their feedback, suggestions, and concerns, and make changes accordingly.

• I also respect their time and privacy, and don't bother them unnecessarily.

Lastly, I thank them for their trust and cooperation, and ask for testimonials or referrals if they are happy with my work.

Mistake #4: Not editing your work

Another important skill of a ghostwriter is being able to edit your work.

Editing is essential for improving the quality and readability of your content.

But as a new ghostwriter, you might not edit your work enough.

1. You might overlook spelling, grammar, punctuation, or formatting errors.

2. You might also not check for consistency, clarity, flow, or structure.

3. You might also not proofread your work before sending it to your client.

This can make your content look sloppy, unprofessional, or confusing.

And that can make your client lose trust or credibility with their audience.

How I avoid it:

I edit my work carefully and thoroughly before sending it to my client.

• I use tools like Grammarly, Hemingway, or ProWritingAid to check and correct any errors or issues in my writing.

• I also use tools like Copyscape or Plagiarism Checker to check and avoid any plagiarism or duplication in my writing.

• I also read my work aloud, backwards, or in a different font to catch any mistakes that I might have missed.

• I also ask someone else to read my work and give me feedback or suggestions for improvement.

• I also follow any guidelines or instructions that my client has given me for formatting or style.

Mistake #5: Not valuing your work

Another important skill of a ghostwriter is being able to value your work.

Valuing your work means charging what you're worth, setting boundaries, and protecting your rights.

But as a new ghostwriter, you might not value your work enough.

1. You might charge too little, work too much, or give away too much.

2. You might also not have a contract, an invoice, or a portfolio.

3. You might also not market yourself, network with others, or seek new opportunities.

This can make you feel underpaid, overworked, or exploited.

And that can make you lose motivation, confidence, or passion for your work.

How I avoid it:

• I value my work highly and confidently as a ghostwriter.

• I charge what I'm worth, based on my skills, experience, and quality.

• I also negotiate with my clients, ask for deposits, and raise my rates periodically.

• I set boundaries with my clients, such as working hours, revisions, and communication.

• I market myself as a ghostwriter, network with other writers and clients, and seek new opportunities to grow and learn.

These are some of the mistakes that new ghostwriters make, and how I avoid them.

By avoiding these mistakes, I've been able to build a successful and satisfying career as a ghostwriter.

So far,

• I've been able to write content for different clients in different niches and genres.

• I've been able to write content that reflects their voice and message.

• I've been able to write content that helps them achieve their goals and reach their audience.

• And I've been able to write content that makes me happy and proud as a writer.

If you're interested in becoming a ghostwriter, or hiring one for your content needs,

Contact me today and let's talk about how we can work together!