Writing with Jennifer

Much of my paid work has been ghostwriting. It's something I enjoy, especially when it comes to children's books. But it does present some challenges you don't encounter when writing a book of your own.  Ghostwriting articles or short pieces tends to be easy because in most cases you are dealing with clients who don't really care about writing. They want the articles to make sense, of course, and usually to have the right SEO content to collect all the clicks. But they aren't going to argue with you about creative choices.  Book authors are different. These are people who have nurtured an idea for a long time and have a strong connection to the process and the result. Children's book authors in need of ghostwriters are often artists who have done their own illustrations and know the story they want to tell but don't have the writing skills to make it happen in a way that can put the book on the shelf next to professionally written titles.  Occasionally, peop...

I recently had some content stolen.  So sadly, I'm writing a post about how to avoid this happening and what to do once it does happen. I'm currently in the process of dealing with it and would welcome advice.  One thing I've learned is that it makes sense to use a couple of tools.  1. Google Alerts Pop your content into Google Alerts to get reports when that content is picked up on the web. You should do this with any work you're posting for sale.  It can also let you know when work you've legitimately sold is published, so that's a good side benefit.  2. Plagiarism Checker Grammarly has one, and I love Grammarly but I'm all about free stuff. People like Scribbr, but they charge a fee too.  I found this one  and it seems to be okay.   I'm definitely open to (read begging for) recommendations.  I've also discovered that plagiarism is one of those words I never learned how to spell.  I still haven't heard back from the site that curr...

 Okay, so I was dumb. I mean, I know that things can easily be stolen online. But I didn't think it was going to happen to me.  And today it did. It didn't cost me much in terms of money, but it cost me something. And I'm pretty upset about the whole thing.  I had posted an article on Constant Content several years ago. I thought it was a damn good article, but no one bought it. So today I decided to take it off Constant Content and try it on Content Gather.  Big mistake.  It turned out that the article was stolen! Content Gather ran its plagiarism check, and there it was posted on some company's blog. I've contacted the owners of that blog to find out where they got my content, but I haven't had a response.  THIS IS THE CRAZY PART: Do you know that part of Content Gather's terms of use state that you aren't supposed to upload content that was written for ANY OTHER SITE OR ANY OTHER PURPOSE?  For me - and lots of other writers - Content Gather is a pla...

The phrase might sound a little bland, but content mills can be helpful to freelance writers. A content mill is basically a place where writers churn out content for the Internet. Clients go to these websites to buy articles, blog posts, and general online copy. When the content sells, the site gets a cut and so does the author.  The details vary from site to site, but contact mills do have some things in common. Here are some good reasons to write for a content mill.  You'll get paid... probably.  Content mills are infamous for not paying much. You're probably looking at a cent or two per word. Some offer more money as you build a reputation on the site. A few have areas where you can bid for projects or even set your own prices.  In general, you'll get paid if you are able to successfully complete assignments. Spend some time researching a content mill before you sign up to find out what others have experienced.  It's a way to get experience. Content mills can...

So what exactly does it mean to be a ghostwriter?  A ghostwriter is someone who creates a piece of writing for someone else. The other person owns the work, and the ghostwriter remains quiet about the whole affair.  Why do people hire ghostwriters? There are several reasons that someone might hire a ghostwriter. The most common reason is that someone has a story to tell but doesn't feel equipped to write it in a way that will do justice to the story.  What kinds of projects call for ghostwriters?  All kinds! Here are a few examples.  a novel based on an amazing idea illustrations without words to go with them a true story that deserves to be shared family history to be preserved for future generations How does ghostwriting work?  When you hire a ghostwriter, you communicate the story to your ghostwriter. The ghostwriter writes the words and shows them to you. You provide feedback about what you love and any changes you'd like to see. You own the finished pr...

I have always been a writer, but I have only recently discovered a talent for helping others in their adventures with words. While working for a small publishing company, I recognized a drive within me to help others elevate their skills while continuing to grow my own. That's how I decided to offer writing services. But it does present a few challenges for someone like me.  I'm an intense introvert. It's something I love about myself. I don't need a lot of social interaction. In fact, it drains me. But it has become clear to me that being an exceptional writer sometimes requires community.  I've worked with many authors as a ghostwriter and developmental editor, and I have found great satisfaction in helping other writers achieve their dreams of creating art and being published.  Do you need some community to help you with your writing? I can offer my services as a ghostwriter, developmental editor, beta reader, or writing coach. Fill out the contact form below, an...