Want to break into freelance ghostwriting in 2025? If you’ve ever thought, “Can I really make money as a freelance ghostwriter in 2025?”—you’re in the right place. I’ve been ghostwriting for a decade, and this year, demand for skilled ghostwriters is higher than ever. In fact, it could catapult you to becoming a six-figure freelancer.
Ghostwriting is one of the most in-demand skills of 2025. (If you need a primer, I address ‘what is ghostwriting‘ in this blog.) The best part of ghostwriting is meeting people from various industries and learning about their genius. When I started ghostwriting in 2015, my bank account was below zero and my bills were almost as high as my rent. With a little bit of courage, I decided to take a chance on my amateur writing skills and pursue a career in freelance writing.
Within a matter of weeks, I landed my first freelance ghostwriting job through a project on Upwork. With a decade of writing experience underneath my belt now freelance ghostwriting 2025, I am fortunate to work with some of the world’s greatest minds as their ghostwriter.
The best part? I get to work from home or remotely from anywhere in the world. This isn’t a fluff piece, this is the honest tea on money, mindset, and marketing as a freelance ghostwriter.
In this article, I’m going to share with you my simple and effective tips on how you can make money as a freelance ghostwriter 2025.
What Is Ghostwriting (and Why Is It Still in Demand in 2025)?
Ghostwriting is when you are hired to write on a subject matter in exchange for payment, with no credit. Most freelance ghostwriters 2025 prefer to remain anonymous and allow their clients to receive all of the recognition and accolades. This is an equal exchange of win/win when a ghostwriter is paid well.
What’s the difference between ghostwriting, content writing, and copywriting? I’m glad you asked.
Ghostwriting is writing on a subject as an expert or specialist.
Content writing is writing to educate or inform your audience.
Copywriting is selling a product or service through advertising or marketing.
With new social media platforms are popping up and growing constantly, it’s important for CEOs, coaches, and creators to stay abreast of trends and changes as they explore hiring a freelance ghostwriter 2025. That’s why a freelance ghostwriter would become an ideal partner to help execute ideas or educate audiences on what is occurring next within the industry. I like to think of ghostwriters as the secret ingredient to the sauce.
A good way to remain relevant as a ghostwriter in 2025 is by utilizing Google as your assistant. Searching topics such as “Top Niches That Hire Ghostwriters in 2025” will help you identify key markets that are relevant and abreast of news and updates to attract clients.
What’s the difference in ghostwriting thought leadership and a byline? Ghostwriting a Thought Leadership Article is when you’re writing an article that shows the executive’s big ideas, expertise, and opinions to position them as a leader or authority in their industry. It’s about influence, vision, and insight.
Whereas ghostwriting a Byline Article equates to you writing a standard article that’s credited to the executive (their “byline” = their name on it).
(BTW if you’re trying to figure out how to get freelance ghostwriting jobs in 2025 we’ve got you covered.)
Setting Rates As a Freelance Ghostwriter 2025
When you are first starting out as a freelance ghostwriter in 2025, it can be difficult to decide how much you should charge for your services as you’re considering what’s an average freelance writer salary and does that amount work for your situation. My golden rule of thumb is to never charge so little that you can’t pay rent or utilities, while at the same time understanding that charging too much will require an increase in higher expectations from ghostwriting clients.
It’s always ideal to identify a monthly income goal, establish general freelance rates, and availability to complete to distinguish rates for a beginner and pro ghostwriter. For beginners, it’s recommended that your availability is limited to one or two clients per month. This gives you enough time to establish a learning curve in working with clients and meeting client deadlines. For freelance ghostwriting 2025 pros, I’d recommend having a system in place that allows you freedom and flexibility to accept new projects, follow up with past clients, and have time for your family and friends.
I’ve been writing for ten years and have a few ghostwriting clients on retainer. Having clients on retainer helps me to avoid the feast and famine cycle of cold emailing or pitching clients daily, weekly, or monthly. Over the course of a freelance ghostwriting 2025 year, I might ghostwrite three or four manuscripts for entrepreneurs. This process usually requires a three- to four-month commitment and additional assistance with publishing. Depending on your niche market, industry, and clients, you’ll want to consider if one-time payments of $500, $1,200 retainer, or royalty deals of 5%-10% will best fit the collaboration.
