Ghostwriting Services Guide

If you think ghostwriting is just writing… you’ve already missed the point. You don’t just write words. You become them. Their thinking. Their essence. Their tone. It’s not your voice. It’s theirs; polished, clear, confident. How to Be a Better Ghostwriter (Even if You're Just Starting) 1// Absorb before you write • Listen to them, read their old posts, and study their quirks. • Obsess over their patterns. 2// Build a tone board • A small doc with their typical phrases, sentence lengths, emojis, and writing mood (Funny? sharp? visionary? vulnerable?). 3// Interview like a journalist • Don’t just ask for topics!! • Extract their stories, analogies, and opinions. • Let their voice shape their words. 4// Mirror their mindset, not just their words • If they’re bold, be bold. • If they question norms, so should your drafts. • You’re not imitating; you’re embodying. 5// Edit with detachment • If it sounds like you, not them then cut it. • It’s not about showing off your skills. • It’s about disappearing behind their brilliance. I’m currently open to 1 ghostwriting spot. If you're building a personal brand and want someone who can write exactly like you DM me. Let’s bring your voice to life.

You can’t just hire a ghostwriter, hand them your login, and expect magic. Your personal brand IS NOT a one-size-fits-all content factory. It’s your voice, your insights, your credibility on the line. I see so many leaders outsourcing their entire profile to a ghostwriter with zero involvement of their own and then act shocked when things go south. A ghostwriter is only as good as the inputs they get. - If you don’t set clear expectations, don’t expect quality content. - If you don’t review what’s being put out, don’t expect authenticity. - If you don’t provide your insights, don’t expect originality. And let’s talk about plagiarism. If a ghostwriter is straight-up copy-pasting content, that’s a bad ghostwriter, not a problem with ghostwriting itself. (You need to change your ghostwriter) A good ghostwriter doesn’t just fill up your feed. They capture your voice, bring fresh ideas, and ensure that what’s posted actually reflects you. If you’re outsourcing without due diligence, the risk isn’t just bad content, it’s your credibility on the line. Ghostwriters don’t ruin personal brands. Careless outsourcing does. #shambhavi_writes

"𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻." That’s what I told a client a month ago and it changed everything. They came to me frustrated, overwhelmed, and honestly, a bit lost. They had a writer, 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆. Content was going out. But it was lifeless. No engagement. No traffic. No spark. When I asked about their process monthly strategy syncs, voice alignment, narrative goals they just shrugged. “There are none. I just hired a writer to write stuff for me.” That’s the moment I had to say it, bluntly: “𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲. If you’re not showing up with your voice, no one else can fake it for you.” Here’s the reality most people forget about ghostwriting: 𝗚𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀. We can write in your voice , but only if you give us that voice. We can reflect your brand , but only if you reveal your brand to us. We can turn your story into engaging content, but only if you share the story. That client had amazing wins launches, travels, insights , but they weren’t showing up for their own narrative. No calls. No feedback. No clarity. And then they wondered why it wasn’t working. So we reset.  We started having real conversations. They began showing up not with polished pitches,  but real human stories, raw ideas, and imperfect voice notes. Suddenly, the content started to breathe. Engagement tripled. Traffic doubled. Leads flowed in. And for the first time, their audience actually saw them. So what both sides need to understand: 👉 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁: You’re not outsourcing a task. You’re inviting a creative partner into your brand’s soul. Be involved. Give clarity. Share stories. Your ghostwriter can write for you, but not without you. 👉 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿: Don’t accept gigs where the client wants a shortcut. Push for conversations, context, and collaboration. If they want results, they need to show up too. Great content is not a solo act. It’s a co-creation. The writer amplifies the signal. The client provides the frequency. So, before you hire a ghostwriter or a content partner, Ask yourself: Are you ready to show up for your brand? 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗰𝗼-𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆.

3 ways to master ghostwriting for clients: 1. Capture their tone → How do they communicate? ↳ Record client meetings (use tl;dv). ↳ Note their speech patterns and emphasis. 2. Understand their mindset → What drives their perspective? ↳ Ask about their outlook and emotions. ↳ Understand the feeling they want to convey. 3. Learn from feedback → How can you improve your drafts? ↳ Compare your draft with their edits. ↳ Spot differences and adjust your style. Remember to increase readability and maintain authenticity: ✓ Use active voice for impact. ✓ Maintain clarity and avoid jargon. ✓ Identify and incorporate their go-to phrases. P.S. What's your secret to capturing a client's voice in your writing?

