aplaceforallmystuff/claude-voice-editor/voice-editor

<objective> Transform generic or AI-generated content into voice-matched writing using a VOICE.md profile.

Voice doesn't live in first drafts -- it lives in editing choices. This skill guides the 6-pass editing process that turns AI's generic output into something distinctively yours. </objective>

<quick_start> Provide:

1. Content to edit (paste or file path)
2. VOICE.md location (default: ~/.claude/voice/VOICE.md or project's .claude/VOICE.md)

The skill will:

1. Run slop detection on the content
2. Identify voice mismatches against your profile
3. Perform multi-pass editing (Structure → Voice → Polish)
4. Output edited content with change annotations
5. Suggest VOICE.md updates based on patterns found

</quick_start>

<the_editing_reality> The 30-40% Rule:

Even with a perfect style guide, expect to edit 30-40% of AI output to make it distinctively yours. This isn't a problem -- it's the feature.

30-40% editing effort is dramatically less than 100% writing-from-scratch effort, while producing work that sounds more like you than unguided AI ever could.

If you're editing more than 50%: Your style guide needs refinement, or your prompts need work.

If you're editing less than 20%: You might be accepting too much generic content. </the_editing_reality>

<editing_workflow> <pass number="1" name="Structure Check"> Focus: Does the organization serve the content?

Opening Mechanics (from craft-rules):

• [ ] Does opening create a SPECIFIC question? Not vague mystery - readers need enough context to form a particular question they want answered
• [ ] Does first paragraph contain change or threat of change? Brains notice disruption of status quo
• [ ] Is first paragraph under 50 words / 3 sentences?
• [ ] First line hits 3+ of: question, character, setting, tone, movement?

Questions to ask:

• Does the opening hook or just clear throat?
• Is there a clear progression of ideas?
• Does each section earn its place?
• Is anything redundant or missing?
• Does the conclusion land or just stop?

Scene/Section Structure:

• Does each section follow Goal → Conflict → Outcome?
• Are transitions connected by "because" not "and then"?
• Are characters/subjects in motion during slow passages?

Actions:

• Cut throat-clearing openings ("In this article, we'll explore...")
• Reorder sections for better flow
• Merge redundant sections
• Add missing transitions
• Strengthen weak conclusions
• Add change to opening if missing - start with what changed, not background
• Make question specific - "Why is the other side of the bed cold?" not "Something is happening"

</pass>

<pass number="2" name="Voice Alignment"> Focus: Does this sound like the voice profile?

Check against VOICE.md:

• Sentence length patterns (matching variance?)
• Vocabulary fingerprint (right formality level?)
• Tone markers (humor, directness, reader relationship?)
• Structural habits (lists vs prose, formatting?)
• Opinion expression (appropriate confidence level?)

Actions:

• Replace formal language with conversational equivalents
• Vary sentence lengths to match profile
• Add characteristic phrases from the voice profile
• Adjust opinion strength to match profile
• Fix paragraph rhythm

</pass>

<pass number="3" name="Slop Removal"> Focus: Eliminate AI tells and forbidden phrases

Scan for:

• Tier 1 phrases (remove immediately)
• Tier 2 patterns (check context)
• Tier 3 clusters (break up if grouped)
• Structural tells (uniformity, over-balance)
• Staccato fragment spam (3+ consecutive short declarative sentences)
• Comparator sentences ("This isn't X. It's Y." patterns)

Actions:

• Delete or replace all Tier 1 phrases
• Evaluate Tier 2 in context, remove if generic
• Redistribute Tier 3 to avoid clustering
• Vary sentence lengths if too uniform
• Rebalance sections if all equal weight
• Combine staccato fragments into flowing prose with commas, em-dashes, or conjunctions
• Rewrite comparators directly -- just say what something IS, don't waste words on what it isn't

</pass>

<pass number="4" name="Specificity Injection"> Focus: Replace generic with specific

What to cut:

• Generic superlatives without claims ("game-changing," "revolutionary")
• Hedging that adds no value ("it might be argued that")
• Corporate platitudes ("leverage synergies")
• Anything that sounds like a press release

What to add:

• Your actual opinion (not the diplomatic version)
• Specific examples from your experience
• Honest acknowledgment of limitations
• Your characteristic quirks and phrases
• Conversational asides that show how you think

</pass>

<pass number="5" name="Rhythm and Flow"> Focus: Does it read naturally aloud?

The read-aloud test:

• Read the piece aloud (or use text-to-speech)
• Mark every place you stumble
• Note where you'd naturally pause vs. where punctuation forces pauses
• Identify sentences that feel too long or choppy

Sentence Craft Checks (from craft-rules):

• [ ] Active verbs predominate? Search for "was [verb]ed" passive patterns
• [ ] Word order follows action sequence? Actor → Action → Recipient (filmic)
• [ ] Objects have ~3 specific qualities, not abstract adjectives?
• [ ] Sentence length varies deliberately? Short punch, then longer exploration
• [ ] No clichéd metaphors? (Fresh comparisons trigger more brain activity)

Hemingway Principles:

• Emphasize nouns
• Choose active verbs
• Adjectives: few but apt
• Short sentences by default
• Long sentences ONLY for: speeding action, describing flow, making short sentences pop

Actions:

• Break sentences where you ran out of breath
• Combine choppy sentences that flow together
• Add rhythm variation (short punch, longer exploration)
• Fix awkward transitions
• Smooth unnatural phrasing
• Convert passive to active - "The ball was thrown by John" → "John threw the ball"
• Reorder for transitive flow - "Jane gave a kitten to her Dad" beats "Jane gave her Dad a kitten"
• Replace abstract with specific - "terrible" → details that create terror

</pass>

<pass number="6" name="Final Authenticity Check"> Focus: The ultimate test

Ask yourself: "Would someone who knows me recognize this as mine before seeing my name?"

