9 Useful Truths To Know Before You Start Ghostwriting

When I started my online writing business, I thought I had it all figured out. I pulled out my creativity cap, put my name out there, and set out to help people tell their stories like a 7 dwarf, heigh‐hoing along the way. It was the perfect fit, right? I love writing and storytelling, so naturally, I wanted to bring those two passions together for people.

But oh, how naïve I was.

I knew, going in, that ghostwriting is wayyy more than just putting words on a page. There’s a science behind it. You’re essentially helping people organize their thoughts to make a page-turning story for readers to salivate over. Or, so I thought.

Yes, it’s an art, a science, a business and a balancing act. But over time, I learned the hard way what it really takes to be a successful ghostwriter. Things I wish someone told me sooner!

1. Gatekeepers vs Influencers vs Mentors

The very first thing I learned in a ghostwriting course is that you will come across gatekeepers, influencers, and mentors.

Gatekeepers are people who intentionally withhold knowledge, connections, and other valuable resources from you.

Over the years, I learned that there are two types of gatekeepers.

1 - Those who will nickel and dime you for every little thing. These are people who make you feel like it’s their way or the highway. They’re also the ones making money in a not-so-cool way by selling information that’s already free.

I could give more on this, but I’m actively trying to increase my positive-to-negative thought ratio. More on that later.

2 - Those who share what they know with the right people for the right people. They do sell their knowledge gained after a ton of experimentation, but they also make it available to you for free. You just need to put the pieces together.

Someone that comes to mind is the Trader, Ross Cameron. Now, trading isn’t my thing, but there is a lot of juicy info a marketer can learn from studying trading methods. Ross has a YouTube channel that teaches you EVERYTHING you need to know, but he also has a program that, still, teaches you everything you need to know. 

The difference is the perceived value.

You could spend hours, days, weeks, months piecing the information together yourself. It’s valuable for people who are curious, just getting started, and have a budget that could make a sugar-free diet blush.

You could also invest in his program, pay for his time, and fast track your knowledge to succeed sooner.

Note: I am by no means an affiliate. I just found a lot of the psychological knowledge taught helpful. And, I’m a sucker for a good sense of humor.

Now, influencers are people who help promote, promote, promote. 

They could steer you in the right direction, fill in knowledge gaps you didn’t know you had, and help you sell yourself (or anything else) for the right price.

They could also misguide you if the price is right. However, there’s also another factor to be aware of in this category.

Aifluencers (or AI influencers). There are companies who create an entire persona with AI to speak to their people on their behalf. It’s cost effective, but people crave connections with people (even the most socially awkward person does). 

Lastly, there are your mentors.

Mentors are people who have been around the block and back. Mentors, too, fill in knowledge gaps but they also help you test and apply the knowledge. 

They can also be gatekeeper 2 (the preferred choice ones) because they believe that your success is their success. 

My first mentor directed me to copywriting to develop my writing skills, learn marketing, and realistically apply my psychology degree (yay! I’m part of the few who use my college degree).

And eventually, I began mentoring, too. 

Which leads me to the next thing I wish I knew sooner.

2. Niche Up to Niche Down, Seriously

Ah, the rookie mistake. Trying to be everything to everyone. In the beginning, I only offered ghostwriting books, and I loved it.

But as I started learning about copywriting and marketing, I started offering social media copy and blog writing with the whole SEO she-bang. Then I began offering everything website copy to launch funnel copywriting. 

I just kept adding on. At one point, I offered 12 different writing services, including books!

I’d be lying if I said it was stressful… It was stressful AF!! Because I started saying “yes” to everything, I burned out and diluted the impact I could give clients.

“But how does doing so much make me niche down?!” I hear you ask?

Because you need to experiment.

What makes you a great business owner and entrepreneur is experimenting. BUT, and I stress this, do it one micro, baby step at a time.

Let’s look back at my old charcuterie board of offerings for an example.

When I started experimenting with copywriting, I should have wrapped up all my ghostwriting projects and focused on experimenting on website copy only.

When I began learning about launches, I should have discontinued all my web copy services and only focused on that. I could have even broken this down and just focused on writing emails or just writing sales pages.

