The Ghostwriter
Project Brief
The template that gets your ghostwriter writing the right thing on the first draft. Captures goals, audience, key messages, tone, hook, and CTA — everything a writer needs before a single word is written.
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Instant PDF download — no waiting.
Inside the Brief
6 sections. 2 pages.
One first draft that lands.
Every section exists because its absence is the most common reason a ghostwriter's first draft misses the mark. Fill this in once — and your writer has everything they need.
Goals & Purpose
Define exactly what this piece needs to achieve — the shift in thinking, the action it drives, the outcome it earns.
Target Audience
Not your general audience — the specific reader for this specific piece. What do they need to hear right now?
Key Messages
The 3–5 must-communicate points, in priority order. Your ghostwriter builds the structure around these.
Tone & Voice Direction
How should this piece feel? Reference your Executive Voice Profile if you have one — or describe it here.
Angle & Hook
The opening framing or hook you want. The more specific, the better the first draft.
CTA & Next Step
What do you want the reader to think, feel, or do immediately after reading? One clear answer.
Bonus: Revision Log (Page 2)
Track every revision round in one place. No more "which version is this?" emails. Three round blocks with status, feedback, and resolution fields.
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Ghostwriter
Project Brief
2 pages · 6 sections · Revision log included
Who It's For
Built for anyone who works
with a ghostwriter
Executives & Thought Leaders
You have ideas but not time. This brief captures your thinking in 15 minutes so your ghostwriter can write in your voice without a 90-minute kickoff call.
Business Owners & Founders
Working with a content writer for the first time? This brief tells them everything they need to know — and saves you from three rounds of "that's not quite what I meant."
Marketing & Content Managers
Standardize how your team briefs external writers. One template, consistent quality, fewer revision cycles. Use it as the baseline for every piece you commission.
Ghostwriters & Content Writers
Send this to every new client before you start. It's the fastest way to get the information you actually need — and it positions you as the professional who has a process.
Get the brief now
Free, instant, and built for people who want their ghostwriter to nail it on the first draft.
Jessica Neutz
Executive Ghostwriter · 20+ Years
From the Writer
"The brief isn't paperwork. It's the difference between a first draft that lands and three rounds of 'not quite.'"
After 20+ years of ghostwriting for executives, healthcare leaders, and law firm partners, I've learned that the quality of the brief determines the quality of the draft. Not the writer's skill — the brief.
This template is what I send every new client before we start. It takes 15 minutes to fill in. It saves hours of revision. And it means the first draft actually sounds like you.
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