Ghostwriter Makes $14,000 in 8 Months, Quits Job

Most clients come to a ghostwriter with a "brief" that's really just vibes. "Write like me." "Make it professional but casual." "You know what I mean." No. I don't. And neither do you — which is the actual problem. A bad brief doesn't just slow the project down. It guarantees at least two rounds of revisions that could've been avoided, a ghostwriter guessing at your voice instead of channeling it, and content that sounds like you had help. Here's what a good ghostwriting brief actually includes: 1. A reference point, not a mood board. Don't say "I want it to sound like [big name author]." Say: here are three things I've written that I actually liked. Here's one I hated. Concrete examples beat aesthetic inspiration every time. 2. The one thing you want the reader to walk away believing. Not the topic. The thesis. Most clients brief the subject. The ghostwriter needs the argument. 3. Who you're NOT writing for. Knowing your audience is table stakes. Knowing who to ignore? That's what gives copy its edge. 4. What you've already said publicly on this. If you have existing content, social posts, interviews, or talks — share them. A ghostwriter's job is to extend your voice, not invent one. 5. The outcome you want, not just the word count. "1,500 words" is not a goal. "I want this piece to start a conversation that positions me as the go-to voice on X" — that's a goal. Most clients get the brief wrong because they've never had to articulate their own thinking out loud before. That's not a flaw. It's literally why they hired a ghostwriter. But the ghostwriter can only work with what you give them. The brief is the blueprint. A vague blueprint builds a crooked house. I work with founders, consultants, and personal brands to turn their thinking into content that actually sounds like them — not AI, not a template, not a committee. If you're ready to stop guessing and start building a content system that works — let's talk.

Your ghostwriter interviewed you once. In January. It shows. Your posts sound like someone describing you from memory. After one coffee. Three months ago. (Not their fault. It’s how the industry sold it to them.) You’ve already tried the alternatives. Writing it yourself. Worked for a fortnight. Then the pipeline called and the drafts started dying in Notion. AI tools. Gave you content that sounds like everyone else’s content. Another ghostwriter. Different face. Same embalming. Here’s what I do instead. I stay in the room. Calls. Voice notes. The text you fire off at midnight when a client has wound you up. I catch your voice when it shifts, not when it sits still for a headshot. Voice isn’t a document. It’s a pulse. Pulses don’t survive being photographed. (The midnight ones are where the best lines live. Always have been.) I don’t write your posts. I keep up with you. Two slots open for Q2. If your content sounds nothing like you do over dinner, that’s the brief.

I almost didn't become a ghostwriter. Because I believed every myth about it. "It's dishonest." "People will find out." "The content won't sound real." I was wrong about all of it. And so are the executives who use these same objections to stay invisible online. Here's the truth behind every myth: The Ghostwriting Misconception Map. Myth 1: "It's not authentic." Reality:  ↳ Your ideas go in. Your words come out.  ↳ The ghostwriter extracts, not invents.  ↳ A speechwriter doesn't make the President less authentic on stage.  ↳ The thoughts are yours. The polish is theirs. Myth 2: "People will find out." Reality:  ↳ Every CEO book you've admired: ghostwritten.  ↳ Every keynote speech that moved you: ghostwritten.  ↳ Most Forbes bylines from executives: ghostwritten.  ↳ Nobody found out. Because there's nothing to find. Myth 3: "AI can do it cheaper." Reality:  ↳ AI can write words. It can't think like you.  ↳ AI has no memory of your 3am decisions.  ↳ AI has no scar from the deal that fell apart.  ↳ AI has no syrup.  ↳ Your expertise is irreplaceable. AI just generates. Myth 4: "I should write my own content." Reality:  ↳ You should build your own products too.  ↳ And manage your own finances.  ↳ And design your own website.  ↳ You don't. Because leverage exists.  ↳ Content is no different. Myth 5: "It won't sound like me." Reality:  ↳ A bad ghostwriter won't sound like you.  ↳ The right one will sound more like you  ↳ than your own first drafts do.  ↳ Because they're trained to listen  ↳ for what makes your voice yours. Here's what I've learned after years of ghostwriting for founders, executives, and experts: The myth isn't about ghostwriting. It's about fear. Fear of being seen. Fear of saying the wrong thing. Fear that the expertise you've built isn't interesting enough for a feed. It is. You just need someone who knows how to show it. DM me PROFITS and let's clear up whatever myth is keeping you invisible.

