Best Careers 2009: Ghostwriter

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What do you do when you need a ghostwriter, but you can't pay until you sell your book? Are there ghostwriters that will take a % of the book sells for payment?

Lawonda of MI 6:40PM November 22, 2009

I love your response MH of CA! Any more GOOD advise?
Knowing how hard it is to break into a new career, as you stated,
obviously one has to be highly committed. Take that either way.
When I first knew I HAD to write, I was in the 4th grade. I went
into sales and did quite well until I became disabled. Waiting for
surgeries could possibly be the best thing that ever happened for
my writing career. I now have the time and I'm grateful something
good came out of this nightmare!
Thanks for listening!
Char

Char of SC 8:35PM November 08, 2009

I THINK REGARDLESS OF WHAT CAREER CHOICE SOMEONE CHOOSES THAT PERSON STILL HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE. IT IS HARDER THAN ONE MAY THINK TO BREAK INTO A CAREER, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT IS. I THINK IF SOMETHING IS WORTH TRYING THEN DO IT. WHAT CAN IT HURT? I THINK YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE COURAGE AND JUST DO IT. DON'T ALLOW ANYONE TO TELL YOU YOU CAN'T. I THINK NEGATIVE PEOPLE ARE OFTEN THE REASON WHY MANY PEOPLE DON'T FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS. PEOPLE OFTEN THINK 9 TO 5 SITUATIONS ARE BETTER. JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A "PERMANENT JOB". SAFER MAYBE, BECAUSE OF THAT PAYCHECK AT THE END OF THE WEEK. BUT I THINK IT'S A SHAME TO LET GOD GIVEN TALENTS GO TO WASTE. I SAY GO FOR IT. HAVE FAITH. JUST DO IT. AND LET YOUR STAR SHINE.

EARLINE TAYLOR of WA 2:16PM November 02, 2009

Maybe they really meant being a "ghostwriter" for the coming apocalypse.

Idon'tknowwhoiam of TX 1:14AM October 31, 2009

I agree with SR of PA. This article is ridiculous. $40K for a book that might not even get published? Yeah, in your wildest, most ludicrous dreams.
And then the author suggests you tell the person who just paid you $40,000 to try and self-publish. Nobody in the real publishing world takes self-publishing seriously and self-publishing can be very, very expensive. So this poor schmuck hires a ghostwriter, pays them $40K and then has to spend even more money to self-publish? Not to mention having to market the self-published work so that people will actually buy it. How many people buy books these days? In the end, the guy ends up losing around, oh, let's say $60K. Right. In this economy, people will totally be up for that.
The funniest part? The suggestion to call up a famous person in the area and ask if they want you to write their memoir. LMFAOOOOOOO I nearly fell out of my chair reading that. Yeah, because famous people are dying to get phone calls from civilians. They sit around their phone waiting for random people to call them.
People, please don't listen to a word of this article. Pretend you never read it. Erase it from your memory. This is the worst advice I've ever heard. Look for ghostwriting jobs on your own. Yes, they are advertised every once in a while. I've seen ads on Craigslist and a few other places. It's hard to break into, but it's possible if it's what you really want to do.
I can't believe this article was published. My God!

MH of CA 7:38PM October 30, 2009

I have retired after 40-plus years in the newspaper field. I would like to begin a new career as a writer (ghost or not). Any ideas?
Larry of Knoxville, TN

Larry Hitchcock of TN 9:03PM October 23, 2009

Yes, I would love to train under a private writing coach or samll writer's group. How can I find a good writer's group in my area of Memphis, Tennessee.

InfiniteLady of TN 11:32PM October 04, 2009

How is copywriting related to ghostwriting? Are there any similarities. I love to write but can not find work. I am a creative writer and can also write for any audience. Thanks the information.
Maxine

maxine mapp of FL 8:24AM October 01, 2009

I have the book I need the writers mind and writing skills can you or will you.
I have a true story and want a pen-name or an author?ghost writer?

Pat of DE 3:03PM September 21, 2009

I have actually approached someone with this idea because he can't write and I can. I agree with Anne, there is a huge demand for this in CA. I myself was asked to blog for a company and then they decided to go another route.
I have my own blog and I do write too.
Trevon, if you really want to write do it! I became friends with a contributing writer in our local newspaper. He told me he started out by sending letters to the Editor on local community issues. He was then asked by the Editor to join as a regular contributing writer. He writes social commentary and while his views are occasionally not popular, I believe there is a need to see both sides of every story especially on local issues.
I started writing stories to a local web magazine and after being published many times, was asked to join as a contributing writer. From there I went on to interviewing people and now am working on my first novel.
Good luck, good Journalism is difficult to find right now.

Lisa of CA 5:35PM September 16, 2009