The Writer Behind the Books You Think Someone Else Wrote

Tobiloba Afolayan is a Nigerian ghostwriter with nine years of professional experience and three published books of his own. Her client work has ranged from personal projects to a celebrity autobiography commissioned for a fortieth birthday, though none of it carries her name. In this edition of The Lane, she traces a career that started with a single unfamiliar word on Nairaland and grew into a full-time life of writing for other people.

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The Word I Didn’t Know

I developed an interest in writing when I was about eight years old. In my family, the expected path was quite defined; you either became a teacher or a lecturer. I went on to study English and Literary Studies, so in many ways, writing felt like the natural direction for me. However, I knew early on that I didn’t want to become a teacher; it just wasn’t something I could see myself doing. Because of that, I began looking for ways to make money from writing while working other jobs. I worked as a customer care support staff for a publishing company and later as a customer care representative at Airtel. Throughout all of this, I never stopped writing.

At the time, I used to visit Nairaland frequently, and one day I came across an advert for ghostwriting. I didn’t even know what “ghostwriting” meant, but I applied anyway. I was simply curious because anything related to writing interested me. Although the job had already been taken, the client decided to test me. I passed, and he was impressed enough to keep in touch and promise to reach out when another opportunity came up. From there, I started getting more writing jobs, and eventually, people began contacting me privately to write for them.

So, what sparked my initial interest in ghostwriting was really just curiosity. I saw a word I didn’t understand, but because it was connected to writing, I knew I wanted to explore it. That curiosity opened the door to everything that followed. I started in 2017, so that makes it nine years now.

The Gap Between the Idea and the Book

Realising how much I enjoyed writing for others and earning from it was what made me pursue ghostwriting more seriously. It wasn’t just about the money, though that was a strong incentive; it was also the discovery that there were so many people with powerful ideas for books who simply didn’t know how to start, or didn’t have the time to bring those ideas to life.

I found real satisfaction in stepping into that gap, helping people turn their thoughts into something tangible and meaningful.

That sense of purpose, combined with the financial reward, made the decision clearer for me. Eventually, I took a leap of faith and left my 9-to-5 job to focus on ghostwriting full-time.

Scammed, Deactivated, Starting Over

Honestly, like many people starting out, it was very tough at the beginning. I faced several challenges that made the journey feel almost discouraging. I was scammed multiple times, on Nairaland and even on Upwork. At one point, my account was deactivated because of a scam-related job. Looking back, I should have known it was too good to be true, but I was still new and eager. It took me almost six months to resolve, and eventually I had to start over from scratch.

In those early days, I was also underpaid on several projects, but I accepted it because I was still building experience. There were times I completed jobs, and the clients simply disappeared without payment. As a novice, that was very frustrating and disheartening. Work wasn’t always consistent either. There were periods, especially during festive seasons, when jobs came in very slowly. On top of that, I had technical challenges with my laptop that caused me to miss deadlines, and of course, the reality of power supply issues didn’t make things any easier.

But all of these experiences shaped me. They taught me resilience, caution, and professionalism. Looking back now, I can say those obstacles were part of the process. They helped build the writer and professional I am today. And I’m still learning and growing.

The Books That Built Me

The books I grew up reading shaped me just as much as the writing did. Growing up, I was greatly inspired by James Hadley Chase. The way he blended mystery with subtle elements of romance fascinated me, and I often found myself imagining that I could write stories like his someday. I was also influenced by Jude Deveraux. I read some of her time-travel novels, and they really expanded my imagination and showed me how stories could move across different worlds and timelines while still feeling deeply emotional. Together, these writers helped shape my creative thinking and pushed me to explore storytelling more seriously. They played a significant role in inspiring my journey into writing.

When it comes to my own work, I love to write romance, with an element of mystery.

Learning to Balance Two Lives

My creative process and focus have evolved significantly over time. I started fully immersed in ghostwriting, but eventually, I felt the need to begin publishing my own books. At first, it was very difficult to balance both. I had ongoing client projects and strict deadlines, so finding time and energy for my own work was a real struggle. Over time, I learned how to create a balance. It’s still not easy, but passion has a way of pushing you through. I became more intentional with my time and more disciplined with my writing.

