Thinking of a freelance writing job? Try ghostwriting

 There are several ways to make a career in freelance writing so no wonder there are people who opt for freelance jobs often. Going for freelance jobs doesn't necessarily mean that one has to leave their full-time job. There are plenty of opportunities which lets one work on the side without letting it become a burden on them and help them make some extra money. One just has to know where to look for them.

If you are someone who has a flair for writing and a way with words, then freelance ghostwriting might just be the right fit for you.

Understanding freelance ghostwriting

Writers who produce content that gets published under a client’s name instead of their own is called ghostwriting. The writer is made to sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) and in exchange for this, the ghostwriter is paid more than usual freelance writers.

Ghostwriting is usually conducted in the background and the client gets to showcase the written content as their own.

Types of Ghostwriting

Not all speeches that you hear from politicians or renowned personalities are their work. This is where a ghostwriter comes in.

Ghostwriters are often asked to produce content which ranges from blogs to social media posts and speeches. The subject matter and the type of content, depending on the client’s requirements, can include – speeches, books, articles, blogs, announcements, social media posts, interviews and lyrics for a song.

Why are ghostwriters required?

Ghostwriters are usually hired by public personalities where their content holds value. People who hire such writers are:

• Politicians
• Executives
• Athletes
• Influencers
• Creators
• Public figures
• PR agencies hiring for a client
• Literary agencies hiring for a client

Ghostwriters are usually hired for the following reasons:

• Time: If someone is always busy and does not have time to carefully write, they often pay someone else to portray their ideas in the form of a blog, while they can save on time and not worry about errors.

• Skills: A celebrity doesn't need to be a good writer. If they want content produced, they need to work with someone capable of writing. Hence, they approach external sources and opt for services from ghostwriters.

• Adaptability: Celebrities and authors are often on tours and are required to produce a lot of content within strict timelines. Hiring a ghostwriter to help them with their work when they are travelling can be very convenient and hassle-free for them. For instance: An author on a speaking tour might hire a ghostwriter to produce op-ed articles that appear in the news for each stop on the tour, giving the author free time to meet fans and go ahead with their interviews.

What skills are needed to become a ghostwriter?

If you want to become a ghostwriter, you need a wide variety of skills to be successful, both in client delivery and business administration:

Client delivery skills:

• Research: A lot of research work is involved in this line of work, since you will essentially need to understand your client and their point of view well enough to write as them.
• Interviewing: Interviewing your client is one of the most important aspects of this job. This is when you get most of your insights, so you need to know the right questions to ask.
• Project management: Ghostwriters often take care of the whole content production process, from booking interviews to handling edits and revisions.

• Voice mirroring: Ghostwriters cannot write in their style, they have to mirror the tone, voice and writing style of their client and produce content accordingly.

Business administration skills:

• Flexibility: Since a ghostwriter works with renowned people, rescheduling work meetings, or being assigned tasks at odd times shouldn’t come as a surprise. You need to be flexible to make the project work.

• Time management: You have to manage your own time to make sure you’re delivering the work by the set deadlines.

How to get ghostwriting jobs?

Getting a ghostwriting job isn’t very difficult. One requires having a flair for writing and the eye to look for the right opportunity. Here’s how you can land your first job/project as a ghostwriter:

1. Identify your focus

You need to know where to set your focus and who should be your potential client. To identify the types of content you would like to take on, think of what topics you would like to write on, the topics and the writing style you are good at and what is the current demand in the market.

Look for people who will most likely have the budget to hire a ghostwriter. Make use of your old jobs and industry experience and network accordingly. Identify the value you bring to the table. What will make you a good writer for a specific client, state the specialisation, previous experience and reviews, if any, to the potential client. This will help you land your client.

2. Set up your brand

Having a brand for yourself will help you showcase your skills professionally to the clients.

• Website: Update your website so that people can know you provide ghostwriting services. Make sure you include a call-to-action button which has your contact details so that potential clients can reach out to you.

• Social media: Update your social media handles, especially on LinkedIn, which mentions you’re a ghostwriter. Let people know you are open to work and build connections with relevant people.

• Your network: Spread the word around in your circle that you are offering ghostwriting services. Ensure that your website and portfolio are updated, in case anyone tries to reach out to you.

