Dominique Olivier, Cape Town content writer, author and Ghost Mail columnist

Dominique Olivier · Cape Town

About

I write things people
can’t stop reading

Hi — I’m Dominique and I’m a writer. Not a content machine or a prompt engineer, an old-fashioned writer constantly adapting to a disruptive world.

I’m Cape Town-based, Fine Arts-trained, Penguin-published. I started Human Writer because brands deserve better than AI copy that sounds like everyone else’s AI copy.

I deeply love the internet — but I think it’s becoming a less engaging place to be. AI-generated content is scrubbing interesting human stories off the net and replacing them with dull pages with nothing real to say.

My manifesto is simple: connection is what makes us human, and you need a human to connect with a human. I’m not a luddite; I know the tools and use them to increase my efficiency. But I never let them do the thing I do best: write.

Penguin Random House authorGhost Mail columnistFine Arts graduateCape Town, South AfricaEnglish & Afrikaans
What I believe

The things that drive the work

“Real writing connects. AI-gen content does not.”

Audiences can feel when they’re being written at versus written for. I write for people who love to read, and the difference shows in engagement.

“The internet is becoming less interesting. That’s a problem I take personally.”

When content becomes a commodity, the writers who still care about the craft become more valuable. I intend to stay in this group.

“Curiosity is the best editorial strategy.”

People don’t share content because it’s useful. They share it because it surprised them, moved them or made them feel clever. I write for that.

“Good writing and good business are the same thing.”

Content that doesn’t get read doesn’t get results. The most commercially effective thing a brand can do is be genuinely interesting.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Who is Dominique Olivier?⌄
Dominique Olivier is a Cape Town-based content writer, Penguin-published author and Ghost Mail columnist. She is the founder of Human Writer, a content writing business serving brands worldwide. She holds a Fine Arts degree and writes in English and Afrikaans.
What is Human Writer?⌄
Human Writer is a Cape Town-based content writing business founded by Dominique Olivier in 2024. It provides brands worldwide with high-quality, human-written content as a deliberate alternative to AI-generated copy.
What is Dominique Olivier's book about?⌄
Lessons from Loss: Life on the Other Side of Grief was published by Penguin Random House in 2026. It is a memoir about losing her husband and toddler daughter in a car accident at twenty-nine, navigating life as a widowed new mother, and finding meaning on the other side.
Is Dominique Olivier available for speaking?⌄
Yes. Dominique speaks about grief, resilience and the human experience of loss. She is available for corporate wellness events, literary festivals, book clubs and keynote speeches. Contact her at hello@humanwriter.co.za.
Where can I read Dominique Olivier's writing?⌄
Dominique publishes a weekly newsletter and opinion column via Ghost Mail, reaching 40,000 readers per issue, with an average of around 2,000 reads on each opinion column. She has also written for Daily Maverick and Business Maverick.
Right now

What I’m doing at the moment

I’m based in Cape Town, working with a small number of content clients, writing my weekly newsletter and column, and speaking about Lessons from Loss. Oh, and also running after a 4-year-old, but that’s a different story entirely.

I’m currently accepting new clients for ongoing and project-based work.

hire me invite me to speak
✎
WritingWeekly Ghost Mail newsletter + column + client work
🎙
SpeakingBook talks, corporate events, literary festivals
📍
BasedCape Town · available internationally
👥
ClientsOpen to new projects now
✉
Contacthello@humanwriter.co.za
🔗
LinkedInConnect with me

Ready for writing
people actually read?

I work with a small number of clients at a time. If you want content that earns its place on the page, then we should talk.

get in touch