Traits That Matter Most When Freelance Ghostwriting 2025
I’ve managed to build a rewarding and sustainable ghostwriting career based on three core principles: discipline, communication/listening, and storytelling skills. Many people approach ghostwriting as a regular Saturday morning side hustle. I understood very early on that I wanted to create a life for myself that involved writing full time. I enjoy working with different people and learning about their professions or career paths.
Here’s what helped me succeed:
- Discipline: I treat ghostwriting like a full-time job.
- Listening: My clients want to be heard and understood. Listening intently will require you to listen effectively for key window moments to expand upon as a ghostwriter.
- Storytelling skills: Storytelling will help you to frame the story in a way that will be relatable and engaging to the reader.
Put these skills together and you’ll find that you’re likely going to be successful freelance ghostwriting in 2025.
Where to Find Ghostwriting Clients in 2025
Landing high-paying ghostwriting clients on platforms like LinkedIn can be challenging. While having a presence on social media is important for credibility and networking, there are more effective ways to find clients, especially if you want to work with a specific high-paying freelance niche.
For example, I specialize in ghostwriting books for female entrepreneurs. I attend networking events, conferences, workshops, and private masterminds to learn, connect, and engage with potential clients. The more visible you are to people who understand the value of hiring a ghostwriter, the more success and the higher freelance ghostwriting 2025 salary you’ll likely see.
Facebook groups, Upwork, and Stan store funnels can create some buzz and help you build community, but they aren’t always the best sources for premium clients. They can also expose you to time-wasters: freebie seekers, fake profiles, catfishers, and inbox spam. Be intentional about how you engage online, and filter your outreach to attract the right people.
One of my favorite low-pressure ways to pitch freelance ghostwriting 2025 services is by engaging on social media. I’ll add a potential client to my Instagram close friends list, subscribe to their newsletter, and reply with a thoughtful message to one of their latest sends. This soft approach breaks the ice and makes me feel more human, less like a cold pitch. After a few interactions, I asked for a quick call and offered to share my pitch deck. It works every time.
Freelance Ghostwriting Myths to Know (and Ignore)
There are plenty of myths about ghostwriting floating around online and in the freelance world. Some are just strange, while others are flat-out wrong.
Let’s set the record straight:
Myth 1: You need a writing degree.
False. A writing degree might be useful for academic or technical writing, but it’s not a requirement for ghostwriting. Solid research skills, a strong grasp of storytelling, and the ability to adapt your voice to match a client’s are far more important.
Myth 2: AI killed ghostwriting.
Also false. AI has changed how some of us work, of course, but, it hasn’t replaced the demand for ghostwriters. In fact, I still get hired regularly for freelance ghostwriting 2025 services. Many ghostwriters now use AI as a tool to brainstorm or polish content, but it can’t replicate the nuance, intuition, and human connection that real ghostwriters bring to the table.
Myth 3: The market is too crowded.
Only partially true. Yes, there are a lot of ghostwriters out there—but there are also a lot of people who need help telling their stories. Ghostwriting has existed for centuries because people will always pay others to write for them. If you’re skilled, professional, and know how to connect with clients, there’s room for you.
Is it Worth it to Try Freelance Ghostwriting 2025?
Ghostwriting has been a significant game-changer in my life. It’s provided me with financial stability, time with my family and friends, professional opportunities, and helped me to eliminate debt. This makes ghostwriting worth it for me.
I’ve always enjoyed learning about the world around me and the fascinating people who contribute to it. Whether ghostwriting is for you as a part-time side hustle, freelance or full-time business, it’s your decision to decide. My advice would be to give it a shot and learn something new, it couldn’t hurt.
The truth is, you’re going to get rejected a lot while being a freelance ghostwriter 2025. Clients are going to low-ball you and make you earn their trust and money. You’ll probably become more frustrated and annoyed by paperwork and deadlines more than anything. If you can handle all of that with a smile and handshake, you were meant to be a ghostwriter.