I ghostwrite for founders, and here’s 3 mistakes almost all of them make before they hire me. Most founders think hiring a ghostwriter will solve their content problem. It won't. Because ghostwriting isn't magic. It's collaboration. And most founders show up expecting one, not the other. That’s exactly why my ghostwriting clients don’t just “get posts”, they get positioning, strategy, and collaboration so their content actually reflects who they are and what they’re building. (If you’re curious what that actually looks like, it’s all here: https://lnkd.in/gNhiyVZd) Here's the 3 biggest mistakes I see: 1) "Just make me sound smart." This is the worst brief you can give. Smart how? To whom? About what? If you can't articulate what you want to be known for, no ghostwriter can figure it out for you. 2) Handing over your bio and disappearing. Ghostwriters aren't mind readers. We need your stories. Your opinions. Your weird takes that make you different. A LinkedIn bio and a 30-minute call won't cut it. The best content comes from founders who stay involved. Who share voice memos, client conversations, and random thoughts at 2pm on a Tuesday. 3) Expecting results without investment. Not money. Time. If you're too busy to review drafts, give feedback, or share what's actually happening in your business... Your content will sound generic. Because it is. Good ghostwriting is a partnership, not a service you set and forget. The founders who get results know what they stand for, they stay in the loop and hey treat their ghostwriter like a teammate, not a vendor. I've said it before: ghostwriters who just paste bios into ChatGPT are becoming unemployable. But so are founders who expect magic without input. PS. Have you ever worked with a ghostwriter? What was your experience? 👇🏻

7 rules for ghostwriters that no one talks about (but everyone should).     This is not about “meet deadlines” or “know your client’s voice.”     This is the unwritten rulebook for ghostwriting that separates amateurs from pros.     → Rule 1: You are not the hero of this story.   - Your client’s name is in lights, not yours.   - If you crave credit, ghostwriting isn’t your lane.   - Disappear gracefully when the work is published.     → Rule 2: Under-promise. Over-deliver. Always.   - No one complains when they get more than expected.   - But over-promising and under-delivering?   - That’s the fastest way to lose trust.     → Rule 3: Write for their audience, not their ego.   - This is where most ghostwriters fail.   - Your client’s “genius” ideas don’t always land with readers.   - Push back, gently but firmly, when something won’t serve the audience.     → Rule 4: Don’t just write—think.   - Great ghostwriters don’t just “put words together.”     - They strategize. - They anticipate. - They solve problems.     Your job is to make your client look smarter than they are.   They’ll thank you for it—and hire you again.     → Rule 5: Say no to the wrong clients.   - Not every paycheck is worth it.   - If their values don’t align with yours, run.   - If they micromanage your every word, run faster.     → Rule 6: Your communication matters more than your writing.   - You could write the next Pulitzer Prize-winning article.   - But if you’re flaky, hard to reach, or disorganized?   - You’ll lose the client. Fast.     Be clear. Be reliable. Be the easiest person they’ve ever worked with.     → Rule 7: Every project deserves your best work.   - Even if it’s “just” a blog post about something boring.   - Your name might not be on the piece, but your reputation is.   - Take every word personally—even the invisible ones.     When I first started ghostwriting, I thought all that mattered was “good writing.”     It took years to learn that writing is only 50% of the job.     The other 50%?     → Setting boundaries.  → Reading between the lines.    → Thinking two steps ahead.     Which rule hit home for you the most?     --------------------------- I am Sheza Yazdani I help Solopreneurs with: ➡ Personal branding ➡ Profile optimization (including graphic design) and brand identity. ➡ 1:1 mentoring on how to gain clarity in getting clients through a clear content strategy that brings you inbound leads. 📩 DM or book a discovery call (link in the Featured section) #socialemediamarketing #personalbranding #socialsheza

In the last two weeks, I spent ~5 hours interviewing successful ghostwriters (whose content you've 100% seen) about their workflows and AI use. Here's what I found: 1. Info Gathering Everyone still relies on client interviews (often weekly to monthly calls, recorded) combined with reviewing existing client content like podcasts, blogs, and videos. Very few switch to async (no interviews) mostly or entirely months down the line, when they feel like they have their clients' voice and targeting locked in. 2. In-Interview Workflow Two ghostwriters I talked to type detailed notes during the call to maintain focus and capture compelling hooks. Most prioritize active listening, relying on recordings, transcripts, or AI summaries generated during/after for content extraction. 3. Drafting Some feed transcripts into AI (Claude/ChatGPT) using detailed prompts (incorporating client info) for initial drafts, followed by often significant human editing. Others use AI more for brainstorming options, outlining, or breaking writer's block with a rough first draft. Only one ghostwriter I interviewed manually listens to the recording while writing. Most DO NOT write posts without AI. One writes without AI entirely. A couple alternate between AI and manual crafting. The two main reasons cited for writing without AI: avoiding skill atrophy and maintaining authenticity. 4. Tech & Challenges Almost everyone prefers Claude to ChatGPT, and 3.5(the older, October-released version) vs. 3.7, whose writing is stiffer. The biggest complaints, in order of importance, are: hallucinations, ignoring instructions, the context limits of project knowledge bases, and having to context switch a lot from app to app. 5. The Human Element Despite AI, the most important tasks are firmly human-owned: • Strategic thinking & identifying unique angles aligned with client goals. • Capturing authentic voice & nuance (sometimes by re-listening to recordings—catching subtleties transcripts miss). • Heavy editing, fact-checking, and copyediting AI output to avoid that wooden AI-generated feel and for accuracy. In other words, humans still own strategic insight, authentic voice, and quality control. At least for now... P.S. I'll be interviewing many more ghostwriters in the coming months (not surprising, given I'm building an app to solve for all of these problems). So if there's any data I'm missed and you're curious about, let me know in the comments so I can start asking in future interviews.