3. Source potential gigs

With a portfolio, brand, and a set focus, you’re ready to headstart with looking for freelance ghostwriting jobs.

• Job portals: Several organisations will post jobs on freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, LinkedIn, and more.

• Your current clients: If you are working as a freelance writer then let your current clients know you are open to ghostwriting services as well. They might refer you to someone who is looking for such services.

• Agencies: There are many ghostwriting agencies you can join. Many also operate remotely, so you could potentially join a network that’s not in your state or country as well.

4. Prepare a winning pitch

Once you get a potential opportunity, make sure you ask the client questions about the job requirements, their goals, needs and expectations.

Getting a potential opportunity involves cold calling or sending emails and applications to several people. Ensure that you are asking all the right and necessary questions of the client, including their expectations, goals, and challenges. State how you can help them with your ghostwriting services. Share work samples and demonstrate your ability to write well.

5. Negotiate

When a client is ready to go ahead with you, make sure you have stated your responsibilities, assignment, requirements of the client, what you’re going to be doing, who you are supporting, and what the client needs to provide to you for you to do your job well.

Attain written clarity on the payment procedure and get it electronically signed.

Working as a ghostwriter can be done alongside other jobs as well, although there are people who take this as a full-time career. The highest-paid ghostwriters are the ones who are aware of what their services are worth and what they are good at. Marketing oneself is important in this career, especially for a newcomer. Given the perks of this job, though, one must not forget the problems like conflicts of interest, having too much work at once and not getting many clients. However, if one can manage it well, then the good money, flexibility and networking opportunities will be worth the toil.

Source: The Telegraph, 15/12/22

M is for magic: Editorial on the concept of ‘manifesting’

 Psychologists argue that there is a thin line between thinking positively and being delusional

Ask and ye shall receive. This Biblical phrase has become the new mantra of the 21st century, especially for Gen Z. The concept of ‘manifesting’ — the belief that the power of positive thinking can change the course of events — has its origins in a self-help book, The Secret, which has sold some 50 million copies worldwide since 2006. There are apparently numerous ways of achieving such a course correction if TikTok — the barometer of everything Gen Z does — is to be believed. They range from writing one’s desires in a journal three times in the morning, six times in the afternoon and nine times in the evening to speaking only in the present tense and shunning the use of words such as ‘could’, ‘would’ and ‘might’ owing to their indefinite nature. It does not take much cerebral depth to understand why this method is so popular: it offers a portrait of a world that is extraordinarily alluring, one where every obstacle to achieving a dream can be wished away. So much so that some die-hard Lionel Messi fans in Kestopur are, at this very moment, trying to ‘manifest’ Kylian Mbappé away from the World Cup finals.

Unsurprisingly, Google searches for the term skyrocketed 669% since July 2020, when the pandemic was at its height. Stuck at home, with the economy taking a nosedive and an invisible enemy changing life inside and outside the home forever, Gen Z took to positive thinking like fish to water. However, the flames of manifestation have not been fanned by a public health crisis alone. The sterility and the starkness of the cold, hard data-driven Age of Reason may have a role to play too. Plato described emotion and reason as two horses pulling people in opposite directions. But reason collapses in the face of baffling figures — the global youth unemployment rate stands at 14.9% and the world has crossed at least five of the 16 ‘tipping points’ that will make it unliveable — that most people are powerless to change. This is when relatively inexpensive routes of escape such as manifesting take over.

But keeping the faith, as it were, can have collateral damage. Researchers at Ohio State University found that those who trust their ‘gut’ and practices such as ‘manifesting’ are more likely to fall for fake news and conspiracy theories. Psychologists also argue that there is a thin line between thinking positively and being delusional. Moreover, the corollary of relying solely on positive thinking is a victim blaming of sorts — good things not happening to a person are blamed on his or her inability to be positive enough. The medical fraternity also warns about ‘toxic positivity’ — manifesting does not allow the enunciation of ‘negative’ emotions or incidents. To force a positive outlook on pain is to encourage a person to keep silent about struggles that have serious adverse impacts on mental health.

Manifesting, at best, is a form of benign benevolence. It is telling that Gen Z, witness to cataclysmic social, environmental and cultural shocks, is making a mountain of the molehill called manifesting.

