How to Become a Professional Ghost Writer

A Survival Guide

By Jonathan Thompson

Chapter 4: Portfolio Maintenance

A healthy portfolio is essential for getting new clients. You need to be able to say, “I wrote this for this publication. Look at how great it is.” In this way, each job can help you get more work.

For ghostwriters, however, this process isn't so neat. That little NDA that so thoroughly protects your client's anonymity also puts you behind the same nameless, faceless wall. You don't get to take credit for that work. It will never be on your portfolio. When fishing for more clients, the ghostwriter can't point to previous work to show their abilities.

So, how can you build a thriving business and an impressive portfolio on which to construct that career?

Letters of Recommendation

While you may not be able to directly put your client's name on your resume or tuck your work into your portfolio, you might find a few workarounds.

One of these that has worked well for me in the past is the letter of recommendation. Within that letter, the client simply has to talk about how awesome you are, the high quality of your work and your impeccable work ethic. It's up to them how much detail they divulge as to the nature of your professional relationship.

This little letter accomplishes several things: First, it provides some clear testimony as to your abilities. Second, it attaches your name and reputation to that of the client. For the potential client reading the letter, this could just be impressive enough for them to ignore the glaring hole in your portfolio.

Creative Titles

Depending on the genre in which you're working, you may be able to make clever use of various titles and terms to get your name on the project without disrupting the terms of your contract. Here are a few examples:

As Told To – Generally used on memoirs, this simple term tells the reader that the author (your client) worked through someone else (you) to get the story on paper. Although this is pretty much a blatant admission of ghostwriting, it allows the client to keep their status as the ultimate source. Occasionally, this is also used for articles wherein the client's words are framed as though it was an interview conducted by the writer. Working with athletes, I've used this setup many times to pen their ideas while getting my own name attached to the piece.
Edited By – One could argue that ghostwriting is really a form of editing. Just a really intensive, micromanaged form. And, indeed, many ghostwriters are also editors. Receiving editorial credit is a convenient way for you to increase your reputation while not detracting from the client. This can work in numerous genres; I've even had my name listed as an editor on blogs for which I regularly provided ghostwritten content.
And – I'll just be frank: You won't often get this type of credit. In this situation, the piece would be written by Client and You. Granted, this doesn't plainly state just what percentage of the work was done by which party, but it puts you on equal ground with the client – which is something that many clients will be unwilling to do.

Don't Neglect Bylined Work

A major mistake that many ghostwriters make is that they only work as ghostwriters. Don't do that. If you spend all of your time ghostwriting, you are essentially devoting yourself toward advancing the brand of your clients. This doesn't do you any favors.

Here's a little secret: The big publishing industry is filled with ghostwriters. Lots of best-selling authors use them. But how do these writers find work? They are established in their own right. Very often the ghostwriters are best-sellers themselves.

While most of us will never operate at this elite level, the principle still applies. Build your own reputation with plenty of bylined work that fills up your portfolio and use that to get your ghostwriting gigs.

Focusing your energy this way doesn't just help you get work. It also helps you get more enjoyable work. Whereas ghostwriting puts you firmly under the creative control of the client, writing under your own name grants you a much greater degree of freedom – giving you the ability to write what you want and how you want.

Think of it as a type of mental health insurance.

Once you have that beautiful and impressively stuffed portfolio though, you have to find some clients and get the work.

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