People think hiring a ghostwriter is cheating or lazy, so let's talk about why that's complete nonsense and what you're actually paying for. First, you're buying back time. If you're billing $500 an hour as a consultant, spending three hours writing LinkedIn posts every week costs you $1,500. A ghostwriter frees you up to do actual revenue-generating work. Second, you're getting expertise. Writing for social media is a skill. Just because you're brilliant at your job doesn't mean you know how to, or want to structure a post that moves people. I've worked with incredibly smart executives who can close seven-figure deals but don’t know how to tell the story. Different skill sets. Third, consistency. Most people post for two weeks, get good traction, then get bored or busy, then disappear for months. A ghostwriter keeps you visible even when you're slammed with client work or travelling. That consistency is what builds an engaged audience that over time will want your service or refers you as the go-to. Fourth, you're still the expert. A good ghostwriter isn't making things up. They're interviewing you, pulling out your ideas, and translating them into content. You're still providing the insights and expertise. They're just handling the execution. Authors work with editors. Writing is a craft, and outsourcing it doesn't make your ideas less valuable. Nobody cares how the content gets made. They care if it's useful. DM me if you need some help...

A ghostwriter doesn't steal your voice. They finally give you one. For someone who doesn’t know what a “ghostwriter” is: A ghostwriter is a professional who writes for you. But why do you even hire someone rather than doing it yourself? Here’s what a great ghostwriter brings to the table:   1. They save you time: Because high-performing individuals value time the most, trying to fit a writing session into their busy schedule of meetings, decisions, and running their lives might not be a feasible task.   You have the best ideas but not the words: Believe it or not, not every brilliant professional can articulate their ideas compellingly.   Having sharp ideas that can push you to the top is great but explaining them in an understandable way is an entirely different craft.     2. Consistency in voice throughout posts: You might think that writing every post yourself guarantees a consistent voice.   But speaking confidently in your field doesn't automatically translate into a consistent written tone.   A ghostwriter captures your voice and keeps it consistent across every post. 3. Consistency in posting: LinkedIn rewards consistency, and irregular posting on this platform is not humility, it’s invisibility.   A ghostwriter can help deliver fresh posts and relevant ideas exactly when you want.   Consistency builds authority. But it also builds something you cannot afford to lose—trust. 4. Writing is a craft: As bold as it sounds, a ghostwriter knows that a post is not just words grouped together. They know the post has multiple parts and layers that require proper tailoring.   For instance, a hook that makes people stop scrolling. An idea explained in a way that stays with them. Information that your reader(who might not be at your level of expertise) can understand. A clear-call-to-action that’s relevant with your post. A good ghostwriter doesn't just write—they also tell you which ideas are worth posting and which ones aren't ready yet   And many small yet crucial factors that make the difference between a post that's scrolled past and one that's saved.   This craft, like the craft you have, doesn’t come overnight—it requires years of work. So, hiring an expert is simply smart leverage. If this resonated, follow along. More on writing, personal branding, and the craft behind great content, coming regularly.    

How do you build confidence as a NEW ghostwriter? It's normal that you feel all the doubts in the entire world when you're about to begin. But let me give this to you in a simple way: you can build that confidence if you stop waiting to "feel ready." That’s where you've been stuck. You think confidence comes first, then pitching, charging properly, or taking clients seriously. But confidence usually works the other way around. It is built through action. So, here is what can help you: 1️⃣ Start before you feel ready. If you think a magical moment where you suddenly feel qualified will come, it won't. You build confidence by doing the work while feeling uncertain. 2️⃣ Create proof of skill. This means you need to write sample posts, rewrite weak content or build a small portfolio. Nothing boosts confidence faster like seeing evidence that you can actually do the job. 3️⃣ Stop comparing your beginning to someone else’s middle. Many new ghostwriters lose confidence because they compare themselves to people who have years of experience. You don't have the same access as them so focus on progress, not comparison. 4️⃣ Keep improving your craft. As a ghostwriter, you can't rest. You have to learn everyday. The more competent you become, the less shaky confidence feels. Study writing, storytelling, & how people receive it. At the end of the day, you get to build confidence by showing up, learning, & consistently doing the work. P.S. If you’re new to ghostwriting, what part are you struggling with first? Your skill, clients, or believing in yourself? (Even if you're not a ghostwriter...👀. If you're struggling with none, scream chante Hallelujah!!! in the comments)

