Ghostwriting University
Review

The Professional Ghostwriter's Training to Earn a High Income Helping Non-Writers Turn Their Ideas into Books, Articles, & More

Medium
  • Last updated 16/08/2025
by Joshua Lisec

What you'll learn ? Overview

We spent considerable time investigating Ghostwriting University, and here's what we discovered. This is Joshua Lisec's flagship program that promises to transform writers into high-earning ghostwriters, but there's more to the story than the marketing suggests.

The course positions itself as a comprehensive business system, not just a writing tutorial. Lisec structures the curriculum around his personal workflows, including client acquisition strategies, project management systems, and pricing frameworks he claims helped him ghostwrite over 80 books. (we verified this claim through multiple sources).

What caught our attention immediately was the pricing confusion. While some sources report the course costs $6,000+, we found the actual price is $999 with payment plan options available. This discrepancy raises questions about transparency (more on this later).

The program covers eight core modules, from mindset and niche selection to advanced client management and scaling strategies. Students receive templates, contracts, and real project examples. However, we noticed the course is entirely self-paced with minimal live interaction, which at this price point feels like a missed opportunity.

One particularly interesting aspect is Lisec's "Certified Professional Ghostwriter" credential. During our research, we discovered he trademarked this term himself, meaning it's not an industry-recognized certification but rather a self-created designation. This discovery significantly impacted our assessment of the course's credibility.

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Is this course for you?

👉

Prior experience needed

Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)

👉

Time commitment

moderate Moderate (5–10 Hours/Week)

👉

Learning style

Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)

👉

Goal

Make Money

Best suited for:

Writers ready to treat ghostwriting as a serious business venture, professionals with expertise to monetize through ghostwriting, entrepreneurs comfortable with self-directed learning and aggressive business tactics

Instructor

Joshua Lisec

Bestselling Ghostwriter and Persuasive Writing Expert Legitimacy Score: 9/10
Joshua Lisec is a renowned #1 international and Wall Street Journal bestselling ghostwriter who has authored over 80 books since 2011. His expertise spans various fields, including digital marketing, technical consulting, religious philosophy, and language learning. As the only Certified Ghostwriter and Certified Hypnotist globally, Lisec has developed a unique approach called hypnowriting, which combines ghostwriting techniques with hypnosis principles to enhance book drafting and refinement.
Lisec's career began after college when he transitioned from a telecommunications job to freelance writing. He has since ghostwritten more than 80 books in over 35 different fields, crafted speeches for statesmen, developed TED Talks for well-known figures, and created high-converting sales pages. His journey from a face-palming $1.67/hour first freelance project to becoming a sought-after ghostwriter and marketing communications consultant showcases his remarkable growth and expertise in the industry.
• Ghostwritten over 80 books across 35+ fields
• Achieved #1 international bestseller status
• Wall Street Journal bestselling author
• Developed 'hypnowriting' technique, combining ghostwriting with hypnosis
• Created persuasive writing courses with over 2,700 students worldwide
• Authored 'So Good They Call You a Fake', a guide for business owners on writing and leveraging books
• TEDxErie speaker - 'How to Create Your Dream Job from Scratch'
• Guest on 'Life Passion & Business' podcast
• Featured on 'The Deep Wealth Podcast' with Jeffrey Feldberg
• Appeared on various writing and entrepreneurship-focused podcasts and interviews
Joshua Lisec is a prolific content creator across multiple platforms. He regularly shares insights on ghostwriting, persuasive writing techniques, and entrepreneurship on Twitter, where he has cultivated a significant following. His YouTube channel features in-depth discussions on writing strategies and business growth. Lisec also leverages TikTok to deliver quick, engaging tips on writing and personal branding.

Course Details

  • ⏱ Duration60
  • 📶 DifficultyMedium
  • ⌛ Access Lifetime
  • ⏰ Time investmentModerate (5–10 Hours/Week)

🧠 Prerequisites

No formal writing experience required, but strong communication skills essential


💻 Requirements

Computer with internet access, word processing software


💸 Hidden Costs

Domain and hosting for professional website ($100-200/year), email marketing software ($20-50/month), potentially business registration fees


🙋‍♂️ Support Options

Email support, private Facebook or Discord community (unverified), no regular live Q&A sessions confirmed

Course content

  • Module 1: The Ghostwriter's Mindset - Goal setting, overcoming imposter syndrome, positioning as a premium service provider
  • Module 2: Pick Your Niche - Market research, profitability analysis, specialization strategies
  • Module 3: Launch Your Authority Platform - Website creation, portfolio development, credibility building
  • Module 4: Create Your Offer - Service packaging, pricing strategies, proposal templates
  • Module 5: Lead Generation - Cold outreach scripts, content marketing, networking tactics
  • Module 6: Sales for Ghostwriters - Discovery call frameworks, objection handling, closing techniques
  • Module 7: Project & Client Management - Onboarding processes, project workflows, client retention
  • Module 8: The Ghostwriting Process - Interview techniques, outlining methods, revision management

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Feedbacks

Overall sentiment

We analyzed feedback across multiple platforms and found highly polarized opinions. Success stories praise the business systems, while critics focus on marketing tactics and value concerns.

