Voice Guide Template¶

Your voice guide is the DNA file -- the non-negotiables that make your writing yours. It feeds directly into the master system prompt and gets referenced in every writing, editing, and review session.

Build this after completing your gold standard reference. The techniques you extracted there become the voice elements here.

How to Use: 1. Distill your voice into three core qualities 2. Define 3-5 non-negotiable voice elements (from your gold standard analysis) 3. Calibrate your spectrums (formality, density, authority) 4. Catalog your signature phrases 5. Reference this from the master system prompt

# Author Voice Guide

> Core voice DNA for [YOUR BOOK TITLE] by [YOUR NAME].

## Core Principle

**[YOUR VOICE IN THREE WORDS]**

These three qualities define your writing. When they coexist, the voice is right. When any is missing, the output sounds generic.

1. **[QUALITY 1]** -- [What this means for your writing. One sentence. e.g., "Every paragraph carries weight. No filler, no padding."]
2. **[QUALITY 2]** -- [One sentence. e.g., "Talks TO the reader, not AT them. 'You' not 'one' or 'organizations.'"]
3. **[QUALITY 3]** -- [One sentence. e.g., "Admits uncertainty. Shows personality. Not a consultant's report."]

**The Test:** [YOUR litmus test for voice quality. e.g., "Would I say this to a smart colleague over coffee?"]

---

## Voice DNA: Non-Negotiables

These elements define YOUR voice. Removing any makes it generic. Each one should come from your gold standard analysis -- these are patterns you actually use, not aspirational goals.

### 1. [YOUR SIGNATURE MOVE]

[What is your most distinctive writing pattern? One sentence description.]

**Why it works:** [Why readers respond to this. One sentence.]

**How to deploy:**
- [Specific pattern or rule]
- [Specific pattern or rule]
- [Specific pattern or rule]

### 2. [YOUR SECOND ELEMENT]

[Description. One sentence.]

**Why it works:** [One sentence.]

**The pattern:**
- [How this shows up in your writing]
- [How this shows up in your writing]

### 3. [YOUR THIRD ELEMENT]

[Description]

**Why it works:** [One sentence.]

**The rules:**
- [Specific guideline]
- [Specific guideline]
- [Specific guideline]

### 4. [YOUR FOURTH ELEMENT]

[Description]

**The pattern:**
- [How it shows up]
- [How it shows up]

### 5. [YOUR FIFTH ELEMENT]

[Description]

**Signal phrases:**
- [Phrase that signals this element]
- [Phrase that signals this element]

---

## Voice Calibration: Finding the Sweet Spot

Map your voice on each spectrum. The "Sweet Spot" column is your target -- use the other columns to catch drift.

### Formality

| Too Casual | Sweet Spot | Too Formal |
|------------|------------|------------|
| [Your example of too casual] | [Your actual voice] | [Your example of too formal] |
| [Another example] | [Another example] | [Another example] |

### Density

| Too Sparse | Sweet Spot | Too Verbose |
|------------|------------|-------------|
| [Your example] | [Your actual voice] | [Your example] |
| [Another example] | [Another example] | [Another example] |

### Authority

| Too Humble | Sweet Spot | Too Arrogant |
|------------|------------|--------------|
| [Your example] | [Your actual voice] | [Your example] |
| [Another example] | [Another example] | [Another example] |

---

## Signature Phrases

### Phrases to Use

These appear naturally in your best writing. Incorporate them.

| Phrase | When to Use |
|--------|------------|
| "[YOUR PHRASE]" | [Context -- e.g., "Before correcting misconceptions"] |
| "[YOUR PHRASE]" | [Context] |
| "[YOUR PHRASE]" | [Context] |
| "[YOUR PHRASE]" | [Context] |
| "[YOUR PHRASE]" | [Context] |

### Phrases to Avoid

These make your writing sound generic, corporate, or AI-generated.

| Avoid | Instead |
|-------|---------|
| "[GENERIC PHRASE]" | [Your natural alternative] |
| "[GENERIC PHRASE]" | [Your natural alternative] |
| "[GENERIC PHRASE]" | [Your natural alternative] |
| "[GENERIC PHRASE]" | [Your natural alternative] |

---

## Craft Techniques

Carry these forward from your gold standard analysis.

### [TECHNIQUE 1 -- e.g., Sentence Length Variation]
[One-line description of the pattern and how to deploy it]

### [TECHNIQUE 2 -- e.g., Tension Through Contrasts]
[One-line description]

### [TECHNIQUE 3 -- e.g., Bookend Structure]
[One-line description]

### [TECHNIQUE 4]
[One-line description]

[Add all techniques from your gold standard analysis]

---

## Book Context

- **Parts:** [Number]
- **Chapters:** [Number]
- **Target words:** [Total]
- **Words per chapter:** ~[Average]
- **Words per section:** ~[Average]
- **Tone:** [One sentence -- e.g., "Smart peer conversation, not lecture"]

---

## The Authenticity Test

Before any section is final:

1. **Would I say this to a peer?** If it sounds like a memo, rewrite.
2. **Is there personality here?** If anyone could've written it, add perspective.
3. **Am I honest about what's hard?** If everything sounds easy, add complexity.
4. **Is there something memorable?** If no phrase sticks, add an analogy.
5. **Does it hit gold standard density?** See your Gold Standard Reference.

---

*See also: Gold Standard Reference, Audience Empathy Guide, Authenticity Markers*

Adapted from the author voice guide used for Blueprint for An AI-First Company. The original defined 5 non-negotiable voice elements, 3 calibration spectrums, and was referenced in every AI interaction across 81,000 words.