My Secret Life as a Ghostwriter Earns Me $6000 a Month

The complete blueprint to building a writing business for beginners in 2025 — No fluff no theory just what actually works.

The Human Project

Jan 20, 2025

I started ghostwriting three years ago with zero experience.

Today, I make over $6,000 per month writing for others.

Trust me, I’m no Shakespeare — just someone who discovered these real tips that will actually work in 2025.

The Truth About Ghostwriting

Most guides paint ghostwriting as some magical career where you sit on a beach typing away. That’s not real life.

Here’s what it’s actually like:

You’ll spend your first few months making less than minimum wage. I made $200 my first-month writing blog posts about lawn care (yeah, really).

But stick with it and you can build a real career.

My friend Farah started at $50 per article and now charges $500 for the same work.

Getting Your First Clients (The Real Way)

Forget what you read about pitching hundreds of clients.

Here’s what worked for me and other successful ghostwriters I know:

Pick one type of writing and get good at it. I chose blog posts about marketing because I worked in sales before. Write about what you know.
Make a simple website. Mine was ugly but had writing samples and clear prices. That’s all you need.
Join Facebook groups where your clients hang out. Not writing groups — those are full of other writers. I’m talking about groups for coaches, consultants, and small business owners who need content but don’t have time to write it. Don’t spam — just help people who ask questions about writing.
Use LinkedIn right. Find people who run the kind of business you want to write for. Comment on their posts for two weeks before sending a message.

Pricing Your Work (With Real Numbers)

Most new ghostwriters charge way too little because they’re scared of losing clients.

But here’s the truth: clients who pay the bottom dollar are usually the biggest headache. They want endless revisions and treat you like an employee rather than a professional.

Here’s what I charge now, and what I started charging:

Blog Posts:

Started at: $50 for 1000 words
Now: $200 for 1000 words

eBooks:

Started at: $500 for 10,000 words
Now: $1500 for 10,000 words

Website Copy:

Started at: $200 per page
Now: $800 per page

Raise your rates every 3 months with new clients. Keep old clients at their original rate if they give you steady work.

The Writing Process That Keeps Clients Coming Back

The secret to keeping clients isn’t just good writing — it’s making their life easier.

Here’s my actual process:

Before writing anything, I send clients a simple questionnaire asking about their target audience, main message, and any specific phrases their industry uses.

This saves tons of time on revisions later.

I create a content calendar for each client showing what I’ll write and when it’ll be done. This organization impressed them so much that two clients referred me to their business friends.

Tools That Help

I wasted money on fancy writing tools when I started.

Here’s what you really need:

Grammarly Free — Catches basic mistakes
Google Docs — Clients know how to use it
Time tracking app — I use Toggl (free version)
Simple invoice template from Google Sheets

Making the Money Work

No one talks about the money part honestly.

Here’s my real monthly breakdown:

Income: $6,500

Blog posts: $2,600 (13 posts at $200 each)
eBooks: $1,500 (one eBook)
Website copy: $2,400 (three websites)

Expenses: $320

Software: $270
Office supplies: $50

Save 30% for taxes. Put money aside each month or you’ll regret it later.

The Hard Parts No One Mentions

Bad stuff happens.

Be ready for:

Clients disappearing without paying
Projects changing halfway through
Writing about boring topics
Dealing with unclear feedback
Managing multiple deadlines

Solutions that work:

Get 50% payment upfront
Use clear contracts (even simple ones)
Set revision limits
Keep a work diary to track everything

Building Your Business

Month 1–3:

Write samples in your chosen area
Set up a simple website
Join groups where clients hang out
Reach out to 5 people daily

Month 4–6:

Take any decent-paying work
Build portfolio
Get testimonials
Start raising rates with new clients

Month 7–12:

Pick better clients
Drop lowest-paying work
Specialize more
Build processes

Year 2:

Focus on long-term clients
Raise rates again
Maybe hire help
Build real business systems

Real Talk About Skills

You need these skills more than perfect writing:

Meeting deadlines
Following instructions exactly
Communicating clearly with clients
Managing your time
Handling feedback well

My writing isn’t perfect.

But I’m reliable and easy to work with. That matters more.

Getting Better Clients

Signs of good clients:

They have clear processes
They pay on time
They give good feedback
They treat you like a professional
They have steady work

Red flags:

They want rush jobs often
They haggle about prices
They change the scope after agreeing
They’re hard to reach
They miss meetings

Daily Schedule That Works

Morning:

2 hours of hard writing
Check emails once
Quick client calls

Afternoon:

Research and outlining
Easier writing tasks
Admin work

Evening:

Plan next day
Answer emails
Light editing

Making $6,000+ Monthly

To hit $6,000 monthly you need:

8–10 regular clients
A mix of work types
Systems for everything
Good time management
Clear boundaries

It took me 18 months to get here. Plan for at least a year of building.

Final Advice

Start small but start now
Focus on one type of writing
Build real relationships
Keep learning your craft
Save money for slow times
Take care of your health

This isn’t a get-rich-quick thing. It’s a real business that takes time to build.

But if you stick with it and work smart, you can build something good.

Remember: Your success depends more on being reliable and professional than being the best writer. Focus on the business side as much as the writing side.