Source: The Telegraph, 18/12/22

Quote of the Day December 16, 2022

 

“I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find what they want and then advise them to do it.”
Harry Truman

“बच्चों को सीख देने का जो श्रेष्ठ तरीका मुझे पता चला है वह यह है कि बच्चों की चाह का पता लगाया जाए और फिर उन्हें वही करने की सलाह दी जाए”
हैरी ट्रूमेन

Current Affairs-December 16, 2022

 

INDIA

• India successfully conducts trials of nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni V.
• The Nation celebrates Vijay Diwas to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War
• Chennai International Film Festival inaugurated
• ‘States can enact laws on uniform civil code’: Union Law and Justice Minister Kiran Rijiju
• 16th Edition of Indo-Nepal joint army training exercise “SURYA KIRAN” begins.
• Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurates a direct flight between Mumbai & San Francisco
• India receives all 36 Rafale aircraft from France, with the last one landing on Decemeber 15

ECONOMY & CORPORATE

• Centre spent Rs 2,355 crore on ads in the last five years: Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
• Reserve Bank will issue two tranches of Sovereign Gold Bonds for public subscription in December and March.
• Reliance Consumer Products launches FMCG brand ‘Independence’.
• Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Ltd set to market general insurance products of Kotak Mahindra General Insurance.

WORLD

• US imposes new sanctions on Russia’s financial sector
• Peru government announces nationwide emergency amid fiery protests
• The UN Economic and Social Council votes to oust Iran due its systematic violation of the rights of women and girls
• World Bank Report: Curbing air pollution in India needs efforts across South Asia

SPORTS

• R Praggnanandhaa tops USD 10,000 Julius Baer Challenger Championship in Tel Aviv.
• Rafael Nadal was crowned the ITF world champion for the fifth time in his career; Top-ranked Iga Swiatek won the women’s award.

UGC Four-Year Undergraduate Programmes

 The “Curriculum and credit framework for four-year undergraduate programmes” was released recently by the University Grants Commission (UGC). This new framework is in line with the National Education Policy, 2020, which recommended four-year undergraduate degrees with multiple entry and exit options.

What are the key features of the framework?

• Students will receive a UG degree after completing 120 credits in three years. To receive UG honours degree, the students need to complete the programme in four years and receive 160 credits. Under the present system, it takes at least 3 years for the students to receive a UG honours degree.
• For students wanting to opt for research specialization at the undergraduate level, they have to secure 75 per cent marks or higher in the first 6 semesters. They can then choose a research stream in the fourth year. They will be eligible for UG degree with honours and research after they complete a research project or dissertation under the guidance of a faculty member and secured 160 credits, along with 12 credits in project/dissertation.
• While it is mandatory to complete at least four years of study for receiving a UG honours degree, there are multiple exit features that allow students to leave with a certificate after completing just one year. This feature requires students to secure 40 credits and one vocational course of four credits during the summer vacation of the first year. They can re-enter the programme within three years and complete it within the maximum period of 7 years.
• Students who choose to exit after completing the second year will be awarded UG diploma if they have 80 credits and completed one vocational course of 4 credits during the summer vacation of the second year. They too can re-enter and complete the degree programme.
• Students pursuing a three-year UG programme under the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) will be eligible for a four-year UG programme. The universities can provide a bridge course to ease students’ transition to the new system.
• Students will be awarded a single major if they secure a minimum of 50 percent credits. For a double major, they are required to secure at least 40 percent credits.

7 important tips to crack JEE main in first attempt

 Students from all around the nation who want to take the IIT examination this year must succeed in the JEE main. One of the most challenging tests offered each year in India is this one. Before exams, applicants' nerves frequently get frazzled. Basically, this test happens every year in the month of January. A student must adhere to a few fundamental and easy strategies in order to pass the exam on the first try. Although these steps are very straightforward, they nevertheless require frequent attention and practice to be successful in the test. So let's get into the specifics of what advice a candidate has to follow in order to pass the JEE exam.

Jee mains Syllabus:-

Students must thoroughly understand the JEE SYLLABUS for the entrance examination in order to pass the test. The rationale is because the question paper is set each year based on this curriculum.

Marking scheme & paper pattern:-

Knowing the paper pattern is crucial to effectively passing JEE Main. The most important aspect to consider when preparing for the test is the marking scheme, the sorts of questions, and the weighting of the marks according to the themes. The confidence of the individual before the exam may be readily increased by administering rigorous mock exams based on the paper patterns.

