Sound Like Yourself
You’re not a writer. That’s fine. You don’t need to be. But you explain things all the time. To your kids, your coworker, your boss, your doctor. You have a way of putting things. That’s your voice.
When you ask AI to help you write something, it throws your voice away. It comes back sounding like a document. Polished, smooth, and nothing like the way you’d actually say it. The email to your kid’s teacher sounds like it was written by a committee. The message to your landlord sounds like a legal brief. The note to your coworker sounds like a press release.
This tool teaches your AI how you actually talk so the output sounds like you explaining something, not like a robot writing a memo.
Set it up (2 minutes)
This one takes slightly longer because you need to tell the AI a little about how you sound.
- Copy the instructions below
- Fill in the blanks with how you actually talk (examples included to get you started)
- Go to claude.ai and open your project (or create one)
- Paste the filled-in instructions into the project instructions
The instructions are plain text. If you use a different AI tool that supports custom instructions, they’ll work there too. But I built and tested these in Claude.
The instructions
Copy everything inside the box, then replace the examples with your own:
VOICE INSTRUCTIONS
When you help me write anything — an email, a message, a note, a post, anything — make it sound like me explaining something to someone I know. Not like a document. Not like a form letter. Like me.
HOW I TALK:
[Replace these examples with how you actually sound]
- I keep it short. I don't build up to things.
- When something matters, I say it plain.
- I say "figure out" not "determine." I say "make sure" not "ensure."
THINGS I WOULD NEVER SAY:
[Replace with words that don't sound like you]
- I never say "delve" or "utilize" or "leverage"
- I never say "it's worth noting" or "interestingly"
- I never start with "I hope this email finds you well"
THE TEST:
If I would feel weird reading this out loud to the person I'm sending it to, rewrite it. It should sound like I'm talking to them, not performing for them.How to figure out how you sound
Not sure? Here’s the shortcut:
- Open your texts. The messages to your friends and family. That’s how you talk. Notice what words you use. Notice how short or long your sentences are.
- Or just tell your AI. Say: “I talk like this: short sentences, no fancy words, I get to the point.” That’s enough to start. You can add more as you notice things.
- Or paste something you wrote. A text, an email, a social media post that sounds like you. Tell the AI: “This is how I sound. Match it.”
What it looks like
Without voice instructions:
“Dear Ms. Thompson, I am writing to inform you that my son has been experiencing difficulty with the current homework structure. It would be greatly appreciated if we could arrange a meeting to discuss potential accommodations at your earliest convenience.”
With voice instructions:
“Hi Ms. Thompson — the homework setup isn’t working for Jake right now. Can we find a time to talk about what might help? Thanks.”
Same request. One sounds like a person. The other sounds like it was generated.
Tips
- Start rough. Refine later. Even “I talk casual, short sentences, no fancy words” is better than nothing. Add rules as you notice the AI getting it wrong.
- It works for everything. Emails, cover letters, messages to teachers, complaint letters, social media posts, birthday cards. Anything where the words should sound like they came from you.
- Combine with Brain Dump. Explain what you want to say out loud. Let the AI organize it. The voice instructions keep the output sounding like your explanation, not a rewrite.