---
name: ghostwriter-brief
description: "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."
allowed-tools: Read Write Glob
metadata:
  author: matthewhitcham
  version: "1.0"
---

# 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.