Study Material:-

Prior to the exam, it is crucial to have the proper study materials. The rationale for this is that it might assist you in receiving the appropriate exam coaching. To provide you the best preparation advice, it must comprise NCERT books, previous year's exam questions, and sample test modules. There are certain websites available nowadays that can provide you free online study materials to help you with your preparation.

Give stress on theory:-

In essence, the JEE question bank combines both numerical and theoretical problems. The majority of JEE questions are often found to come from the theoretical parts rather than the numerical ones. If you are able to adequately prepare for the theoretical portion, it will also be quite simple for you to comprehend the questions in the numerical portion.

Keep your basics clear:-

The most important factor in passing the JEE test is this. If your fundamental ideas are unclear, you might become caught in the middle and lose time. As the JEE test has a set time restriction, time management is crucial in this situation. To prevent exam time loss, proper planning and a good understanding of the subject matter are essential.

Make Notes for each chapter:-

You can recall the concepts more easily if you make useful notes. You may thus review it in the last hours before the exam and increase your confidence. Expert judgement can also be extremely important in this situation at times.

Analyse the previous year question papers:-

To prepare for the JEE test for the first time, it might be wise to analyse the past ten years' question papers. You will get knowledge of the exam's level of difficulty from this, and you can then simply plan out how to perform well on the test.

Double trouble

 From dams to expressways to coal-fired power plants, India’s biodiversity is being battered by the development juggernaut

There’s a new trend in the world of conservation. On the one hand, countries in the Global South are advancing their development agenda with a massive thrust towards building infrastructure. On the other, they are tightening their grip on biodiversity in line with the goals set by the Conference of Parties last year. Both approaches bulldoze local communities that have always conserved forests.

In India, the paradox of development and conservation is quietly unfolding around forests. Call it a double whammy: communities get evicted both by development and conservation. Neither approach sees locals as integral to the landscape. For instance, the country went into a collective ecstasy when cheetahs were reintroduced in the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Few cared about the eviction of tribals. This is not all; around the same area, several infrastructure projects have been unleashed to showcase development.

Kuno is but one example. The disregard for taking communities along is stark. Otherwise, how is it that there isn’t one example of locals being roped in for conservation? Take a look at every major protected area, you’ll find both notions going hand in hand, much to the detriment of communities, with the brunt being borne largely by scheduled tribes who live amidst some of the pristine forests.

From dams to expressways to coal-fired power plants, India’s biodiversity is being battered by the development juggernaut. The same goes for mindless conservation projects that do not factor in the locals inhabiting the ecosystem. The latest strategy adopted by the different states and the Centre is to carve out smaller conservation and community reserves instead of creating big national parks or sanctuaries. The former evokes less opposition and also allows authorities to push for infrastructure projects if needed in those very landscapes they aspire to conserve.

The protected area database (http://www.wiienvis. nic.in/Database/Protected_ Area_854.aspx), throws up a startling development: India hasn’t really seen an increase in sanctuaries and national parks in the last few years. But there’s a burst of small community and conservation reserves — terms denoting protected areas acting as buffer zones or connectors and migration corridors between established national parks or sanctuaries. These categories were first introduced in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002 “because of reduced protection in and around existing or proposed protected areas due to private ownership of land, and land use”. Why this sudden tweak in strategy?

One plausible reason could be that India is wedded to the ambitious spatial targets set by CoP to place nearly 30 per cent of the world’s land and water under formal protection by 2030. This will be seen as a gauge to measure success, never mind the disregard for human rights. Where can you seek to expand the forests or biodiversity? Obviously where protected forests still exist.

An overwhelmingly large population lives within and near protected areas in the Global South, including India. They invest in and contribute to the economy of the commons equally. Most of these are indigenous people using forest resources for livelihood and sustenance. The double whammy of infrastructure projects and expansion of protected areas to meet spatial conservation targets don’t augur well for them. In the long run, it hurts conservation goals too because they pitch the two against each other. That’s one reason why locals went on a rampage near the Pench National Park in Madhya Pradesh after a tiger attacked and killed a human.

It is high time India reviewed its myopic approach and roped local communities into conservation of protected areas to avert a million potential conflicts

Jaideep Hardikar

Source: The Telegraph, 16/12/22