You're about to fire your ghostwriter. You've done it before. Different writer... Same result. At what point does the pattern become the problem? That question is uncomfortable. It's supposed to be. Because the founders who ask it... are the ones who finally stop changing writers and start actually fixing the problem. Before you send that message. Before you start another search. Here are 𝗙𝗢𝗨�� questions. Answer them honestly. 1. Are you actually showing up? Ghostwriting is not a subscription you set and forget. If your writer is working from a monthly brief and two weeks of silence... the content will reflect that. Empty input. Empty output. Every time. 2. Is your feedback specific? "This doesn't sound like me" has ended more ghostwriting relationships than bad writing ever has. It tells the writer nothing. It changes nothing. And it happens again next month. "I will never use leverage as a verb. I'd lead with the failure before the lesson." That is feedback. That is something a writer can actually use. The difference between those two responses is the difference between a relationship that moves onand one that slowly dies. 3. Is this a content problem or a positioning problem? Say in one sentence what you uniquely believe and exactly who it helps. If you can't, no writer can save you. Not this one. Not the next one. Writers amplify positioning. They don't create it. That part was always your job. 4. Have you given it enough time? Ninety days feels long when you're paying monthly. In thought leadership terms, it's barely a start. Six months of consistent, specific content will outperform two years of irregular perfect posts. The founders who understand the truth stop measuring by the month. They start measuring by the body of work. Replace the writer last. After the brief. After the feedback. After the positioning. After the time. Most founders who work through these four questions arrive at the same quiet realisation. The writer was never the problem. The most expensive mistake is not hiring the wrong ghostwriter. It is what founders do. And once they see that, everything about the way they work changes. That is exactly where we end this series tomorrow. What thought leadership is and why the founders who figure it out stop chasing writers entirely.

"But how can you write emails in my voice?" This is the first thing multi-six-figure founders ask me. And it's a fair concern. Their reputation took years to build. One wrong email and the same years go to waste. 1. People overthink this part 2. It's one of those fears that never happens But back to the voice thing... Writing the emails is the last 1% of my job. Even if I call myself a ghostwriter. Everything before that is what makes them sound like you. • I listen to how you speak. • I ask questions most people never think to ask. • I dig into your stories, your principles, your values… the things that made you who you are. And then I find the parts you forgot were valuable. One client got on a call last week and said: "You did a really good job. I thought… wow, you really captured things I didn't even realize we talked about." Because we did talk about them. And those things she didn’t mention, my GPT - which is part of my system - captured them in 10 minutes. She just didn't know they mattered. Another client told me a story during our first call three weeks ago. Offhand. Almost apologetic about it. "I never shared this before because I had no idea how I could use it." Bro… the story was so good, I had like 6 ideas for just that one story. In the snap of a finger. That's why I love ghostwriting for founders who are experts in their fields. I listen to them. I extract stories that make their emails uniquely theirs. I play a lil’ bit of Tetris (I’m a '90s kid) to fit everything in the right place. Then, write it all down. You talk. I listen. We monetize your offer. Oh… Yes, yes… and I also write your emails. That's how we roll, baby! 🤔 P.S. Have you ever thought about hiring someone to help you with anything that has to do with writing?

Most founders I talk to have already tried a ghostwriter. It usually went like this: they paid someone $2K–$5K a month, got a pile of posts back that sounded vaguely like them, hit publish three times, and then quietly stopped because nothing was happening. The ghostwriter wasn't bad. In fact, the writing was completely fine. The problem is that a ghostwriter is a hammer, and what the founder actually needed was a carpenter. You don't fix a marketing problem by hiring someone to write. You fix it by hiring someone who can decide what to write about, why it matters, who it's for, and what happens after it's published. That's a different job. Ghostwriting is the last mile of a marketing function, not a replacement for one. If your posts are technically well-written and nothing is happening, the writing isn't the issue, the strategy behind the writing is the issue; or the absence of one. This is most of my inbound these days. When's the last time you had a marketing strategy put together by an actual marketer?

When a founder hires a LinkedIn ghostwriter, here's what the process actually looks like... It starts with understanding the client. Before anything gets written, the ghostwriter needs to know who the client is trying to reach (ICP), what they want to be known for, and what they've done and seen that's worth sharing. This usually comes from a detailed intake call (60 mins). From that, a set of topics gets built - ideas drawn from the client's real experience and the questions their target audience actually has. These aren't invented. They come from what the client already knows. Then the writing starts. The ghostwriter drafts posts in the client's voice - the way they speak, the language they use, the things they care about. The client reviews, suggests changes, then approves. Posts go out under the client's name. Over time, the content builds a picture of the client as someone who knows their subject. Which is the whole point right? The most common concern about ghostwriting is that it's "inauthentic". But everything in the post comes from the client. The ghostwriter's job is to take what's already in their head and put it on the page clearly. The thinking is the client's. The writing is just the service.