From $15/hr Music Intern to $200K+ Ghostwriter

Before we get into this week’s edition, we want to share that our Facebook page was hacked. ⚠️

In our Two Cents podcast last week, we broke down the deceiving new way this scam was structured, our advice to protect yourself, and how we got our account back.

Most importantly, please remember that we will never DM or email you asking for money, payments, or anything suspicious. Emails from us will always end in ‘@salarytransparentstreet.com’ (with the exception of this beehiiv newsletter), and our social accounts are always blue checkmark verified.

If you ever get a message claiming to be from us, please double-check the sender and, when in doubt:

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2) Send us an email or DM to verify

Thanks for sticking with us, and now let’s dive into today’s topic: freelancing as a ghostwriter. 👻

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Making a living as a writer is more realistic than you think. There’s no degree or corporate experience required; all you need is a willingness to learn and put yourself out there!

Meet Alice Lemee: she went from making $15 an hour as a music intern to earning up to $200,000 as a freelance ghostwriter, creating content for CEOs, online creators, celebrities, and other professionals alike.

Now, she shares her expertise via Substack and LinkedIn (and with us in an exclusive interview for Two Cents and this newsletter!) 👇

✍️ How to Get Started

Alice got a jump on her journey by teaching herself. She invested in coaching, posted blogs on Medium, and shared insights on Twitter. Within three months, she had 2–3 clients and was earning $5,000 a month.

Want to teach yourself? Check out these free courses and guides:

• Our Creative Career Guide

• Building Your Freelancing Career

• The Strategy of Content Marketing

💡 Lessons Learned

Freelancing isn’t all freedom and flexibility; there are challenges, too.

Taxes, healthcare, unpredictable income, and even a “not so set” schedule, can feel overwhelming at first. Alice says the key is planning ahead, budgeting smartly, and not letting the scary stuff stop you from starting.

One of her biggest tips? Start with clients you already know. “The fact that you’re already familiar with their team and business model is an advantage, and you’d save them from spending the time trying to hire someone new,” she explains.

She also swears by diversifying how you make money:

• Ghostwriting services: writing newsletters, social posts, and copywriting

• Coaching services: helping creators grow their presence and content strategy

🤖 Standing Out with AI

Worried about where you could stand with AI in the mix?

Alice isn’t. “AI will never drive the writer fully into extinction,” she says.

And we couldn’t agree more! At the end of the day, people want a personal touch. They want to connect with real people and voices who share the human experience.

Curious about how to use AI to your advantage? Alice shares her tips:

• Develop a unique voice: AI can’t replicate your personal style or perspective

• Leverage personal stories: Readers connect with human experiences, not code

• Do what AI can’t: Creativity, empathy, and storytelling will always set you apart

• Use AI as a research assistant: Use it to help you break down tricky topics or jargon so it’s easier to understand

• Find fun facts and insights: AI can help you zero in on details or half-formed ideas and bring your vision to life

AI courses to help you get started:

• Google AI Essentials

• Generative AI for Digital Marketing

• AI for Business: Branding, Creative Content, and Marketing Specialization

📝 Practical Tips

If you’re just getting started as a freelance writer, Alice has some great advice to help you kick things off:

• Start before you’re hired: Launch a Substack or post content on LinkedIn to showcase your writing skills

• Focus on clients’ needs: When pitching, highlight how you can help your prospective client grow, rather than listing your past achievements

• Keep your services simple: Offer 2–3 services you know you’re the best at (don’t overwhelm clients with too many options)

Want more tips on building a freelance career and ghostwriting like a pro? ➡️ Read Alice’s full story and advice here.

Have you ever wanted to work in the creator economy, but not as a creator? Good news! There are TONS of roles within this industry that don't require you to be in front of the camera, but instead support existing creators.

This week, Hannah and James run through 20+ different roles within the creator economy, what they are, how to find them, and how to price your services accordingly. Tune in here!

• Not sure where you fit in tech? 💻 Take our quiz to find your job match

• Job interview coming up? ⛔ Here’s what not to say

• Impostor syndrome creeping up? 😬 Flip the script with these reader tips

• Seniors are working longer 👴 15 in-demand jobs for retirees

• Students are just getting started 🎒 25 of the best jobs for college students

See you next week for more career tips, money moves, and transparent advice! 💚