Ghostwriters and the 8 Ghosts

Qurat Malik
3 min readFeb 28, 2024

--

In this article, we will discuss the meaning and role of a ghostwriter along with the challenges of this career.

Photo by Daniel Lincoln on Unsplash

Who is a Ghostwriter

If we put the word ghostwriter in quite simple terms it is to write for someone else… Without taking any credit for it.

What Form of Content a Ghostwriter Writes

It can be any sort of content like books, articles, blogs, social media posts, Emails, etc. Whatever form of writing it is if you are doing it for someone else that means you are ghostwriting for that person.

Why do People Hire Ghostwriters

From startups to celebrities… anyone can hire a ghostwriter. It is voicing your experiences and stories to keep you digitally alive and active. A ghostwriter who is an expert in crafting narratives can make you a credible figure in your entire social circle.

So, adding a ghostwriter to your team is like adding topping to your well-baked pizza. 😋

Challenges of Ghost Writers

1-No Public Recognition

🔸You can not use your name or identity on anything you write. This is the basic challenge that you cannot publicly own any piece of writing no matter how proud you feel for that.

🔹 The prime focus of ghostwriting is to deliver satisfactory content to its client. Having a respectful place in the content industry is no less satisfactory than individual recognition.

2-Maintaining Various Tones

🔸It is a challenging task to adopt the tone and voice of the person you are working with. In this case, you have to compromise your innovative voice. Your written copy should be a mirror of that person.

🔹 Study the previous work of the client and try to align it with his voice. Communicate each and everything. Always be ready for any type of feedback. Constructively use feedback and criticism.

3-Lack of Personal Creative Freedom

🔸Losing personal charm and spark is quite scary when you are on the creating end. Ghostwriters have very limited creative freedom. It is their prime focus to comply with the guidelines and preferences of the client.

🔹To meet this challenge you have to follow the given parameters of your client. Within those parameters, you can find vast canvases to show your creative self. As long as a client’s vision and perspective are not blurred you can go with your style.

4-Meeting Deadlines

🔸 Ghostwriters have to meet tight deadlines. The case becomes more challenging when you have to work for a client who wants rapid growth.

🔹To confront this ghost, first remember that nothing can be gained without following discipline. To meet tight deadlines, you have to communicate a realistic timeline with the client.

Always deliver early and more than promised.

5-Confidentiality

🔸Maintaining confidentiality is a basic task. It is the basic ethical and professional duty of a ghostwriter to never disclose the nature of the work.

🔹To maintain confidentiality …. It is important to strictly adhere to non-disclosure agreements. Always make the boundaries clear on both ends.

6-Intensive Research

🔸It is not easy to walk in someone else’s shoes with a certain grace and never lose poise. A ghostwriter has to do the same daily, especially working in a different niche. As a ghostwriter, you cannot just get away with random content. Revision requests are always on the table.

🔹To beat this obstacle, a ghostwriter has to push the boundaries. Without thorough research, a ghostwriter can never create resonating content. Revision requests are always on the table to be more accurate.

7-Multiple Projects

🔸A ghostwriter has to handle multiple projects at the same time. This calls for a constant focus on maintaining a unique voice for each client. You cannot pull off your role as an expert ghostwriter if you do not work responsibly.

🔹As a ghostwriter, if you make a proper strategy on how to do research and then implement it… rest will streamline automatically. A ghostwriter should use time management techniques to keep the work flowing.

8-Legal Issues

🔸Ownership rights and payment terms are no less consuming. If you do not make legal matters transparent then you are bound to suffer.

🔹Keep things legally intact. Seeking proper legal consultation can help to avoid ambiguities.

Takeaways

It is a Hercules task to meet these challenges, but as long as proper communication, professionalism, and adaptability are there…. success is bound to serve you.

--

--

Qurat Malik

As a wordsmith I craft narratives that breath life into ideas. Join me on the journey of imagination and discovery. ✍️ #ContentCreator #Storyteller"