A lot of ghostwriters mishandle brand messaging. And tech founders know it. • They don't capture your real voice. • They chase likes instead of building authority. • They post without fully understanding your values. • They treat you like a content calendar, not a partner. While hiring cheap talent can risk your reputation. Building the right system protects it. Here's my approach: • Bi-weekly calls to sharpen your messaging together. • Turning your TOV into a working guide we use every time. • Fully researching your offer so I can write like I’ve been in your shoes. • Getting a deep understanding of your values, passions, and objections. When you have this level of collaboration: → Your posts feel real. → Your reputation strengthens. → You stay top-of-mind with your audience. → You build trust faster with the right people leaning in. The main takeaway? The strength of your brand lives and dies by the clarity of your voice. Don’t risk handing it over without a plan. — Whenever you're ready, let's build a system that works like you do.

A new client just reviewed the first email we ghostwrote for him. This was his response: "Love the first draft. I'm impressed as it does sound like me!" And no, this isn’t a “rare” response. It’s actually the exact same feedback we get 95% of the time. So, how do we pull this off? Here are the 5 things we always do to consistently write emails our clients love: Step 1: Ask for samples This is one of the first things we do during onboarding. We ask clients to send us writing samples - ideally emails (since that’s what we’re ghostwriting for them). But if they don’t have a ton of great email samples, we ask for any other piece of writing. The key is that whatever they share, they feel like it’s a good representation of their writing style. Step 2: Actually read their stuff This seems obvious, but you’d be surprised how many ghostwriters skip this step now that AI exists. They just let AI do the reviewing and analysis. But this is a recipe for disaster. If you skip this step, you’re going to lack a lot of important context later in the writing process. I personally read all our clients’ stuff so I know what to edit for once our writers start sending me drafts for approval. Step 3: Review/analyze their writing style Here’s my checklist: • What's their voice archetype? • How do they format/structure their emails? • What's their writing style (word choice, sentence structure, etc.)? Those are the 3 high-level things I’m analyzing to get a better sense of how they write. Step 4: Pay close attention to the details This is where I dig into the nitty gritty. A lot of our clients have small writing quirks or peculiarities. I like to identify those early on so we can incorporate them into our drafts from the very beginning. Some examples: • Some people always “sign off” in a very specific way • Some people prefer to always use an em dash over a regular dash • Some people like to format their subject lines with a particular style These details matter. And clients love it when they see you’ve picked up on those kinds of details. Step 5: Send a sample as soon as possible I try to get a first draft sent within 3-5 business days max. There are 2 main benefits to this: • You reduce time to value, create momentum, and show the client you’re actively working on their project (which is great for retention) • You get feedback quickly, which improves all future emails and reduces the amount of editing work later It's impossible to nail your clients' emails if you do these 5 things. PS - I built an AI prompt to analyze my clients' content and create a custom copywriting style guide trained on their voice. This makes it 10x easier to write emails on their behalf. Want a free copy? Let me know below & I'll send you a DM.

I ghostwrite articles for founders & execs. Here's how we get them into HBR, Fast Co, Crain's, and more: 1️⃣ We decide who the ideal audience is and the right outlet to reach them. 2️⃣ I review previous coverage by that outlet and look for what I call "the media white space." What hasn't the outlet covered before that my client can talk about? Also, how long are the articles and what's their structure like? 3️⃣ Interview the client on a 30-minute call about the topic. Ask them to riff on the topic we've selected. I want their opinions, their frustrations, anecdotes, ideas, and big visions for their field. 4️⃣ Write a brief for one of our writers. Although I will ghostwrite in a pinch, these days I will ask one of our team members to research and write the actual piece for our client. All of our ghostwriters are veteran journalists who have written for outlets like the New York Times, LA Times, The Times (UK), the Atlantic, and more. 5️⃣ The writer turns around the article within a week.  If it's urgent, the piece can be turned around a lot faster, with a rush fee applied. I give it to the client for review. They make their comments/edits in a Google doc. The writer is in the Google Doc, too, and revises the piece and sends it back. Usually, the piece only needs one round of revisions. The client then approves it for publication. 6️⃣ If desired, our team can handle the submission. This involves sending it to one editor at a time for consideration. It's taboo to send the same article to editors at multiple editors at the same time — and can get you blacklisted. 7️⃣ Once an editor has accepted the piece, they may make revisions. They may also ask the client to sign a legal agreement giving them the rights to run the piece. 8️⃣ The client signs off on the revisions, and the piece runs with the client's byline on it! ----------------- As a ghostwriter, I'm ethically not allowed to talk about the piece to anyone other than my client and the people on my team. Thus, the word "ghost." I don't mind it at all. In my opinion, the piece is really theirs — their ideas, experiences, and insights. We just shaped their words into a piece that can be quickly published. And given that our clients are doing some really cool, meaningful things in our messy world, it's a privilege to be a part of that.