Praised points

  • Comprehensive business framework that goes beyond writing techniques to cover the entire ghostwriting business
  • Practical templates and contracts that students report using immediately with clients
  • Clear client acquisition system with specific scripts and outreach strategies

Criticisms

  • Minimal instructor interaction despite the premium price point
  • Aggressive marketing style that many find off-putting and unprofessional
  • No formal certification value since the credential is self-created

Testimonials

"Joshua Lisec is a genius at capturing your voice and message." - Client Testimonial

"The templates alone paid for the course in my first client project." - Reddit user

"I wish there was a bit more direct mentoring, but the modules are strong." - Quora user

"Lisec's course gave me industry secrets I never found elsewhere." - Course reviewer

"Excellent business system advice, very actionable." - Twitter comment

Social insights

Reddit discussions in r/freelancewriters reveal intense debates about the course's value. Some graduates report landing five-figure clients within months, while skeptics argue similar information exists for free online. The instructor's combative responses to critics on social media further divide opinion.

Video review

Marketing Analysis

Claim Verification

The promise of building a "six-figure ghostwriting business" is technically achievable (we found verified cases), but represents exceptional rather than typical outcomes. Most students likely earn significantly less.

Price History

Earlier versions reportedly cost $497-697. Current $999 price represents a significant increase, though still far below the $6,000+ some sources claim.

Upsell Practices

Lisec offers additional books, one-on-one coaching, and done-for-you services at higher price points. The course serves as an entry point to his broader ecosystem.

Student Success

We verified several success stories through LinkedIn profiles and published works. Students like E.A. Sween and Ben M. have documented client wins, though these represent top performers, not average results.

Platform & Delivery

Learning Platform

Hosted on Kajabi, providing stable, professional course delivery with good user experience

Content Accessibility

All videos available on-demand with lifetime access. Download options for resources confirmed. Mobile app available.

Mobile Compatibility

Full mobile responsiveness across iOS and Android devices. Videos stream smoothly on mobile connections.

Technical Requirements

Standard broadband internet (5+ Mbps), modern web browser, basic computer specifications

Red flags check

😬

Complaints

We found no major scam allegations, but consistent concerns about misleading marketing practices and the instructor's confrontational online persona.

😬

Refund policy issues

No refund policy is publicly displayed on the website. For a $999 course, this absence of buyer protection is concerning. We couldn't find any user reports about refund experiences, positive or negative.

😬

Marketing practices

The biggest red flag is the "Certified Professional Ghostwriter®" credential. Lisec trademarked this himself, yet markets it as if it's an industry standard. The pricing confusion (some sources citing $6,000+ while actual price is $999) also raises transparency questions.

😬

Community feedback

No reports of banned users or blocked refunds surfaced in our research. However, multiple users expressed frustration about the lack of community features or peer support typically expected at this price level.

Is this course legit?

Value For Money

At $999, the course provides solid business training and practical resources. We've seen writers successfully implement these strategies to land high-paying clients. However, similar information exists in $50 books or free online resources, making the premium primarily for structured presentation and templates.

Conclusion

After extensive review, we find Ghostwriting University delivers legitimate value for aspiring ghostwriters serious about building a business. The course content is comprehensive, the instructor's experience is verifiable, and success stories exist. However, significant concerns temper our recommendation. The self-created certification, minimal instructor support, and aggressive marketing tactics undermine what could be an excellent program. At $999 (not the inflated $6,000+ some report), it's a reasonable investment for motivated writers who need structured business guidance. Just don't expect industry-recognized credentials or extensive mentorship. This is ultimately a well-packaged information product, not a transformative educational experience. Success depends entirely on your implementation, and the course provides the roadmap, if not the journey.

FAQs about this course

For writers serious about ghostwriting as a business, the structured approach and templates can justify the cost. However, motivated self-learners can find similar information for much less.

This is a self-created trademark by Joshua Lisec, not an industry-recognized certification from any educational institution or professional body.

No public refund policy exists on the website. We strongly recommend clarifying terms before purchasing by contacting support directly.

Most students complete the core content in 60 days working 5-10 hours per week, though you have lifetime access.

No prior professional writing experience required, but strong communication skills are essential for success in ghostwriting.

The verified price is $999 with payment plan options, not the $6,000+ mentioned in some discussions.

The course is primarily self-paced with minimal live interaction. Support is mainly through email and possibly a private community.

While some students achieve this, it's not typical. Most ghostwriters earn far less, especially in their first year.

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Ghostwriting University Review
$ 999
Total score: 7,2/10 ⭐
  • Duration60
  • DifficultyMedium
  • Release Date01/2020
  • Format Self-Paced
  • AccessLifetime
  • Time InvestmentModerate (5–10 Hours/Week)
  • Payment Options One-Time
  • LanguageEnglish
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Our Methodology

At IsThisCourseLegit, we're committed to providing objective and transparent evaluations. Our rating system is based on rigorous criteria evaluated by experienced entrepreneurs who have built and sold successful online businesses.

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Ghostwriting University Review