So, you want to be a writer, right? Which probably means you think you've got something to say, something inside you waiting to be created and let loose on a hopefully grateful world.
The problem being, the world doesn't know you yet and doesn't seem that interested in getting to know you or your work. Certainly, no one is throwing bundles of cash in your direction, so how on earth can you make it as a writer, writing for money?
You can keep plugging away, submitting articles and outlines to magazines, publishers and agents. Nothing wrong with that, but meanwhile you're still doing the day job, or worse still, don't have a day job, and you really need this writing lark to start paying, or you'll have to give it up like so many hopeless dreams.
No: you're a writer, so you'll keep going. But there's a quicker way to paid employment as a writer, and one that's perfectly respectable and quite good fun.
It just might mean you have to swallow a little pride, compromise on your dreams for a while, perhaps put the great manuscript to one side for now - and write someone else's masterpiece instead. Or just their article, course or ebook, their company report or even their award acceptance speech.
The point being, it's their words and not yours, but they're not able, for whatever reason to write them for themselves.
They're the ones with the story or the specialist knowledge, the pressing deadline or the contract already signed, and you're the one with the writing talent and the time.
It's a perfect match, and writers around the world make a very respectable living from ghostwriting, but with none of the attendant glory. Rest assured though, publishers, agents, experts and celebrities know the value of a good ghostwriter, and the best of them are paid accordingly.
And once a ghostwriter is charging enough and is efficient enough to only have to work part of the time on other people's work, he or she can devote the rest of their time to their own.
And think about it: wouldn't you rather be writing - almost anything - than the job you're doing now?
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