so you wanna be an indie romance ghostwriter?
3 things you can do TODAY to kickstart your indie ghostwriting career
“I want to be a romance writer.”
I didn’t admit this aloud for a long time. Because how does one become a writer? Especially when most of your writing “career” has consisted of erotic fanfiction? How does one make a living off being creative when the business of art is one full of just as much luck as it is skill?
I know I’m not the only writer out there who remained closeted for many years, afraid to admit the truth because admitting that truth seemed like I was setting myself up for failure.
But what if that wasn’t the case? What if “wanting” to be a professional writer could be as simple as wanting to be a lawyer, a doctor, a plumber? What if choosing a career in writing meant setting yourself up for success?
Not knowing where to start is one of the biggest struggles we face as aspiring romance writers.
You dream about making a living with your words but every time you sit down to figure it out, you get overwhelmed. Should you self-publish? Query? Start a Substack?
And then you hear about ghostwriting…the art of writing stories to be published under someone else’s name. No risk, but all the reward.
But how do you even start? What do you charge? Where do you find clients? And how does it actually work?
So in today’s email, I’ll walk you through a few things you can do TODAY that can help you get started as an indie romance ghostwriter so you can start moving toward that full-time writing career you’ve been dreaming about.
(And at the end of this email, I've got some exciting news about my brand new course, The Ghostwriting Blueprint) 😍
Here are 3 things you can do to start building your indie romance ghostwriting career TODAY:
1. Shift your mindset.
You don’t have to wait for permission to start a writing career.
Not even for ghostwriting.
Most clients aren’t looking for bestselling authors. They’re looking for reliable, smart, genre-savvy writers who can tell a story that sells.
If you already know how to craft a love story and you’re willing to learn how to structure a ghostwriting project, you’re already ahead of the game.
If you love love stories but aren’t sure how to craft one, don’t you worry. That’s something you can brush up on fast thanks to resources on the internet and romance writing content creators.
You can do this. You are the only barrier to entry. And remember, trying something new is a process. Enjoy the journey.
2. Create a mini romance portfolio.
An indie romance ghostwriting portfolio doesn’t have to consist of pieces you’ve ghostwritten. It doesn’t even have to consist of pieces you’ve published. In fact, you never have to had been published to be an indie ghostwriter. All a portfolio needs to be is your best foot forward.
A portfolio consists of short pieces that show you can deliver the emotional arcs, genre conventions, and heat clients are looking for. They don’t have to be full stories, just a few polished scenes to give your client the imaginative boost they need to picture working with you.
You can start your portfolio today by combing through what you’ve already written OR by trying your hand at crafting something from scratch.
Tell you what, I’ll challenge you now:
Try writing a meet cute of about 700 - 1,000 words. Need a little more inspo?
Here are some hot tropes: second chance romance, enemies to lovers, billionaires, forced proximity (just to name a few).
Want some characters instead? Violet is a down on her luck geologist and Cameron owns a coffee shop. Romance loves a coffee shop.
Want an inciting incident? A dog gets loose.
Want a time of year? Fall.
All it takes is one suggestion to get your mind moving, right? So go with it.
3. Practice talking like a pro.
If you’re like most other writers, you probably have wondered, “When can I claim the title of writer?”
Newsflash: right now, bestie.
Maybe you’ve never finished a story or maybe you’ve never shared your work with anyone or maybe you’ve done both of those things but your inner gremlin impostor is a loud son of a bhole.
You’re a writer, baby.
Starting today, step into your power. Instead on focusing on what you haven’t accomplished, focused on what you have. Do you love writing and researching for historicals? Are you compelled by strong, messy characters? Do you like injecting comedy into everything you write?
Bottom line, abandon your “beginner status”. Embrace being an amateur, someone who does something for the love of it.
Instead of saying “I’m just starting out,” try “I’m drawn to character-driven stories with alpha heroes falling for women who can save themselves. And I’m open to new projects.” Confidence (even while learning) goes a long way.
It’s time to decide you’re enough.
I’m currently wrapping up the final modules of my brand-new course, The Ghostwriting Blueprint.
In The Ghostwriting Blueprint, you will learn:
How to break into romance ghostwriting even if you’ve never had a client before or been published.
How to price your services confidently (and avoid undercharging!)
How to create a romance-ready portfolio that gets noticed.
How to spot clients you want to work with and pitch to them confidently.
The Ghostwriting Blueprint will be completely ready and available on June 26th.
But until May 26th at 11:59 UTC, you can pre-order the course at a MASSIVE 50% discount:
💌 [Click Here To Pre-Order The Ghostwriting Blueprint]
When you pre-order, you’ll also get these exclusive bonuses:
A Live Q&A Session during which you can get your questions answered in real time. If you can’t attend, you’ll be able to submit questions ahead of time and access the recording.
Extreme Makeover: Pitch Edition: An extra video module showing you a behind-the-scenes breakdown of my first ever pitch (sneak peek: I used "their" instead of "there”). I'll show you what worked and what didn't.
If you’re ready to stop wondering how people actually make money writing romance and start building your own writing career the time to start is now.
💌 [Click Here To Pre-Order The Ghostwriting Blueprint]
See you inside the course,
Marjorie Muller
Romance Ghostwriter & Coach
P.S. You'll also get a 14-day money-back guarantee, so you can try the whole course risk-free. If it’s not what you need, just email me within 14 days of the release date and I’ll refund you, no questions asked.