Kiruthi Kumar

Has good experience in Ghostwriting, Fiction & Non fiction Writing.

There is one particular ghostwriting project in my portfolio that seemingly breaks all the rules. It mentions the client’s name and the titles of the books I did for her, and it has viewable samples. It was my very first ghostwriting project. I was paid pennies for those books because I had no real clue I could be paid any better (and, honestly, the client didn’t know any better either). When I started looking for more work and it hit me how hard making a ghostwriting portfolio would be, I asked the client if I could use samples from her books in my portfolio. I told her I wouldn’t mention her name or the books anywhere in the portfolio listing, and I would only release the samples upon request and with a signed NDA. She ended up responding that I could use it all (her name, the books’ names, and short samples) on my online portfolio! I have kept those emails as proof because that wasn’t in the original contract. Honestly, it’s extremely rare that you will get this lucky, but you never know.

I’m extremely grateful that those projects I was paid so little for are actually helping me in big ways. I’ve sent those samples out many times, and the ratings those books received by the people who actually read them have helped my reputation immensely. However, I always mention that those samples and information are divulged with written consent from the author. Remember, your new clients want to know you will protect their work, so if you do get an awesome client who is willing to let you use all that good stuff freely, make sure your new clients know you have total permission to do so.