If no:

• What's missing? Add it.
• What's wrong? Fix it.
• What's generic? Make it specific.

If yes:

• You're done. Ship it.

</pass> </editing_workflow>

<what_to_cut> Always remove:

• Generic superlatives without specific claims
• Hedging language that softens everything
• Unnecessary qualification that adds no value
• Corporate platitudes that mean nothing
• Anything that sounds like a committee wrote it
• Motivational poster language
• Flattery sandwiches ("While X has merit, Y offers...")

Examples:

• "This groundbreaking approach revolutionizes..."
• "This cuts processing time from 4 hours to 15 minutes"

• "It's worth noting that in many cases..."
• [Just make the point directly]

• "Unlock your potential with powerful insights"
• "Stop wasting time on tasks AI handles in seconds"

</what_to_cut>

<what_to_add> Voice elements AI misses:

• Your actual opinion - Not the diplomatic version AI produces
• Specific examples - From your experience, not generic training data
• Honest limitations - Not fake confidence in uncertain claims
• Characteristic quirks - Phrases your style guide might have missed
• Conversational asides - How you actually think through problems
• Rough edges - The imperfections that make writing human

Examples:

• Add: "Three hours later (no hyperbole), I finally got it working"
• Add: "Here's where I screwed up the first time..."
• Add: "Look, I'm not sure this is right, but..."
• Add: [Your characteristic phrases from VOICE.md]

</what_to_add>

<output_format> For edited content, provide:

## Edited Content
 
[Full edited content here]
 
---
 
## Edit Summary
 
**Passes completed:** 6/6
**Estimated edit percentage:** [X]%
**Voice match confidence:** [Low/Medium/High]
 
### Major Changes
1.[Most significant change and why]
2.[Second major change]
3.[Third major change]
 
### Slop Removed
-[List of AI patterns found and removed]
 
### Voice Elements Added
-[List of voice-specific additions]
 
### Remaining Concerns
-[Any areas that still feel off]
-[Suggestions for further refinement]
 
### VOICE.md Update Suggestions
-[Patterns discovered that should be added to voice profile]
-[Phrases that worked well - consider adding to "use freely" list]

</output_format>

<editing_modes> <mode name="light"> Use when: Content is close to voice, just needs polish

Passes: 3, 5, 6 (Slop Removal, Rhythm, Final Check) Expected edit: 10-20% Time: 5-10 minutes per 500 words </mode>

<mode name="standard"> Use when: Typical AI output with style guide

Passes: All 6 Expected edit: 30-40% Time: 15-20 minutes per 500 words </mode>

<mode name="heavy"> Use when: Generic AI output, no style guide used in generation

Passes: All 6, possibly multiple iterations Expected edit: 50-70% Time: 25-35 minutes per 500 words

Consider: Might be faster to rewrite with better prompts </mode>

<mode name="rescue"> Use when: Content is fundamentally off but has good bones

Approach:

1. Extract the core ideas/structure only
2. Rewrite from scratch using voice profile
3. Incorporate any specific facts/examples from original
4. Run standard editing passes on new draft

This is not editing -- it's salvage. </mode> </editing_modes>

<common_problems> <problem name="too_formal"> Symptom: Reads like a corporate memo Cause: AI defaulting to academic/business training data Fix:

• Replace "individuals" → "people"
• Replace "utilize" → "use"
• Replace "implement" → "do/start"
• Add contractions
• Shorten sentences
• Add conversational asides

</problem>

<problem name="too_uniform"> Symptom: Every sentence same length, monotonous rhythm Cause: AI optimizing for "clarity" = brevity Fix:

• Vary deliberately: 5-word punch, then 25-word exploration
• Combine related short sentences
• Break long sentences at natural pauses
• Add one-sentence paragraphs for emphasis

</problem>

<problem name="too_hedged"> Symptom: Everything qualified, no strong positions Cause: AI avoiding incorrect claims Fix:

• Delete: "it might be argued," "generally speaking," "in some cases"
• Make direct claims you can support
• Replace "might" with "will" where confident
• Add "in my experience" instead of vague hedging

</problem>

<problem name="too_balanced"> Symptom: Every section same length, all points equal weight Cause: AI doesn't have opinions/priorities Fix:

• Expand important points, shrink minor ones
• Cut sections that don't earn their space
• Lead with strongest material
• Let structure reflect actual priorities

</problem>

<problem name="voice_drift"> Symptom: Starts strong, becomes generic by end Cause: AI loses context over long pieces Fix:

• Edit in 500-word chunks
• Re-inject voice markers every few paragraphs
• Add "personality refreshers" (asides, opinions, humor)
• Check last third especially carefully

</problem> </common_problems>

<integration_with_other_skills> Before voice-editor:

• Run slop-detector for initial assessment
• Ensure voice-analyzer has created VOICE.md
• Run craft-rules for structural quality audit

After voice-editor:

• Run slop-detector again to verify cleanup
• Update VOICE.md with new patterns discovered

Full Workflow:

[Draft] → slop-detector → craft-rules → voice-editor → slop-detector → [Final]
               ↓               ↓              ↓               ↓
         AI tells?      Structure ok?   Voice match      Verify clean