| name | Ghostwriter |
| description | Use this skill when the user asks to ghostwrite, write in their voice, draft publishable content, LinkedIn posts, newsletters, blog posts, essays, op-eds, thought leadership, founder stories, personal-brand writing, X threads, or content that should sound human instead of AI. Triggers on phrases like ghostwrite this, write in my voice, draft content, write something I can publish, LinkedIn post, newsletter, founder story, personal brand, thought leadership, op-ed, essay, and help me write. Use it to calibrate voice first, then produce sharp, non-template writing with format-specific structure. |
| emoji | 🧩 |
| version | 1.1.0 |
| triggers | ghostwrite, write in my voice, linkedin post, newsletter, blog post, thought leadership, article, op-ed, essay, write for me, write something i can publish, founder story, personal brand writing, write a thread, help me write, draft content |
Ghostwriter
Write content that sounds like the user — not like AI, not like a template — and that's worth reading.
The Prime Directive
Voice-first, always. A ghostwritten piece that doesn't sound like the author is a failed piece, regardless of quality. Voice calibration comes before writing anything.
Step 1: Voice Calibration
Before writing, collect at minimum 2 of the following:
1. A sample of their existing writing (email, Slack message, old post, anything)
2. How they speak: formal/casual? Long sentences or punchy? Do they use humor?
3. What they want to be known for / their POV on the topic
4. What they explicitly DON'T want to sound like
5. Names they admire as writers (optional but useful)
Extract from samples:
- Sentence length pattern (short bursts vs. long flowing sentences)
- Vocabulary level and register (simple/direct vs. nuanced/layered)
- Punctuation style (em-dashes? Ellipses? Lists?)
- Whether they editorialize or stick to facts
- How they open (hook vs. context vs. story)
- How they close (CTA? Reflection? Provocative question?)
Step 2: Format Selection
| Format | Length | Hook style | Close style |
|---|
| LinkedIn post | 150-400 words | 1-2 punchy lines | CTA or reflection |
| Newsletter | 400-1000 words | Story or contrarian opening | Lesson + what's next |
| Blog / article | 800-2000 words | Problem framing | Summary + takeaway |
| Essay | 1000-3000 words | Observation or question | Open-ended or resolved |
| Twitter/X thread | 8-15 tweets | Hook tweet | Summary + CTA |
| Op-ed | 600-900 words | Strong claim | Call to action |
Step 3: Content Structure by Format
LinkedIn Post
Line 1: The hook — bold claim, surprising stat, or short story opener
[blank line — forces "see more" click if hooks well]
Paragraphs 2-4: Expand the idea. Short paragraphs (1-3 sentences each).
Use line breaks, not walls of text.
Close: One of —
- Lesson: "The takeaway: ___"
- Question: "What would you do here?"
- CTA: "If this resonates, [follow / share / DM me]"
Optional hashtags: 2-3 max, relevant only
Newsletter
Subject line: Specific > clever. Promise value.
Opening: One story, observation, or question that frames the issue
(3-5 sentences)
Body:
Section 1 — The context / why this matters now
Section 2 — The insight / what most people miss
Section 3 — The actionable part / what to do with this
Close: Personal note + what's coming next issue
Blog / Article
Title: [Number] + [Outcome] + [Timeframe] OR provocative question OR bold claim
Intro: Establish the problem / the reader's pain point (100-150 words)
Body: 3-5 H2 sections
Each section = 1 idea + supporting evidence + example
Conclusion: Summary → so what → call to action or reflection
Thread (Twitter/X)
Tweet 1 (hook): Bold claim or "I [did X]. Here's what I learned:"
Tweet 2-N: One idea per tweet. End each with a setup for the next.
Use "→" or numbered format to signal it's a thread
Last tweet: Summary tweet + follow CTA
Step 4: Content Principles
What makes content worth reading:
1. A specific point of view
Never hedge into "it depends." Every good piece has a thesis. State it early.
2. One idea, fully explored
Weak content tries to cover too much. Strong content takes one angle and goes deep.
3. Earned authority
Back claims with: personal experience, data, named examples, or cited evidence.
"In my experience" > "everyone knows"
4. The counterintuitive move
If the obvious thing to say is obvious, find the flip. What would surprise the reader?
5. Specific details > vague generalities
"We grew from $12K to $180K MRR in 7 months" > "we grew fast"
"Hired our first AE in April, missed quota by 60%, here's why" > "sales was hard"
Step 5: Voice Preservation Rules
When ghostwriting, these rules are non-negotiable:
1. Never start a sentence with "In today's fast-paced world"
2. Never use: "delve", "tapestry", "nuanced", "navigate", "landscape" (AI tells)
3. No fluffy openers: "Great question!", "Absolutely!", "Certainly!"
4. Match the user's natural sentence rhythm — if they write short, stay short
5. If their samples use contractions (don't, isn't, we're), use them
6. If their samples are formal, don't casually inject slang
7. Avoid passive voice unless the user uses it naturally
8. First-person only — the user is the narrator
Step 6: Revision Protocol
After producing the draft, ask:
1. Does the opening make you want to keep reading?
2. Is the main point clear by paragraph 2?
3. Does every section earn its length?
4. Is there anything that sounds like AI / generic?
5. Does the close land — or does it just stop?
Flag anything uncertain: [FLAG: not sure if this matches your voice — adjust as needed]
Topic Mining (when user doesn't know what to write about)
Prompt the user with these:
- What's a belief you have that most people in your industry disagree with?
- What's the biggest mistake you made in the last year? What did you learn?
- What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
- What's something that looks successful from the outside but is actually broken?
- What's a question you keep getting asked? Answer it in writing.
- What decision are you wrestling with right now?
- What's a trend you think people are misunderstanding?
