What Success Means to 1 Ghostwriter

My birthday was earlier this month. My wife gave me a card that read in part, “You are doing what you love, you are really in a good place, so celebrate! Enjoy and be thankful for everything you worked so hard for!”

She was right. I have much to celebrate. For the first time in a long time, I feel like a success.

That got me thinking, What does success look like to a ghostwriter?

I spent some time researching success and ghostwriting. What I found was that it takes on many different appearances and varied meanings. Depending on the ghostwriter, the following seven reasons will vary in importance, so I’m listing them alphabetically.

Capturing the client’s voice and message. A successful ghostwriter can skillfully emulate the client’s voice, style, and unique perspective, ensuring the finished product authentically reflects their ideas and personality.

According to Alexander Lewis,  it’s important to record all client calls, then use a transcription tool. This helps the ghostwriter understand the words the client would use. 

As a former journalist who had to accurately quote people, I find it absolutely necessary to use the client’s words as much as possible. It’s the best way to guarantee the story sounds like the client. It’s very rewarding when I get feedback like this recent email: “Overall, it’s very strong, tight, vivid, and feels like Danny in a lot of places. I am impressed!”

Client satisfaction and successful project outcome. One primary measure of success for a ghostwriter is a satisfied client and the successful completion of the project, whether it’s a book, speech, article, or something else.

Andrea Kay said it well:

There’s the act of personal catharsis as you finally get all those pent-up ideas out on the page…The hope of seeing those ideas taking flight into the big wide world to make an impact (hopefully not on someone’s windscreen)…

Kay said these rewards don’t apply for the ghostwriter. I disagree. If find it very rewarding to help somebody get the story out of their head and onto the page, and to see the person’s hope realized with tears of joy that their story is finally a book. I’ve had my share of clients cry happily, and it makes my eyes mist up, too.

Client’s success and recognition. When the client achieves their goals—be it selling books, influencing public opinion, establishing themselves as an expert, or some other fourth thing—it reflects positively on the ghostwriter’s ability to craft compelling and effective content.

Guy Powell wrote an international bestseller, “The Post-COVID Marketing Machine.” Here’s how he thanked me in the acknowledgments:

Lee Barnathan was a great help in getting the book written and out the door on time and helped with a lot of storytelling and book organization. It was a lot of fun to work with him. He provided some great creative input.

Discretion and confidentiality. Given the nature of ghostwriting, maintaining confidentiality and discretion is crucial. A successful ghostwriter respects the anonymity of their clients and adheres to non-disclosure agreements (when applicable), building a reputation for trustworthiness.

I have and have had clients who insist my name appear nowhere. Fine by me. If they want confidentiality, they get it. 

However, I have and have had clients who acknowledge my work. Fine by me. I have and had have clients who insist on my name being there. Fine by me.

And if they want discretion, they get it, too. One current client has been falsely accused of sex trafficking (no, he never met Jeffrey Epstein). This requires me to tread carefully when dealing with the allegations, which I believe to be false because there are no criminal investigations or charges.

Financial stability and building a business: For many ghostwriters, success also means building a sustainable business that provides a steady income and allows them to do work they enjoy.

For me, I get to use my journalism degree every day. I enjoy writing, communicating, and telling compelling stories that intrigue, entertain, titillate, shock, and move me. I have lived vicariously through my clients, and it is wonderful.

And I get paid more than any journalism job I ever had. Jacqui Shine in the Wall Street Journal wrote a piece headlined, “Want to Earn Six Figures as a Writer? Try Ghostwriting.” 

Indeed, Gotham Ghostwriters published a survey that found one in three ghostwriters made more than $100,000.

I’m not at that rate yet, but I’m closer than I ever thought possible. As I’ve previously written, I grossed 83.3 percent more in 2024 than any previous year in the twenty I have been self-employed. Of course, I’ve invested a lot of money into my business, and one has to spend money to make money, but I’m profitable.

Professionalism and reliability. Meeting deadlines, delivering high-quality work, and maintaining a professional demeanor contribute significantly to a ghostwriter’s long-term success and ability to attract repeat clients and referrals.

The Australian firm GW & Co. made a list of top ghostwriters (I’m not on it) and explained why they all exemplify professionalism and reliability: 

Professionalism encompasses punctuality, respect, and a strong work ethic. Reliable ghostwriters honor their commitments, deliver consistent quality, and maintain a positive and respectful relationship with their clients. This professionalism fosters trust and long-term collaborations.

Strong collaboration and communication: Success often hinges on effective communication and a collaborative relationship with the client. The project cannot be done in a vacuum, as I’ve said. This involves understanding their needs, being receptive to feedback, and respectfully navigating potential disagreements.

Through research, active listening, in-depth interviews in which open-ended questions are asked, maintaining consistency, setting clear expectations, and following through, a ghostwriter can successfully navigate all the pitfalls that can be avoided by simply collaborating and communicating. 

As I intended to write last week, it’s not my story, it’s the client’s, but if I as the storyteller have a point to make, I need to make it.

In essence, a successful ghostwriter operates as a skilled craftsperson, putting expertise in service of clients’ objectives and finding fulfillment in the positive impact the writing has, even without public recognition.

Feel free to read and check out my other posts related to ghostwriting. Go to leebarnathan.com/blog.