How to Brief a Ghostwriter So They Nail Your Voice

Why a Detailed Brief Is the Foundation of Great Ghostwriting

Hiring a ghostwriter is one of the smartest moves an author or entrepreneur can make. But there's a common misconception that a talented ghostwriter can simply figure out your voice on their own. The truth is, even the most skilled ghostwriter is working with limited information until you give them a thorough brief.

Think of a ghostwriter brief as the instruction manual for sounding like you. The more detail you pack into it, the less time you'll spend on revisions, the fewer misunderstandings you'll have, and the faster you'll end up with a manuscript that genuinely feels like it came from your own mind and heart.

This guide walks you through every section of a powerful brief (from tone of voice to pet peeves), so your ghostwriter can hit the ground running.

Defining Your Tone of Voice

Tone of voice is the single most important thing to communicate in your brief. It's not just about what you say — it's about how you say it. And it's surprisingly hard to articulate until you break it down into its component parts.

Formal vs. Conversational

Ask yourself: do you write like you're presenting at a conference, or like you're chatting with a friend over coffee? Most non-fiction authors and entrepreneurs land somewhere in the middle, but it's worth being specific. Phrases like “moderately conversational, but never slangy” or “professional but approachable, no jargon” give your ghostwriter a clear target.

Humour Level

Do you use humour at all? If so, what kind — dry wit, self-deprecating anecdotes, the occasional pop-culture reference? Or do you prefer to keep things earnest and straightforward? There's no wrong answer, but your ghostwriter needs to know whether to reach for a joke or stay serious.

Energy and Pacing

Some writers have a high-energy, punchy style — short sentences, lots of white space, a sense of momentum. Others are more measured and expansive, building arguments carefully over longer paragraphs. Describe the feeling you want your writing to have. Words like “energetic,” “calm,” “urgent,” “reflective,” or “bold” are genuinely useful here.

Knowing Your Audience

Your ghostwriter isn't just writing in your voice — they're writing to your readers. The more clearly you can describe your audience, the better your ghostwriter can calibrate every sentence.

Demographics and Context

Who are your readers? Are they busy professionals in their 40s? First-time entrepreneurs in their 20s? Aspiring authors who've never published before? Knowing the basics — age range, professional background, life stage — helps your ghostwriter make smart choices about vocabulary, examples, and assumed knowledge.

Pain Points and Motivations

What problem is your reader trying to solve? What do they lie awake worrying about? What outcome are they hoping your book will deliver? When your ghostwriter understands the emotional stakes for your reader, they can write with genuine empathy and relevance.

Reading Level and Sophistication

Are your readers comfortable with industry terminology, or do you need to explain concepts from scratch? Do they appreciate nuance and complexity, or do they want clear, actionable takeaways? This shapes everything from sentence length to the depth of explanation your ghostwriter will provide.

Sharing Writing Samples

No amount of description substitutes for showing your ghostwriter what you've already written. Even if you feel your existing writing is rough or unpolished, it contains invaluable clues about your natural voice.

Share a mix of:

• Blog posts or articles you've written yourself (not edited by someone else)
• Emails or newsletters, which are often the most authentic window into your voice
• Social media posts that felt particularly you
• Previous book chapters or drafts, even early ones
• Transcripts of talks or podcasts you've given

Highlight the pieces you're most proud of, and flag anything that doesn't sound like you — perhaps something that was heavily edited by someone else. The contrast is just as instructive.

Personality Quirks and Idiosyncrasies

This is the section most authors skip — and it's often the one that makes the biggest difference. Your voice isn't just your vocabulary and sentence structure; it's the you-ness that comes through in the details.

Consider sharing:

• Signature phrases or expressions you use regularly (“the bottom line is,” “here’s the thing,” “let me be direct”)
• Storytelling habits: do you always open with an anecdote? Do you use rhetorical questions?
• How you handle transitions: do you use bold signposting (“First… Second… Finally…”) or do you prefer flowing prose?
• Your relationship with data: do you love citing statistics, or do you prefer to make your case through stories and examples?
• Punctuation quirks (em dashes, ellipses, Oxford commas): these small choices add up to a recognisable style

The more specific you can be, the more your ghostwriter can replicate the texture of your writing rather than just its surface features.

