# Ghostwriter Brief > Creates comprehensive briefs for ghostwriters including voice samples, topic guidance, SEO targets, and style rules. Use when hiring a writer and need to communicate your expectations clearly. - Skill: `reaperinvest/ghostwriter-brief` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add reaperinvest/ghostwriter-brief` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/reaperinvest/ghostwriter-brief/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Marketing & Growth - Author: reaperinvest (https://skillmd.com/u/reaperinvest) - Updated: 2026-09-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/reaperinvest/ghostwriter-brief --- # Ghostwriter Brief ## When to Use This Skill Use this skill when you need to: - Onboard a ghostwriter or freelance writer with a clear brief - Document your brand voice, tone, and style preferences for a content hire - Create a reusable brief template for recurring content assignments - Ensure content produced by others sounds like you **DO NOT** use this skill to write the content itself. This produces the brief that guides someone else to write it. --- ## Core Principle A GHOSTWRITER BRIEF MUST BE SPECIFIC ENOUGH THAT TWO DIFFERENT WRITERS WOULD PRODUCE SIMILAR-SOUNDING CONTENT — VAGUE BRIEFS PRODUCE VAGUE CONTENT. --- ## Phase 1: Brief ### Required Inputs | Input | What to Ask | Default | |-------|------------|---------| | **Content type** | "What will the ghostwriter produce? Blog posts, social media, emails, all of the above?" | Blog posts | | **Voice samples** | "Share 2-3 pieces of content you've written that represent how you want to sound." | No default — strongly recommended | | **Audience** | "Who is reading this content?" | Solopreneurs and small business owners | | **Topics / niche** | "What topics will the writer cover?" | No default — must be provided | | **Publishing cadence** | "How often will they produce content?" | Weekly | | **SEO targets** | "Are there keywords or SEO goals for this content?" | None — writer can suggest | | **Content they should NEVER write** | "Any topics, tones, or positions that are off-limits?" | None stated | **GATE: Confirm all inputs before building the brief.** --- ## Phase 2: Outline ### Brief Sections ``` 1. Overview — who you are, what the writer is producing, and why 2. Audience Profile — detailed description of the reader 3. Voice & Tone Guide — how the content should sound 4. Style Rules — grammar, formatting, and structural preferences 5. Topic Guidance — what to write about and what to avoid 6. SEO Requirements — keyword targets and technical SEO rules 7. Workflow — submission process, revision expectations, deadlines 8. Examples — annotated samples of good and bad content ``` **GATE: Confirm outline structure before writing full brief.** --- ## Phase 3: Write ### Section-by-Section Guide **1. Overview (100-150 words)** - Who you are and what your business does - What the ghostwriter will produce (type, frequency, length) - Where it will be published - The business goal of the content **2. Audience Profile (150-200 words)** - Demographics: age range, role, industry - Pain points: what keeps them up at night - Goals: what they are trying to achieve - Content preferences: how they consume content, what resonates **3. Voice & Tone Guide (200-300 words)** Provide concrete characteristics with examples: ``` ## Voice Characteristics **We sound like:** A smart friend who runs a business — direct, practical, zero fluff **We do NOT sound like:** A corporate press release or an academic paper | Trait | What This Means | Example | |-------|----------------|---------| | Direct | Get to the point in the first sentence | "Here's how to fix your pricing." NOT "In this article, we will explore..." | | Conversational | Write like you talk | Use contractions, fragments are fine, ask questions | | Confident | State opinions without hedging | "This is the best approach" NOT "This could potentially be a good approach" | | Specific | Use numbers and examples | "We grew from $5K to $50K/mo" NOT "We experienced significant growth" | ``` **4. Style Rules (150-200 words)** | Rule | Preference | |------|-----------| | **Paragraphs** | 2-4 sentences max | | **Headings** | H2s for major sections, H3s for sub-sections | | **Lists** | Use bullet points for 3+ items | | **Oxford comma** | Yes / No | | **Numbers** | Spell out under 10, use digits for 10+ | | **Links** | Descriptive anchor text only | | **Formatting** | Bold key phrases, no italic for emphasis | **5. Topic Guidance (150-200 words)** - List 5-10 core topics they should write about - List topics that are off-limits - Specify any positions or opinions the brand holds on controversial topics - Note any competitors they should or should not mention **6. SEO Requirements (100-150 words)** - Keyword placement rules (H1, first 100 words, etc.) - Meta description format - Internal linking expectations - Target word count range **7. Workflow (100-150 words)** - Submission format (Google Doc, Markdown, CMS draft) - Revision process (how many rounds, turnaround time) - Deadline expectations - Communication channel (email, Slack, etc.) **8. Examples — Annotated (200-300 words)** - Include 2-3 paragraphs of content that nails the voice (with annotations explaining WHY it works) - Include 1-2 examples of content that misses the mark (with annotations explaining what is wrong) --- ## Phase 4: Polish ### 1. Brief Checklist ``` ## Ghostwriter Brief Checklist - [ ] Overview clearly states what the writer will produce - [ ] Audience profile is specific enough to picture a real person - [ ] Voice guide includes concrete examples (not just adjectives) - [ ] Style rules cover grammar, formatting, and structural preferences - [ ] Topic list has both "write about" and "never write about" sections - [ ] SEO requirements are specific and actionable - [ ] Workflow section covers deadlines, revisions, and submission format - [ ] Good and bad examples are annotated with explanations - [ ] Brief is written clearly enough that a new writer could start immediately ``` ### 2. Onboarding Suggestion Recommend a paid test assignment: one piece of content (500-800 words) on a specific topic, using the brief, with a 5-day turnaround. Evaluate before committing to ongoing work. --- ## Example: Brief for a Weekly Business Blog Ghostwriter ``` ## Voice Characteristics We sound like: A mentor who's done the thing — not lecturing, but sharing what worked We do NOT sound like: A textbook, a hype-y marketer, or a Silicon Valley thought leader Good: "I tested 4 pricing models last year. Here's the one that stuck and why." Bad: "In today's competitive landscape, leveraging optimal pricing strategies is essential for sustainable growth." ## Style Rules - Short paragraphs (3 sentences max) - Oxford comma: yes - Bold key phrases for skimmers - Every post opens with a personal anecdote or specific data point - No "In today's world..." or "As we all know..." openers ``` --- ## Anti-Patterns - **Vague voice descriptions** — "Professional but fun" means nothing. Give examples of sentences that nail the voice. - **No examples** — a brief without sample content forces the writer to guess. Always include annotated examples. - **Over-constraining** — 40 pages of rules paralyze writers. Keep the brief to 2-4 pages that cover the essentials. - **No off-limits list** — ghostwriters will accidentally write about sensitive topics if you do not explicitly say what to avoid. - **Skipping the test assignment** — never commit to ongoing work without seeing how the writer interprets your brief. --- ## Recovery - **No voice samples available:** Interview the user with 5 questions about their voice preferences. Write 3 sample paragraphs in different tones and have them pick the closest match. - **Brief is too long:** Cut to the 4 most critical sections: voice guide, style rules, topic guidance, and one annotated example. - **Writer keeps missing the mark:** The brief likely has a gap. Ask which specific elements feel off and add a "common mistakes" section. - **Multiple content types:** Create a master brief with shared voice/style sections, then add content-type-specific appendices.