In today's digital era, I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to earn a living through various online avenues. There seems to be an unprecedented number of writers and authors, from those self-publishing on platforms like Amazon KDP to freelance ghostwriters. With the right marketing strategies, anyone can thrive in this field.

However, the influx of writers has led to increased competition, making it quite tough. Many talented writers I know struggle with feelings of inadequacy, compounded by the rise of AI-generated content.

The creative industry is undoubtedly facing significant challenges.

Reflecting on my early days of writing online, I remember feeling incredibly lucky to earn money by crafting fiction for others. I devoured the Percy Jackson series within a week, igniting my passion for storytelling. From a young age, I aspired to be a writer, and immersing myself in captivating narratives only fueled that ambition.

When I expressed my desire to pursue writing in college, my parents were hesitant. Ultimately, I enrolled in an architecture program influenced by the character Annabeth Chase. I dropped out after my third year, but by then, I was already making money through ghostwriting. My parents were baffled yet proud.

That period, from 2017 to 2019, was marked by my unawareness of the fact that I was being grossly underpaid for my work. This brings me to the first major drawback.

1. The Need to Undervalue Your Work

Coming from a developing country, the cost of living is relatively low, which directly affects the compensation clients are willing to offer. Your geographic location can often be a visible factor on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. Even if you have near-native proficiency in English, securing fair payment can be a struggle due to where you are based.

Initially, on these freelance platforms, you often have to start at a low rate, working excessively for minimal pay just to establish a presence. Eventually, you may begin to charge what you should have been from the start, but only after offering competitive pricing to attract clients.

I hold Fiverr responsible for this scenario, as their branding promotes services starting at just $5. While this may have been acceptable in the early 2000s, it’s simply unrealistic today with the current economic climate. Even individuals with basic writing skills deserve more than that for a 500-word piece.

And yes, there are still clients who expect experienced writers to work for $1 per 100 words. Seriously?

2. Challenges in Portfolio Development

Ghostwriting is exactly what it sounds like. You're the unseen author of a work that you cannot showcase because the rights are transferred to someone else. This can be frustrating, as you deserve recognition for your efforts.

However, if you’ve signed an NDA, sharing your work becomes impossible. If a client grants permission to share a snippet, you may have something to demonstrate your skills, but it may not accurately reflect your growth over time. While you can compile personal projects into a portfolio, the writing style for clients often differs significantly from your personal endeavors. This is particularly true in my experience with fictional ghostwriting, so take my thoughts with caution.

The crux of the matter is that your professional growth is stunted due to the limitations imposed by NDAs, which can be disheartening—especially when you’re not compensated fairly for your creative contributions. If I were being paid adequately, I might consider sacrificing my meticulous storytelling for a client.

You might wonder: “Why not just write and publish your own work?”

If someone else could cover my expenses, I’d certainly consider it!

3. Income Instability

I’m fortunate to have a few clients who regularly commission work from me, but most of them also juggle full-time jobs while trying to establish themselves in ghostwritten fiction.

It often feels like a gamble—will they continue to hire me, or will they move on, leaving me to hunt for new clients to fill the income gap?

Job security is increasingly elusive these days, even for those in traditional employment. The recent wave of layoffs, particularly following the rise of AI, has not gone unnoticed. At least in a corporate role, you could count on receiving some form of payment at the end of the month.

Freelancing, especially for newcomers, lacks that security. It’s akin to owning a business where you must actively seek clients to sustain your livelihood.

While certain freelancing niches may offer contracts that protect income and job stability, others are threatened by the increasing efficiency of AI. Creative writing may currently be safe, as clients seek authentic stories that resonate with readers, but I worry about the future of my profession.

4. Balancing Creative Freedom

Do I really need to elaborate? You’re expected to deliver what the client wants, often at the expense of your own creative input if you want to get paid.

While my clients have generally given me a good amount of creative freedom, it results in my original ideas contributing to projects I have no ownership over. It’s a strange dynamic, considering that the initial concept was never mine.

I would gladly accept a lower rate if it meant I didn’t have to exert mental energy on creativity. If a client provides a detailed outline with no room for innovation, I could easily produce thousands of words in a few hours without a second thought. Pay me my $200, please (and yes, I’m serious; this is what clients want to pay me for 10,000 words).

But when I’m essentially the driving force behind your vague plot idea, I believe I deserve a fair share of the profits. Otherwise, compensate me enough so I don’t have to juggle multiple clients just to make ends meet.

I realize I can find higher-paying opportunities, but at this stage in my life, I’m eager to focus on my own writing. While I’m open to clients who value my skills, I’m equally desperate to get my own projects published—something I’ve postponed to maintain financial stability. Living expenses are rising, and I say this as someone who rarely ventures out and cooks most meals at home.

5. Difficult Clients

This issue is universal across all professions, so I won’t belabor the point. Some clients might even go as far as refusing to pay for initial work simply because they’re unwilling to fund revisions they could handle themselves.

I consider myself fortunate to have encountered only two difficult clients in my eight years of ghostwriting. Most have been pleasant, though I’ve dealt with a few impatient clients who cancel contracts without checking for updates on the accessible Google Document I maintain. They often have the nerve to accuse me of late submissions, then vanish without discussion.

I’ll admit I should communicate with clients whenever I make updates, but wouldn’t it be simpler if they allowed me to upload documents directly to the Upwork milestones they set? It’s frustrating to chase clients for feedback when everything is readily available.

I suppose the responsibility partly falls on me. I need to establish clearer boundaries regarding work delivery and feedback. I’m surprised I haven’t been scammed yet. At least I received payment even when contracts were canceled.

You’ve made it this far! Here’s a little something to lighten the mood: it’s always a good time for a song and a dance break—unless you're at a funeral, in a crucial meeting, or during an exam—never mind.

Song of the Day: "Good Luck, Babe!" by Chappell Roan

Writer’s Closing Thoughts: Wow, I had a lot to express—it’s almost a bit embarrassing! Many of these points are things I could have navigated with more finesse and experience. I’m grateful for the stability ghostwriting has provided, but I long to carve out time for my own stories and see them published someday!

Also, the mention of a wealthy lesbian was a joke; I’m an incredibly independent person who prefers not to enter financial arrangements that could lead to emotional exploitation (the brown/desi kids will understand).

If any part of this resonates with you, let’s connect! I’m eager to meet like-minded individuals and build a supportive community to share ideas.

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Wishing everyone an emotionally balanced day ahead!