Angie Leon

Before I became a ghostwriter, or even a freelance content writer, I was a preschool teacher. I spent years building a successful international early childhood program, writing lesson plans and weekly newsletters, and serving as the teacher representative to the board.

I loved my job, but it was draining and repetitive. However, I was hesitant to transition out of the classroom because I fell into the trap of believing that teaching was “all I was good at”.

At first glance, ghostwriting and teaching might seem worlds apart. But when you look closer, so many of the skills teachers use in the classroom translate directly from one to the other.

Because just like teaching is more than “just teaching”, ghostwriting is more than “just writing”. There’s a lot of listening and translating that happens behind the scenes to help someone’s voice shine.

Here are six teacher skills that turned out to be the foundation for my career in ghostwriting:

1. Listening Deeply

Teaching taught me how to listen, and I mean truly listen, not just to words, but to what’s behind them.

What it looks like with students:

A child might say, “I don’t like school,” but closer observation may uncover that really they’re nervous about making friends, or maybe that they’re struggling with reading. As a teacher, I had to look beyond the literal words to uncover the real message they were trying to convey.

What it looks like with clients:

If you’ve ever been in a call with a particularly yappy CEO, you’ll know that leaders are often moving fast, jumping from one idea to another. A client might throw me three halfbaked thoughts in a 15-minute call. It may seem a little scatterbrained, but really they’re telling me what’s on their mind and what’s catching their interest. My job is to filter through the noise, catch the key insights, and shape it into something compelling and authentically them.

2. Asking the Right Questions

When you work with kids, getting a direct answer often requires going the long way. You learn quickly that the quality of the answer depends on the quality of the question.

What it looks like with students:

When I asked a preschooler if they finished lunch, I usually didn’t get a simple yes or no. Instead, I’d hear about snack time, their best friend, and the music teacher’s funny shoes. By asking better, more specific questions, I could guide them to the answer I needed while still giving them space to share their perspective.

So if I asked them to tell me what was in their lunch, they would say, “I had a sandwich and fruit and yogurt.” Then I could ask, what was their favorite thing, and they would respond, “I liked the fruit and yogurt, but I didn’t finish the sandwich because the bread was too squishy.” Boom. Answered.

What it looks like with clients:

Founders and leaders often have a million things on their mind. If I ask what kind of posts they want to write on LinkedIn, I might be taken on a long journey of talking about thoughleaders in the space that they want to sound like or emulate. When the more important questions might be, “What do your most succesful posts look like?” Because it doesn’t matter if they admire creators who churn out lenghty posts.

If they’ve been posting short and snappy “shower thought-style” musing, then jumping right to longer form will read as inauthentic. What they want and what works for them might be two completely different things.

3. Breaking Down Complex Ideas

Simplifying without dumbing things down is one of the most valuable communication skills you could possibly have. As a teacher, I had to take big, abstract concepts like the alphabet or addition and make them simple and engaging. Now, I do the same with thought leadership. Whether it’s explaining AI strategy or company culture, I help leaders communicate in a way their audience will actually understand.

What it looks like with students:

Once I watched group of kids try to balance a little ball on top of a small block tower. The ball wouldn’t stay in place. They asked me why. I took the ball and placed it on the ground and asked them what would happen if I pushed it. “It will roll away,” they chimed back. I then tried the balance the ball on a block that I held in my hand, same result, it rolled at the slighest movement.

The children eventually realized that they needed to find a way to keep the ball in place. 10 minute later they had secured the ball on top of the tower by surrounding it with smaller blocks.

What it looks like with clients:

Thought leadership often deals with big, abstract topics like data strategy, company culture, or leadership philosophy. My job is to make those ideas simple, engaging, and relatable so that anyone, not just other experts, can understand.

Not everyone is going to understand (or even about care about) why the latest platform feature matters, but we spin a narrative to illustrate the benefits in terms they understand.

4. Finding the Right Voice

Just like every child has their own personality, every leader has a unique way of expressing themselves, and good communication adapts to fit that voice. My years in the classroom helped me learn how to meet children where they are to connect them to their learning. Today, that means capturing a client’s unique tone and voice so their content feels authentic.

What it looks like with students:

Some children are loud and expressive, while others are quiet and thoughtful. To connect with each of them, I had to adjust how I spoke and interacted so they felt understood. Some responded well to direct instruction and feedback while others needed a softer, more empathetic approach.

What it looks like with clients:

No two leaders sound alike. Some are polished and professional while others are casual and conversational. My ghostwriting adapts to each client’s natural style so their content feels authentic and true to their personality. We’ve all seen posts from someone we know that sound nothing like them which is a dead giveaway that someone is stringing their words together.

If I’ve done my job well, my client isn’t getting asked who’s writing their posts. They’re getting asked how the heck they have the time to post so often.

5. Organization & Consistency

Teaching requires structure. Without lesson plans, routines, and schedules, things quickly devolve into chaos. Ghostwriting is no different. I create editorial calendars, manage deadlines, and ensure consistent posting so my clients never miss a beat. Because structure is what keeps creativity sustainable.

What it looks like with students:
Preschool runs on routines. First we have, circle time, then snack, then centers, and then recess. Without a plan, students have no stability. A routine helps children feel safe and confortable, so they can focus on what they’re doing, instead of worrying about what comes next.

What it looks like with clients:
The same general concept applies to content. I draft the calendars, manage drafts, and send reminders approve changes so I can make sure that content goes out consistently. That structure allows leaders to stay informed with the process and remain visible online without the stress of managing it all themselves.

6. Empathy

Empathy is at the heart of teaching because you need to be able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes often. That skill is invaluable in ghostwriting, where my job is literally to step into another person’s perspective and bring their ideas to life.

What it looks like with students:
Children often express big emotions they can’t fully explain like frustration, excitement, or fear. My job was to meet them where they were, guide them through it, and give them the tools to eventually process them independently.

What it looks like with clients:
Ghostwriting requires that same empathy. I have to step into a client’s perspective, understand how they want to show up in the world, and translate that into words that resonate with their audience.

I never planned on moving from the classroom to ghostwriting. But looking back, the connection was always crystal clear. Teaching trained me to listen, ask questions, simplify, adapt, organize, and empathize… and those are the exact skills that every ghostwriter needs to be successful.

If you’re wondering what makes a great ghostwriter, don’t just look at writing skills. Look at how well they can understand people. That’s where the real magic happens.

If you’re exploring how to become a ghostwriter (or considering hiring one) remember: writing without connection, clarity and consistency is just words.