Become A Ghostwriter: Issue 52 of Fab Freelance Writing Ezine

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Become A Ghostwriter: Issue 52 of Fab Freelance Writing Ezine

Tuesday, October 9th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

In this week’s issue, we discuss the art of the ghostwriter. Approached the right way, ghostwriting can be a lucrative part of your freelance writing career. Discover what ghostwriting involves, and how to get started.

Fab Freelance Writing Ezine is now published in beautiful PDF every week. Subscribe and have the download link to the PDF of Fab Freelance Writing Ezine delivered free to your Inbox. In addition to the subscriber bonus, you receive bonus issues, which are for subscribers only.

Includes:

* Editorial: Write a book

* Article: How to Get Started As a Ghostwriter

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** You Can Become A Web Publisher Too: Become A Web Mogul **

For the past year, I’ve been receiving messages from writers who want to create their own Web sites. They’ve heard how much money there is in Web publishing, and want a piece of the action.

So, I’ve written a new ebook, “Super-Fast Money-Making Web Sites For Writers: Join The Web-Publishing Bonanza” -
www.abwebconsulting.com/web_sites/

The ebook (and its fabulous bonus ebook) outlines step by step, with images, how to create Web MONEY-MAKING sites fast. What could YOU do with an extra $300 a day?
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[Editorial] New Write A Book membership site

What a week! I’ve been snowed under, trying to keep up with my copywriting clients, as well as developing a new membership site for authors.

Look for an announcement of the new site - Writing Freelance Star: Write A Book at writingfreelancestar.com/ , in a couple of weeks. (The site isn’t live yet.)

The site is for nonfiction authors, as well as novelists. So if you’re writing a book (or have always wanted to write one), the site will take you from plot (or book proposal, for nonfiction authors) to print. We’ll cover not only the basics of getting your book written, but also getting an agent, publishing contracts, and working with editors.

In a year, we’ll get your book written and we hope - sold. I’ll be writing along with you, working on a book too.

Just some of what we’ll cover:

* Writing your book - finding saleable ideas, research, outlining (or not outlining, if you’re a seat of the pants style writer)
* Making publishing contacts
* Writing fiction/ nonfiction proposals
* Getting an agent
* Writing query letters
* Building a platform to make you more appealing to publishers
* Book contracts

And much more.

In the course of my career I’ve written both fiction and nonfiction, and I wish I’d known what I know now when I started out. On the Writing Freelance Star: Write A Book site, I’ll be sharing my knowledge of the book publishing trade and helping you to avoid the pitfalls. You’ll have a book coach.

Final days in its present form: Seven Days Copywriting Course will soon become a membership site

Here’s a heads up for you if you’re an aspiring copywriter. I’ve been revising the “Seven Days To Copywriting Success” material, which will soon be relaunching as a membership site. So the course will no longer be available in its current format, as an ebook plus coaching. If you’ve been putting off purchasing the ebook, I advise a purchase, asap.

Visit the copywriting page at abmagic.com/Copywriting/copywriting.html

Have a great writing week; see you on the blogs.

Affectionately,

Angela

P.S. This week’s article on ghostwriting appeared in an early issue of the ezine, and I’ve had lots of questions about how you get ghostwriting gigs writing books for major publishing houses since then.

The easiest way is to be a published author. Once you’ve written a book, you’ll find that both your agent and publisher will approach you with ghostwriting offers. You’ll get the chance to write books for people like celebrities and business people, who have no writing skills. Ghostwriting offers are one of the perks of being a published author.

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** Imagine… $1,000 A Week For Just Ten Hours **

You can get paid to blog. The current rate for experienced bloggers is around $1,000 to $1500 a week for from two to five posts a day - VERY nice writing income.

Find out how to blog with the blogging best-seller “Blogging For Dollars: How to become a career blogger — in your PJs, if you want”. It’s my complete new ebook package, with free coaching/ consultations as well.

Find out more at: www.abmagic.com/Blog/blogging.html

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** Get Copywriting Clients In Seven Days **

My ebook/ course “Seven Days To Easy Money: Copywriting Success” has been taking the mystery out of copywriting for new copywriters for five years.

I love it when writers call me and say “I got a client!” or “I’m booked solid for three months” - I expect that, so it’s very satisfying.

The fact is - if you can write copy, you can write your own ticket. You WILL get clients, you WILL make as much money as you want to make. Copywriting is a necessity for every business. In just a week, your life can change.

“Seven Days To Easy Money: Copywriting Success” is your key a great lifestyle and security for you and your family:

abmagic.com/Copywriting/copywriting.html

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* Article: How to Get Started As a Ghostwriter

A ghostwriter writes for other people. “Ghosting” is fun and lucrative. The only drawback is that you don’t get your name on your work, except in very rare instances, when an “as told to” credit is given. A ghostwriter writes articles, books, speeches, and resumes. Ghostwriters who write books earn around $10,000 to $50,000 per book.

It’s easy to find ghostwriting work, and once you get several clients, people tend to pass your name around, so that you don’t have to go looking for work.

Ghostwriting articles, speeches and books is a form of copywriting, and you’ll get most of your work from business people. The easiest way to get started is to let business people know that you’re available to ghostwrite books and other material. Keep an eye on your local newspaper. Whenever you see a business person being interviewed, send them him or her a letter, or make a phone call, to let him or her know that you are available to ghostwrite for them.