In terms of growth, I moved from platforms like Nairaland to freelancing sites like Upwork and Freelancer. Eventually, I got to a point where I no longer needed to actively search for clients. Instead, people began reaching out to me directly through messages, emails, and even phone calls. Now, with three published books to my name, I can confidently say that, by God’s grace, I’ve grown. Not just in skill, but in direction and purpose as a writer.

The Clients Who Don’t Know What They Want

Working with different people comes with its own set of challenges. One of the biggest I’ve faced is that many clients don’t fully understand what they want. As a ghostwriter, you sometimes have to guide them through the entire process, almost like teaching them how storytelling works before you can even begin the actual writing.

Another challenge is communication. Some clients can be quite rigid or unwilling to trust the creative process, which makes it difficult to bring out the best in a project. Convincing them to see a different perspective or approach can take time and patience. At times, after submitting a completed work, some clients prefer to circulate it among multiple family members or friends for opinions, sometimes without even reading it themselves first. This can lead to conflicting feedback and delays, even when there were clear agreements in place. It’s something I still experience occasionally.

Trust Is a Two-Way Commitment

Building trust with clients is very important in ghostwriting, especially because they are sharing personal ideas and stories. In some cases, I offer to sign an NDA to put their minds at ease and assure them that their work is protected. Other times, clients come in with a level of trust already, often based on referrals or my previous work. Over time, I’ve built a reputation that helps make that process easier.

I’ve also learned that trust is a two-way commitment. Once a client decides to work with me, there has to be a level of confidence in my ability to handle their ideas with care and professionalism. My responsibility, then, is to honour that trust by delivering quality work and maintaining confidentiality at all times.

The Client Who Came Back

There have been a few moments in my career that really affirmed I was on the right path. One that stands out was when I was in the UK and couldn’t continue working on Upwork due to visa restrictions. I had a client from South Africa who had worked with me before, and she valued my work so much that she asked for my direct contact so we could continue working outside the platform. That level of trust and appreciation meant a lot to me, and I’ve had a few similar experiences since then.

Another major milestone was in 2022, when a well-known Nigerian celebrity hired me to write her autobiography for her fortieth birthday. It was a significant project, and being trusted with something so personal and important was very affirming. Even more meaningful was that she reached out again last year, asking me to help her prepare a piece for an event she was invited to speak at. Moments like these remind me that I’m not just doing the work. I’m building something meaningful, and people trust me enough to keep coming back.

A World Without Creatives

I often imagine how boring society would be without creatives. We are constantly surrounded by their works, whether on television, on the radio, on billboards, in books, or even in the smallest things like flyers and social media content. I believe creatives play a vital role in shaping how people see and understand the world. They don’t just entertain; they inform, inspire, and sometimes challenge society to think differently. Through stories, visuals, and ideas, creatives bring meaning, emotion, and perspective to everyday life. They are very important in society.

My Reward Is in the Impact

Not receiving public credit doesn’t affect me, because my reward is in knowing the work is out there making an impact and, of course, being compensated fairly for it. For me, that’s enough.

Honestly, it doesn’t bother me. I have my own published works that are doing well, and that gives me a sense of fulfilment. Beyond that, it genuinely pleases me to see my clients’ projects succeed. Once I hand a project over, I consider it theirs, not mine, and if possible, I even help them promote it.

What’s Ahead

Looking ahead, I have a few big aspirations. One is to establish a writing school, a place where aspiring writers can learn, grow, and hone their craft. I’m not exactly sure how it will all come together yet, but I hope and trust that it will happen in time. I also dream of hosting writing fellowships or conventions for emerging writers, creating opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and inspiration. With God’s grace, I hope to bring these visions to life in the future.

Nothing is impossible. If you can see the future you want, you can achieve it. I never even imagined ghostwriting was a thing when I was growing up; I just wanted to earn from my writing at a time when it seemed impossible. But here I am today. My advice to anyone starting out is simple: read more, write more, share your work, and use your social media platforms to promote it. Believe in yourself, pray, work hard, and stay consistent. That future you’re imagining? It can absolutely be yours.

Title	Creator/Author	Why It Matters
Various mystery-romance novels	James Hadley Chase	“The way he blended mystery with subtle elements of romance fascinated me”
Time-travel novels	Jude Deveraux	“They really expanded my imagination and showed me how stories could move across different worlds and timelines”