Content creation
Make AI writing sound like you
You will have a reusable set of writing rules, tested on one real draft, that you can paste into any assistant.
Before you start
- An AI assistant, free plan is fine
- One draft the assistant wrote that you do not like
- Two or three things you wrote yourself that sound like you
Why AI drafts sound the same
An assistant writes the most average version of what you asked for. Average sounds polite, padded and slightly formal. Readers notice, even if they cannot say why.
The fix is not a clever trick. It is a short list of rules that tells the assistant what to avoid and what to do instead. You write the list once and reuse it.
Step 1: Spot the habits you dislike
Read the draft you do not like and underline every phrase you would never say out loud. Common ones are openings that praise the question, big words where a small one works, and lists of three where one point would do.
- Copy five underlined phrases into your notes.
- Next to each, write what you would say instead.
- Add two things about structure you dislike, such as long intros or a summary that repeats the body.
Step 2: Turn them into rules
Rules work best when they are short and concrete. “Be natural” gives the assistant nothing to act on. “Use sentences under 20 words” does.
Here are three things I wrote myself: [paste your samples] Describe my writing style in six short rules. Include sentence length, how formal I am, and what I never do. Then add five things to avoid in drafts written for me. Keep every rule short and checkable.
Read the rules it gives back. Delete any that do not sound like you and add your own from step 1. Save the final list in your notes under the title “My writing rules”.
Step 3: Test on a real draft
Rewrite the draft below using my writing rules. Do not add new facts. After the rewrite, list any rule you could not follow and why. My writing rules: [paste your rules] Draft: [paste the draft]
Compare the result with your original underlined phrases. If any are still there, make that rule more specific and run it again. Two rounds is usually enough.
Worked example
Sam runs a small dog-walking business. Sam and the business are made up for this example. Every draft begins “Great question!” and ends with a three-line summary. Sam adds two rules: start with the answer, and never repeat the point at the end.
The next draft starts with the price and ends on the booking link. It is a third shorter, and Sam only changes two words before sending it.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Writing vague rules such as “sound human”
- Adding so many rules the assistant ignores some
- Checking only the style and not the facts
- Never updating the list after you notice a new habit
Final checklist
- I listed five phrases I dislike
- My rules are short and checkable
- I tested the rules on one real draft
- I saved the list where I can find it
- I still checked the facts before using the draft