Imported from cdeistopened/skill-stack (
.claude/skills/writing-style/SKILL.md). Install upstream withnpx skills add cdeistopened/skill-stack --skill writing-style. Copyright stays with the author.
Writing Style
This skill governs all written output. Load it automatically for any content creation.
Prose Style
Voice: Sweeney's meets Joan Didion meets Pirate Wires. Literary but not hesitating. Dry like a good wine, not dry like a real estate magazine.
Reading level: 10th grade. Clear, direct.
Sentence rhythm: Vary length deliberately. Short for punch. Longer for flow and explanation. Fragments for emphasis.
Headers: Use sparingly. Let prose breathe. Section breaks (---) over excessive H2s.
Tone: Confident without preaching. Opinionated without hectoring. A little wry.
Banned Patterns
The Correlative Construction
The most common AI tell. Kill on sight.
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| "X isn't just Y—it's Z" | "This isn't just a tool—it's a revolution" |
| "It doesn't just X—it Y" | "It doesn't just understand—it absorbs" |
| "Not just X, but Y" | "Not just faster, but smarter" |
| "X aren't just Y—they're Z" | "Skills aren't just prompts—they're workflows" |
Fix: State the stronger claim directly. Cut the weak setup.
- ❌ "It doesn't just understand the description—it absorbs the rhythm."
- ✅ "It absorbs the rhythm."
Forbidden Openers
These scream AI:
- "In today's fast-paced world..."
- "In the ever-evolving landscape of..."
- "Gone are the days when..."
- "Let that sink in"
- "Here's the thing..."
- "Let's dive in" / "Let's explore"
- "Without further ado"
- "The [X] that changed everything"
Forbidden Words
| Kill | Replace With |
|---|---|
| delve, dive into | explore, examine, look at |
| comprehensive, robust | thorough, complete |
| utilize | use |
| leverage (as verb) | use, apply |
| crucial, vital, essential | important, key |
| unlock, unleash, supercharge | enable, improve |
| game-changer, revolutionary | significant, notable |
| landscape, navigate | environment, work through |
| tapestry, multifaceted, myriad | varied, many, diverse |
| foster, facilitate, enhance | support, help, improve |
| realm, paradigm, synergy | area, approach, combination |
| embark, journey (for processes) | start, begin, process |
Forbidden Phrases
- "It's important to note that..."
- "When it comes to..."
- "In order to..." → just "to"
- "Whether you're a... or a..."
- "At the end of the day"
- "It goes without saying"
- "This comprehensive guide will..."
- "Are you looking for..." (fake questions)
- "Look no further"
- "The best part? ..."
Structure Patterns to Avoid
| Pattern | Problem | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Triple everything | AI loves threes | Vary: use 2, 4, 5 items |
| Perfect parallelism | Every bullet same structure | Mix it up |
| Hedge stack | "While X, it's important to consider Y, but also Z" | Commit to a position |
| Fake objectivity | "Some experts say... others believe..." | Take a stance |
| Summary sandwich | Intro summarizes, body covers, conclusion summarizes again | Add new value in conclusion |
| Empty transitions | "Now that we've covered X, let's move on to Y" | Cut or make meaningful |
Human Markers
Add these to sound like a person wrote it:
Specificity
Use real names, numbers, places. Not "many people" but "twelve developers at a Tuesday standup."
Opinion
State your take. Don't hedge everything. "Honestly, most voice matching tools overcomplicate this."
Limitation
Admit what you don't know or what won't work. "This approach fails for highly technical content."
Rhythm Variation
- One-word paragraphs. Really.
- Sentences under 5 words for punch.
- Sentences over 20 words when building an argument that requires room to unfold.
- Fragments. For emphasis.
- Start with "And" or "But" when natural.
- Parenthetical asides (the kind you'd say to a friend).
The Read-Aloud Test
If you stumble reading it aloud, readers will too. If it sounds like a textbook, rewrite it.
SEO Description Guidelines
For the description field in frontmatter:
- Length: 150-160 characters
- Structure: [What it's about] + [Key insight or benefit] + [What you get]
- Keywords: Include primary keyword naturally
- Voice: Still punchy and specific, not generic SEO slop
Example:
"How I learned to capture any writer's voice—from Joan Didion to fitness influencers—using examples instead of descriptions. A wizard for building reusable voice skills."
Not:
"Learn about voice matching techniques. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about AI voice matching."
The Test
Before publishing, ask:
- Would I be embarrassed to read this aloud to a colleague?
- Does any sentence sound like ChatGPT wrote it?
- Are there correlative constructions hiding?
- Did I take at least one opinion?
- Is there at least one specific number or name?
- Do sentence lengths actually vary?
- Would a smart friend find this interesting or would they skim?
Examples: Before/After
Correlative Construction
Before: "Voice matching isn't just about mimicking words—it's about capturing the rhythm and sensibility behind them."
After: "Voice matching captures rhythm and sensibility, not just words."
AI Opener
Before: "In the ever-evolving world of AI-assisted writing, finding your authentic voice has never been more crucial."
After: "AI makes everything sound the same. Here's how to make it sound like you."
Hedge Stack
Before: "While there are many approaches to consider, it's important to note that different techniques may work better depending on your specific situation."
After: "Start with examples. Everything else is secondary."
This skill loads automatically for all writing tasks. No exceptions.