From My Desk: Ghostwriter

  Everybody has their own reasons of wanting to earn extra money. I know I do because thanks to PTPTN, now my net asset is negative something. Not that I know my net asset but just put it like that. It sounds so much dramatic, isn't it?

 Anyways, back to the topic (I have the tendency to ramble, not that its not surprising (can I just write a straightforward sentence for once?)), I would like to share something that I do back in my university days. Some people had it easy. No problems with the money and such while others may have to struggle. I know I did.

  So, here's what I did, I tried scouring for freelance jobs over the Internet. And I became a ghostwriter.

  Regardless of the fact that I would love to be known as a terribly great ghost story author, the term ghostwriter does not have the same meaning. It means writing a story for someone and giving all the copyrights to the client. In return, you get money (but not fame that comes from the story writing works. But something got to give don't you think so?). And that was what I did.

  There are many people out there that wants to hire ghostwriters. Usually, these people are from developed countries so they look for alternatives in less developed countries for lower pay. Sensing that this is an opportunity not to be missed, I rode the wave in 2006. I did it for a good few months and the good thing was, it was paid in USD. So, the pay was not bad, considering that I was a student and working from home. 

  It takes a lot of preserverance and setting up a standard to land a job. The most difficult one was of course, to get the first job. After that, you should already have a portfolio so getting other jobs will not be very difficult.

  This applies to my case only. I don't know about others.

  Well, the most important part of getting a freelance job is the sturdiness of the contract. Usually, if the deal was done over a website, it is best to maintain communication on the website only. For example, if kapasitor.net offers me a job from syud, all communications should be maintained on the website only. Furthermore, if the transaction was done over kapasitor.net, it becomes more important to not have any discussions somewhere else.

  I only do online jobs because sadly, some companies either have trouble paying people they hire or just couldn't care less about the contract that is being signed. I'm speaking from experience; from my own and others ( I need advice as a certain company has yet to make any payments to me..pstt!). 

  What I did was writing and you will be amazed what companies outsource people to do.

  So, that was what I did (and still doing). I know other people do freelance jobs too. Why not share with us. Jo? Paktam?