Things to Avoid

Just as important as what you want is what you absolutely don't want. A clear list of no-gos saves everyone time and frustration.

Pet Peeves

Most writers have words or phrases that make them cringe. Common ones include “leverage” (as a verb), “synergy,” “game-changer,” “hustle,” or “journey.” List yours. Your ghostwriter will thank you.

Banned Phrases and Clichés

Beyond individual words, are there whole categories of language you want to avoid? Corporate-speak? Motivational-poster platitudes? Overly academic language? Be explicit.

Off-Limits Topics

Are there subjects, opinions, or areas of controversy you don't want the book to touch? Perhaps there are competitors you don't want to name, political topics you want to sidestep, or personal experiences you've decided to keep private. Make this clear upfront so your ghostwriter doesn't inadvertently go somewhere you don't want to go.

Reference Authors and Influences

One of the fastest ways to communicate your ideal style is to point to writers you admire. This doesn't mean your ghostwriter will copy them — it means they'll understand the register you're aiming for.

For each reference author, try to explain what specifically you admire. “I love Malcolm Gladwell’s ability to make complex ideas feel accessible through storytelling” is far more useful than simply listing his name. Similarly, “I like Brené Brown’s warmth and vulnerability, but I want to be slightly more direct” gives your ghostwriter a nuanced target to aim for.

You can also reference books in your genre that you feel are doing it right — and ones you feel are getting it wrong. Both are instructive.

The Revision Process

Setting clear expectations around revisions before the project begins prevents a huge amount of friction later. Be upfront about:

Number of Revision Rounds

How many rounds of revisions are included? Most ghostwriting arrangements include two to three rounds per chapter or section. Agree on this in advance so neither party feels taken advantage of.

What Good Feedback Looks Like

Vague feedback like “this doesn’t feel right” is frustrating for a ghostwriter and rarely leads to improvement. Teach yourself — and commit to — specific feedback: “This paragraph is too formal,” “I wouldn’t use the word ‘utilise’ — I’d say ‘use,’” or “This example doesn’t resonate with my audience because…”

The more precise your feedback, the faster your ghostwriter can calibrate to your voice.

Turnaround Expectations

How quickly do you need to review drafts? How quickly do you expect revisions back? Agreeing on realistic timelines upfront — and building in buffer for busy periods — keeps the project moving without unnecessary stress on either side.

Sample Brief Template

Use this template as a starting point. Fill it in as thoroughly as you can — the more detail, the better.

Section 1: Project Overview

• Book title (working):
• Genre / category:
• Target word count:
• Intended audience:
• Core promise of the book (what will the reader gain?):

Section 2: Tone of Voice

• Formal to conversational (scale of 1–10, where 1 = academic and 10 = casual chat):
• Humour level and type:
• Energy / pacing:
• Three adjectives that describe your ideal writing style:

Section 3: Audience Profile

• Demographics (age, profession, life stage):
• Primary pain points:
• What they've already tried:
• Desired outcome from reading your book:
• Reading sophistication level:

Section 4: Writing Samples

• Links or attachments to your best existing writing:
• Notes on what you like / dislike about each sample:

Section 5: Voice Quirks

• Signature phrases you use:
• Storytelling habits:
• Punctuation preferences:
• Relationship with data and statistics:

Section 6: Avoid List

• Words and phrases to never use:
• Topics or opinions that are off-limits:
• Stylistic approaches you dislike:

Section 7: Reference Authors

• Authors you admire and why:
• Books in your genre you love:
• Books in your genre you dislike (and why):

Section 8: Revision Process

• Number of revision rounds agreed:
• How you'll deliver feedback:
• Turnaround time for reviews:
• Turnaround time for revisions:

Closing Thoughts

A great ghostwriter brief isn't a bureaucratic formality; it's an act of generosity toward your collaborator and, ultimately, toward yourself. The more clearly you communicate who you are, how you think, and what you want, the more your ghostwriter can focus their energy on the craft rather than the guesswork.

Take the time to fill in your brief thoroughly before your project begins. Revisit it after the first chapter comes back — you'll almost certainly have new things to add once you see your voice reflected (or not quite reflected) on the page.

Ready to find the right ghostwriter for your project? Explore our resources on vetting ghostwriters, setting project milestones, and protecting your work with the right contract — so your book gets written the right way, in your voice, from start to finish.