How to Brief a Ghostwriter for the Best Results
When you hire a ghostwriter, your brief becomes the bridge between your ideas and their words. A great writer can only deliver great work if they fully understand your goals, audience, and voice.
Although I strive to learn as much as I can from your existing content, it’s vital that we understand each other. This guide walks you through exactly how to brief a ghostwriter for maximum results, from defining your objectives to giving feedback the right way. I’ve included the template we will work through together as well.
My job is to make this process as easy for you as possible.
Why a Strong Brief Makes or Breaks Your Project
Hiring a ghostwriter is like building a house, and your brief is the blueprint. Without one, even the best writer is guessing what you want.
A clear brief:
Aligns expectations early.
Saves time and money.
Ensures the content sounds like you.
Builds trust and reduces stress.
In short: a detailed ghostwriter brief leads to better writing, faster results, and fewer revisions.
What to Include in a Ghostwriter Brief
A ghostwriter brief is your roadmap for collaboration. Let’s break down each section.
1. Project Overview
Define the project type (book, blog post, email course, etc.), its purpose, and your desired outcome.
Example: “A 10-chapter eBook to establish authority and grow my audience.”
2. Audience Details
Who is the content for? Include demographics, pain points, and motivations.
This helps your ghostwriter choose the right tone and level of expertise.
3. Core Message & Takeaways
Clarify the “big idea” and the main lessons readers should remember.
A focused message keeps your writing sharp and memorable.
4. Deliverables & Scope
List what’s included (and what’s not):
Word count
Number of drafts and revisions
SEO or research requirements
Any bonus assets (e.g., checklists or summaries)
5. Outline or Structure
If you have a framework or key talking points, include them. It’s easier to edit the structure early than after a full draft is written.
6. Tone, Voice, and Style
Describe your voice using adjectives: authoritative, warm, conversational, or academic.
Provide “do’s and don’ts” or share links to writing samples.
7. References and Resources
Attach brand guidelines, articles, or previous work your ghostwriter can learn from. Context = accuracy.
8. SEO Guidelines
If this is web content, include:
Target and secondary keywords
Internal links
Meta title and description preferences
CTA (Call-to-Action)
9. Timeline and Milestones
Outline the full schedule: kickoff, drafts, revisions, and final delivery.
Use a simple table for clarity.
10. Budget, Payment & Communication
Transparency avoids awkwardness.
Include payment structure and communication preferences (email, Slack, calls).
How Detailed Should You Be?
Finding the balance between too vague and too detailed is key.
Under-briefing: Leaves your writer guessing.
Over-briefing: Stifles creativity.
✅ Be specific about outcomes, audience, and tone.
✅ Be flexible about storytelling, phrasing, or structure.
✅ Encourage suggestions — many ghostwriters have marketing experience that can improve your content.
Communicating Your Voice and Personality
Even the best ghostwriter can’t mimic what they can’t hear. Help them understand your authentic voice:
Share your writing samples. Highlight what feels “on brand.”
Record a voice memo. Spoken tone helps writers catch your rhythm.
Create a “voice map.” List your stylistic do’s and don’ts.
Provide tone examples. Show what “too serious” or “too casual” looks like.
Managing Feedback and Revisions
Revisions are part of the process, but they don’t have to be painful.
Consolidate feedback into one version.
Give specific, actionable notes.
Limit revision rounds in the agreement.
Set turnaround times for both sides.
Communicate through a single platform (like Google Docs).
Good feedback sounds like this:
“Can we make this section sound more conversational, like a LinkedIn post?”
—not—
“I don’t like this part.”
Example of a Professional Ghostwriter Brief
Project: The Empathy-Driven CEO
Goal: Build authority and attract speaking invitations.
Audience: Founders aged 30–45 leading remote teams.
Tone: Conversational and confident.
Outline: 8 chapters focusing on empathy, leadership, and culture.
Keywords: empathy in leadership, emotional intelligence, modern leadership.
Deliverables: eBook (~8,000 words), 2 revision rounds.
Timeline: 6-week delivery schedule.
Budget: $3,000 split into three payments.
Communication: Weekly check-ins via email.
Common Mistakes When Briefing a Ghostwriter
Avoid these pitfalls:
Being vague about your goals.
Not defining your audience.
Sending conflicting feedback.
Changing direction mid-draft.
Ignoring SEO or tone consistency.
Micromanaging sentence-by-sentence.
Pro Tips for Smooth Collaboration
Start with a kickoff call.
Encourage open questions.
Use one “source of truth” for edits.
Wait for full drafts before revising.
Pay promptly and show appreciation — it strengthens the partnership.
Free Ghostwriter Brief Template
Want a done-for-you template? Copy and paste this outline or download your own version below.
Sections to Include:
Project Overview
Audience
Key Message
Deliverables
Outline
Tone & Style
SEO Keywords
Timeline
Budget
Communication
CTA:
👉 [Download the Free Ghostwriter Brief Template Here]
The Brief Is the Blueprint
When it comes to ghostwriting, clarity is essential.
A detailed brief tells your writer:
Who they’re writing for
What success looks like
How to capture your unique voice
The result? Faster drafts, fewer revisions, and content that truly sounds like you.
Take time to build your brief right, and your ghostwriter will deliver results that exceed expectations every time.
Ready to create content to grow your brand, build authority, and convert leads? Let’s talk!