Ghostwriter

Ghostwriter

Transform source material into authentic prose that reads like a real person wrote it.

This is the single writing quality skill. It replaces ai-tells and human-writing. Load this for any writing task.

The One Rule

Never use the correlative construction. This is the #1 AI tell:

• "X isn't just Y - it's Z"
• "It's not about X, it's about Y"
• "More than just X, it's Y"

Find another way. State the thing directly.

Forbidden Patterns (Quick Reference)

These are immediate flags. Full list: references/forbidden-patterns.md

Constructions: "The truth is..." / "Now more than ever..." / "No fluff. No filler. Just results."

Rhetorical flourishes: "The best part? ..." / "Here's the thing..." / "Sound familiar?" / "What if I told you..."

Openers: "In today's fast-paced..." / "In the ever-evolving..." / "Gone are the days..." / "Let's dive in..."

Staccato fragments: "Simple. Clear. Effective." / Short. Choppy. Sentences. Like. This.

Triple adjectives: "Fast, efficient, reliable" - AI groups everything in threes.

AI vocabulary: delve, comprehensive, crucial, vital, leverage, landscape, navigate, foster, facilitate, realm, paradigm, embark, journey, tapestry, myriad, multifaceted, seamless, cutting-edge, supercharge, skyrocket, unlock

Thesaurus abuse: utilize (use), implement (start), optimize (improve), facilitate (help)

Hedging: might/could/perhaps/possibly, "It's worth noting...", "It could be argued..."

Empty enthusiasm: "Absolutely!", "Great question!", "You're absolutely right!"

Format Constraints

• Dashes: hyphens with spaces - like this - not em dashes
• No emojis in body content
• No bold for emphasis within paragraphs (bold is for headers/labels only)
• No "In conclusion" or "In summary"
• Limit transitions to: but, and, so, then, because. Remove: furthermore, moreover, additionally.

Charlie's Signature Moves

When writing in Charlie's voice or for OpenEd:

1. Aphoristic Opening - Thesis as proverb

   • "A vigorous life is the best training for a 50-mile march."

2. Personal-to-Universal Bridge - Start specific, expand to cultural/historical commentary, return with new meaning

3. Intellectual Name-Drop (Earned) - Reference thinkers only when directly relevant. Always explain why.

4. Contrarian Hook - Challenge received wisdom without edgelording

   • "In 99% of cases of chronic sedentarism, the inactive person is not lazy. They're bored."

5. Incarnational Detail - Specific, sensory, grounding

   • RFK walking in "leather Oxford dress shoes"

6. Self-Deprecating Confession - Prevents preachiness, builds trust

   • "I write this admonition as someone who often scrolls Twitter on the couch"

Target tone: A coach who has done the thing and believes you can too. A friend who tells you the truth because he respects you. A fellow traveler, slightly ahead on the path.

The Workflow

Step 1: Understand Source

• What's the core insight or story?
• What's the emotional arc?
• What's the 30-second version?

Step 2: Apply SUCKS Framework

S - Specific: Write for ONE person U - Unique & Useful: Does this change how they think, feel, or act? C - Clear, Curious, Conversational: Reads like talking to a friend K - Kept Simple & Structured: Simple ideas, clear progression S - Sticky: Memorable phrases they'll repeat

Full reference: references/sucks-framework.md

Step 3: Write or Edit

If editing AI output: Rewrite, don't patch. Identify the core message and reconstruct from scratch.

Step 4: Apply Sticky Sentences

Identify 2-3 most important statements. Try alliteration, symmetry, contrast, rhyme, or rhythm. Combine for maximum stickiness. Full reference: references/sticky-sentences-expanded.md

Step 5: Eliminate AI Tells

Scan against references/forbidden-patterns.md. Key checks:

• Correlative constructions
• "Just" and "actually" more than once
• Hedge words (might, could, perhaps)
• Passive voice
• Corporate jargon / thesaurus abuse
• Vague claims without specifics
• Forbidden flourishes and openers

Step 6: Read Aloud

• Does it sound like a real person talking?
• Does energy transfer (conversation, not lecture)?
• Is every sentence earning its place?

The final test: Would this sentence appear in a ChatGPT output? If yes, rewrite it.

Writing Fundamentals

Energy Transfer

The best writing is a transfer of energy from writer to reader. Write conversations, not speeches. Speak WITH your audience, not AT them.

Conciseness

Every word earns its place. Write first draft freely, then delete anything that repeats, softens, sounds formal, or takes extra words.

Be Undeniable

Transform vague claims into concrete specifics:

• Bad: "We've helped many clients"
• Good: "We helped 13 clients boost traffic by 87%-256% in one month"

Leverage Human Desires

Choose 1-2 per piece:

Full reference: references/human-desires.md

Voice References

For adapting to specific styles, read these for the vibe:

• references/pirate-wires-style.md + pirate-wires-examples.md - Contrarian, calling out truths
• references/packy-mccormick-style.md - Trends, accessible analysis
• references/justin-mikolay-style.md - Discovery by deletion, refining
• references/one-thing-better-style.md - Decisions, tradeoffs

References

Consolidates the former ai-tells, human-writing, and ghostwriter skills. Last updated: 2026-02-04.