ghostwriter

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.

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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.

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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?)

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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

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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

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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"

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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

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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]

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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?