Claude Skill · Open Source

Writing Voice Configuration

A reusable Claude skill that captures your personal writing style and applies it consistently across every output. Define your voice once, load it at the start of any session, and everything Claude writes sounds like you.

Type
Claude Skill (SKILL.md)
Works With
Claude Code & Cowork
Output
Voice Profile
Domain
Writing / Communications
↓ Download SKILL.md
How to use this skill
Drop the file into your Claude skills folder. On first use, Claude walks you through building a voice profile. After that, say "load my voice" and it applies your style to everything for the session.
mkdir -p .claude/skills/writing-voice cp SKILL.md .claude/skills/writing-voice/SKILL.md

Once installed, say "use my voice", "apply my writing style", or "load my voice config" and Claude will either load your existing profile or walk you through building one from scratch. The profile persists in the skill file and loads in seconds on future sessions.

The problem this solves
👤

Generic Claude Output

Claude's default writing is competent but sounds like Claude, not you. It uses em dashes, hedging phrases, and evaluative openers that may not match how you communicate.

🔁

Inconsistent Across Sessions

Without a voice config, you re-explain your preferences every session. "Don't use bullet points." "Make it more direct." "Drop the em dashes." Every time.

📝

Formal vs. Informal Drift

Your memo voice is different from your Slack voice. A single "be more direct" instruction cannot capture that nuance. The profile handles both modes.

Time Spent Editing

If you spend more time editing Claude's output than it would take to write from scratch, the voice profile is broken. This skill fixes it at the source.

What the skill captures
The skill gathers these inputs to build your voice profile. Answer the questions once and Claude codifies them into a reusable configuration.
Required inputs

Primary Audience (who you usually write for), Technical Level (business vs. technical default), Formal Document Structure (opening format, section headers, body format, how recommendations are presented), Informal Communication Style (length, tone, humor), and Voice Principles (the non-negotiable rules that apply everywhere).

Optional: writing samples

Provide two to three examples of your writing and Claude will analyze them for sentence structure, vocabulary level, punctuation patterns, tone markers, and avoidance patterns. The extracted style rules get folded into your profile automatically.

Four-section voice profile
Every voice profile follows this structure. Each section becomes a rule set that Claude applies to every output.
What voice rules look like
Voice principles are specific, actionable constraints. Here are examples of the kinds of rules a profile might contain.
Punctuation rules

"Never use em dashes. Restructure the sentence, use a semicolon, or use a colon." Specific, absolute, easy to follow. Not "minimize em dash usage."

Banned phrases

"No evaluative openers: never write 'great question', 'important consideration', or 'it should be noted that.' Engage with the content directly." The ban list is often more defining than the preference list.

Structural rules

"Open formal documents with a title in subject-line format. No addressee block. First section covers situation and significance. Final section presents options ordered by preference. The reader makes the decision."

Common mistake

"Be more direct" is not a voice rule. It is too vague to produce consistent output. "Lead with the point. Context follows. No introductory framing." is a voice rule. Specificity is everything.

Works across all writing contexts
Memos & Proposals Slack Messages Emails Incident Reports Risk Assessments Policy Documents Status Updates Coaching Feedback Executive Briefs Blog Posts
Getting the most from your profile
🚫

Define What You Hate

Banned phrases and constructions are often more defining than preferences. If you cringe when Claude writes "it should be noted that," put it in the ban list.

🔄

Separate Formal and Informal

Most people write differently in a memo vs. a Slack message. The profile should capture both modes independently.

🔨

Iterate Over Time

The first version will not be perfect. Use it for a session, note what feels off, refine the rules. A voice profile is a living document.

🎯

Use Contrast

"Sound like a memo from a VP, not a blog post from a consultant" gives Claude a reference point. Vague instructions like "be professional" do not.

SKILL.md (165 lines)
The complete skill file rendered below. Use the download button to save the raw markdown.
Writing Voice Configuration

This skill defines a reusable writing voice that Claude applies to all outputs for the remainder of a session. It governs both formal documents (memos, proposals, reports, briefs) and informal communications (emails, Slack messages, quick updates).

Once loaded, confirm activation with a single brief sentence, then proceed with whatever the user needs.

Before Using: Build the Voice Profile

A voice configuration is personal. Before generating anything, gather the following from the user.

Required Inputs
  1. Primary Audience: Who does this person usually write for?
  2. Audience Technical Level: Business language or technical language by default?
  3. Formal Document Structure: Opening format, section headers, body format, how recommendations are presented, closing style
  4. Informal Communication Style: Length preference, tone, whether humor is appropriate
  5. Voice Principles: Active/passive voice, punctuation rules, banned phrases, formatting preferences, hedging approach
  6. Writing Samples (optional): Two to three examples for Claude to analyze and extract patterns from
Voice Profile Structure

Once inputs are gathered, the profile follows four sections: Audience Default (who the reader is and what register to use), Formal Document Rules (structure and tone for professional documents), Informal Communication Rules (structure and tone for messages), and Voice Principles (absolute rules that apply everywhere).

Each section contains specific, actionable rules. Not "be more direct" but "lead with the point, context follows, no introductory framing."

Building from Writing Samples

If the user provides writing samples, Claude analyzes them for: sentence structure and length, vocabulary level, punctuation patterns, paragraph structure, opening and closing patterns, tone markers, and avoidance patterns. These observations are synthesized into the four-section profile and presented for review.

Tips for Effective Profiles

Be specific about what you hate. Provide contrast ("memo from a VP, not a blog post from a consultant"). Separate formal and informal modes. Iterate after using it. Store it once, use it everywhere.

↓ Download SKILL.md