Eventually though, I circled back to my first love, ghostwriting, and carved out a niche that blended content and copy. 

Now, I focus on emails, blogs, and books. The tighter the niche, the better the results—for my clients and for me.

3. Ghostwriting Is More Than Being Anonymous

If I had a dollar for every NDA (non-disclosure agreement) I’ve signed, I’d have seven bucks. Doesn’t seem like a lot, but by respecting my clients’ privacy and showing empathy, I’ve earned their trust and turned temporary projects into long-term partnerships.

When I started, I simply thought ghostwriting meant staying completely invisible. Don’t make any claim to any of the work you wrote and give the author all the credit. And yes, this is true. Do not put your name ANYWHERE unless the client does so to acknowledge you.

But you also have to step into someone else’s shoes. 

As a ghostwriter, your job is to do more than write. You need to deeply understand your client’s voice, their story, and their audience. That requires empathy, active listening, and the ability to put your ego aside. 

The more you can feel what your client wants to say, the better your work will be.

Also, don’t be their therapist. I learned this the hard way, too.

4. Learning Copywriting Changed the Game

When my mentor suggested I learn copywriting, I panicked. I thought I was failing as a ghostwriter.

What I didn’t realize was that copywriting would complement my ghostwriting perfectly. 

It taught me how to write with conversion in mind, how to craft actions that pop with emotion and conviction, drool-worthy headlines, and messaging that could either make an onion cry or a comedian bend over laughing. 

Do more than tell a story. Initiate and energize readers to take action.

5. Your Voice Isn’t the Star (and That’s Okay)

As I mentioned above, you don’t write for yourself, unless it’s your own blog or social post. You write for someone else. It’s obvious, but it’s also challenging to let go of your personal style, especially when first starting out.

I’ve learned to treat every project like a chameleon. 

My goal is to blend in, not stand out. 

This isn’t about my voice—it’s about capturing my client’s essence and delivering their message in a way that feels true to them.

And honestly, learning brand strategy did just that for me. More on this, too, in another post.

6. Set Boundaries, Save Your Sanity

Writing is personal. You’re also dealing with people’s stories, their businesses, and sometimes their deepest vulnerabilities. 

That’s a privilege, but it’s also a lot of pressure.

And I wish I knew sooner how to protect my sanity. While ghostwriting, my approach developed into method writing. It’s like method acting, but I’m still organizing my clients’ thoughts. THAT took a toll on my mental health and family life.

So setting boundaries would have helped me maintain professionalism without cracking. It would have kept me from feeling foreign to my family and saved me so many pints of tears. 

Reiterate clear contracts, stick to the scope, and set realistic expectations from the start.

7. It’s Okay to Evolve

You don’t have to pick one lane and stick to it forever. You’re allowed to grow, shift, and change.

When you’re starting out, it’s easy to mimic the voice and style of someone else until you find your bearings. But letting your personality come out and evolve is what helps you start.

Look at any YouTuber in their early days and compare that to where they are now. Listen to your favorite band’s first album and compare it to their last. Chances are, their style has changed over time. Even if it doesn’t seem like much, chances are there’s a slight variation.

Evolution is progress, not failure. 

8. The Right Clients Make All the Difference

I know this one is said a lot, but it’s true. Taking everyone in the beginning is like dating. You’re finding what you like and don’t like. 

Recognize qualities in people that are a must and those that are a “no-way-Jose.”

Granted, it’s not full proof. Your ideal person could have a bad day that shows their worse, and your not-so-ideal person could be putting their best foot forward.

Go with your gut. And exercise that intuition muscle. It takes time, but it’s worth it. 

9. Learning Never Stops

Ghostwriting is an incredible profession, but it’s also one that demands constant growth. Every challenge, every client, and yes, every mistake has taught me something invaluable. 

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be this: 

Enjoy the process. Every stumble is a step toward becoming the writer you’re meant to be.

Your turn
Whether you’re a writer, an entrepreneur, or someone still figuring it out, what’s the biggest lesson your career has taught you?

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