In your letter, include sentences like: “If you have no need of my services at the moment, please feel free to pass my name on to others. If you’d like to chat, I’m available on_________” Your aim is to make yourself sound friendly, approachable, and business-like. You don’t have to write a long letter. Just a short note is fine, if you have a website include your URL. If you don’t have a site, say that you would be happy to send some writing samples.

You can also get ghostwriting work from outsourcing companies like elance.com. Unfortunately the people who use the outsourcing sites tend to want bargain basement rates.

So, if you visit outsourcing sites, be careful not to under-price your work. This is because the prices you charge say a lot about you, and if you get into a rut working for low-paying clients, you won’t have the time or energy to look far higher paying clients. This leads to burn out.

The easiest way to get ghostwriting gigs is to have your own Web site, and offer ghostwriting services there. Although you’ll need to promote your site so that people can find it, your Web site is your 24 x 7 salesperson for your ghostwriting services business.

Tip: write a book for a major publishing house. Then you’ll be an established author and publishers will offer you VERY lucrative ghostwriting gigs.

Ghostwriting Tips

Ghostwriting has pitfalls for the inexperienced. Here are some tips:

* Always have an agreement. Never write ANYTHING without an agreement. While few people are dishonest, many people have unreliable memories. If you are new to ghostwriting books, get a lawyer to draft your first agreement. Any project with a fee over $10,000 requires a professionally drawn contract;

* Insist on access to the person you’re writing for. If your client is a celebrity or business person, getting access to get the information you need can be difficult. Include sentences in your agreement to cover access, such as: “I need information to write for you. This means that I will need at least X hours of your time to complete this project. You understand that failure to grant this access means termination of this agreement. Any retainer and fees already paid are non-refundable”;

* Don’t make promises that you can’t keep. The publishing industry is a mystery to outsiders. Don’t promise that someone’s memoir will definitely be published by a major publisher. Unless you’ve been hired to ghostwrite the memoirs BY the publisher, you have no control over publication. You can of course offer to send pitch letters to publishers (make sure you get paid for this) but don’t promise publication;

* Don’t get shoved into unworkable time lines. To outsiders, writing seems much, much easier than it is. Bland statements like “This will be easy for you, I’d write it myself but I don’t have the time,” should start ringing alarm bells. Stand firm on a deadline that YOU know you can meet, or walk away;

* In the same vein, remember that you’re a professional - you know writing, the client doesn’t. If your client is famous, don’t be intimidated. You know what you need from the client to do a good job: make sure you get it.

So there you have it - your introduction to the wonderful world of ghostwriting. Some writers make ghostwriting a complete career, others make it a highly-paid sideline. Many people need ghostwriters, and after you’ve done a job or two, demand for your services will grow.

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** New Writing Opportunity “Beat Your Paycheck! Web Writing SECRETS” **

“How Make More Money With Web Writing Than You Ever Will With A Paycheck… In A Month Or Less”

Even if you’re a new writer, you can make enough money from Web writing to leave your day job - fast.

As a writing teacher, I work with new writers every day. Many would love to leave their day job, but they don’t yet have the skills to write copy for corporate clients, or for national magazines. Writing in your home office seems like a dream. Many promising writers give up writing because their lives are too busy - with a full-time job and family, they’re too tired to write.

If this describes YOU, I’ve found a solution. I asked a new writer who’s making great money writing for the Web to share his secrets. He’s happy to do so. Read my new ebook:

abmagic.com/Beat-Paycheck/index.html

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** Write It Once And Sell It Forever - **

Get A Constant Flow Of Cash By Writing And Selling Ebooks… It’s Much, Much Easier Than You Think

Ebooks are BIG online. Most ebooks contain from five to 100 pages, and sell anywhere from $10 to $100 dollars, and over, depending on the information. Clever writers are realizing that there’s gold in ebooks, and that they’re well-placed to mine that gold…

Discover how you can self-publish online, and make a great income, writing and selling ebooks with “Write and Sell an eBook: Every Writer’s Quick-Action Guide To Writing Ebooks”:

abmagic.com/ebooks/write-ebooks.html

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** Write More, Sell More, And Give Up Your Day Job **

To create a lucrative writing career, you have to write a lot. It’s a simple equation, write more, sell more - equals more money.

Many writers never manage to ditch their day jobs because they don’t know how to write fast, and how to have fun while they’re doing it. Yes, it’s possible to write a lot, and to have a lot of fun. And to make lots of lovely cash by writing.

Discover how you can write more, and ditch your day job with my ebook “”Top 70 Writing Tips To Help You To Write More” -

abmagic.com/Write-More/write-more.html

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** ANGELA’S BLOGS AND ARCHIVES **

Fab Freelance Writing Blog: fabfreelancewriting.com/blog/

Fab Web Writer: www.fabwebwriter.com/

Top Ebook Writer: www.topebookwriter.com/

Archives: www.fabwritersezine.com/

Angela Booth’s Writing Blog: copywriter.typepad.com/

The Creativity Factory (copywriting and search marketing): www.angelabooth.com/wp/

Seven Days Copywriting: sevendayscopywriting.com/

Great money-making information for writers in the old archives
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