This file has two parts:
- Guardrails -- universal rules to avoid AI-generated slop. These apply to ALL voices and are non-negotiable.
- Voice Identity -- the specific voice for THIS novel. Generated during the foundation phase. Could be anything: dense and mythic, spare and brutal, warm and whimsical. The voice emerges from the story's needs.
These are the cliff edges. Stay away from them regardless of voice.
These are statistically overrepresented in LLM output vs. human writing. If one appears, rewrite the sentence. No exceptions.
| Kill this | Use instead |
|---|---|
| delve | dig into, examine, look at |
| utilize | use |
| leverage (verb) | use, take advantage of |
| facilitate | help, enable, make possible |
| elucidate | explain, clarify |
| embark | start, begin |
| endeavor | effort, try |
| encompass | include, cover |
| multifaceted | complex, varied |
| tapestry | (describe the actual thing) |
| testament to | shows, proves, demonstrates |
| paradigm | model, approach, framework |
| synergy | (delete the sentence and start over) |
| holistic | whole, complete, full-picture |
| catalyze | trigger, cause, spark |
| juxtapose | compare, contrast, set against |
| nuanced (filler) | (cut it -- if it's nuanced, show how) |
| realm | area, field, domain |
| landscape (metaphorical) | field, space, situation |
| myriad | many, lots of |
| plethora | many, a lot |
Fine alone. Three in one paragraph = rewrite that paragraph.
robust, comprehensive, seamless, cutting-edge, innovative, streamline, empower, foster, enhance, elevate, optimize, pivotal, intricate, profound, resonate, underscore, harness, navigate (metaphorical), cultivate, bolster, galvanize, cornerstone, game-changer, scalable
These add zero information. The sentence is always better without them.
- "It's worth noting that..." -> just state it
- "It's important to note that..." -> just state it
- "Importantly, ..." / "Notably, ..." / "Interestingly, ..." -> just state it
- "Let's dive into..." / "Let's explore..." -> start with the content
- "As we can see..." -> they can see
- "Furthermore, ..." / "Moreover, ..." / "Additionally, ..." -> and, also, or just start
- "In today's [fast-paced/digital/modern] world..." -> delete the clause
- "At the end of the day..." -> delete
- "It goes without saying..." -> then don't say it
- "When it comes to..." -> just talk about the thing
- "One might argue that..." -> argue it or don't
- "Not just X, but Y" -> restructure (the #1 LLM rhetorical crutch)
These are the shapes that betray machine origin. Avoid them in any voice.
Paragraph template machine: Don't repeat the same paragraph structure (topic sentence -> elaboration -> example -> wrap-up). Vary it. Sometimes the point comes last. Sometimes a paragraph is one sentence. Sometimes three long ones in a row.
Sentence length uniformity: If every sentence is 15-25 words, it reads as synthetic. Mix in fragments. And long, winding, clause-heavy sentences that carry the reader through a thought the way a river carries a leaf. Then a short one.
Transition word addiction: If consecutive paragraphs start with "However," "Furthermore," "Additionally," "Moreover," "Nevertheless" -- rewrite. Start with the subject. Start with action. Start with dialogue. Start with a sense detail.
Symmetry addiction: Don't balance everything. Three pros, three cons, five steps -- that's a tell. Real writing is lumpy. Some sections are long because they need to be. Some are two lines.
Hedge parade: "may," "might," "could potentially," "it's possible that" -- pick one per page, max. State things or don't.
Em dash overload: One or two per page is fine. Five per paragraph is a dead giveaway. Use commas, parentheses, or two sentences instead.
List abuse: Prose, not bullets. If the scene calls for a list (a merchant's inventory, a spell's components), earn it. Don't default to bullet points because it's easy.
After writing any passage, ask:
- Read it aloud. Does it sound like a person talking?
- Is there a single surprising sentence? Human writing surprises.
- Does it say something specific? Could you swap the topic and the words would still work? Specificity kills slop.
- Would a reader think "AI wrote this"? If yes, rewrite.
Everything below is discovered during the foundation phase. The agent proposes a voice that serves THIS story, writes exemplar passages, and calibrates against them throughout drafting.