# Ghostwriter > Transform source material into authentic, human-written content. Use for ANY writing task - newsletters, articles, social posts, emails. Combines voice transformation, AI pattern detection, and Charlie Deist's signature moves. Replaces the old ai-tells and human-writing skills. Use when this capability is needed. - Skill: `tomevault-io/ghostwriter` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/ghostwriter` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/ghostwriter/raw - Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS) - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Productivity - Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/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: | Desire | Use When | |--------|----------| | Safety of Tribe | Community content | | Survival & Success | Achievement content | | Life Enjoyment | Lifestyle content | | Social Acceptance | Status content | | Comfort & Clarity | Explanatory content | | Freedom From Fear | Protective content | 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 | File | Contents | |------|----------| | `references/forbidden-patterns.md` | Complete AI pattern detection (200+ patterns) | | `references/humanization-workflow.md` | Step-by-step editing process + Charlie's moves | | `references/sucks-framework.md` | Pre-writing checklist | | `references/sticky-sentences-expanded.md` | Deep dive on memorable phrasing techniques | | `references/human-desires.md` | 8 core desires for emotional hooks | | `references/pirate-wires-*.md` | Voice examples | --- *Consolidates the former `ai-tells`, `human-writing`, and `ghostwriter` skills. Last updated: 2026-02-04.* --- > Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/cdeistopened) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.