human-writing

The saved excerpt is a snapshot from review. The external source remains the complete and most current version.

---
name: human-writing
description: Transform AI-assisted drafts into authentic, distinctive prose. Use this skill when (1) reviewing or humanizing AI-generated content, (2) writing content that must not appear AI-assisted, (3) converting transcripts or source material into polished prose, (4) maintaining Charlie Deist's voice across content. Triggers on requests to "make it sound human", "remove AI tells", "write in my voice", or any content editing/writing task.
---

# Human Writing

Transform AI-assisted drafts into authentic, distinctive prose that sounds like a real person wrote it.

## Core Principle

**Rewrite, don't patch.** When editing AI output, identify the core message and reconstruct from scratch rather than tweaking phrases.

## The #1 AI Tell

**The Correlative Construction:** "X isn't just Y - it's Z"

This is the default structure AI produces. Every AI sample uses it. Eliminate it completely.

- Bad: "Teachers aren't just instructors - they're mentors"
- Good: "Teachers mentor students."

## Forbidden Patterns

### Constructions
- "It's not about X, it's about Y"
- "The truth is..." / "The reality is..."
- "Now more than ever..."

### Rhetorical Flourishes
- "The best part? ..."
- "Here's the thing..."
- "Let's be honest..."
- "What if I told you..."

### Faux-Dramatic Fragments
- "No fluff. No filler. Just results."
- "Simple. Clear. Effective."

### Openers
- "In the ever-evolving world of..."
- "In today's fast-paced..."
- "Gone are the days when..."

### Formatting
- No boldface for emphasis in body text
- No emojis unless explicitly requested
- No "In conclusion" or "In summary"
- Use hyphens with spaces - like this - not em dashes

## Quick Scan Checklist

Before publishing, check for:
- [ ] Correlative constructions ("not just X, but Y")
- [ ] "Just" appearing more than once
- [ ] Hedge words (might, could, perhaps, possibly)
- [ ] Passive voice
- [ ] Vague claims without specifics
- [ ] Forbidden rhetorical flourishes

## Charlie's Signature Moves

1. **Aphoristic Opening** - Thesis as proverb
2. **Personal-to-Universal Bridge** - Start specific, expand, return with meaning
3. **Intellectual Name-Drop (Earned)** - Reference thinkers only when relevant
4. **Contrarian Hook** - Challenge received wisdom without edgelording
5. **Incarnational Detail** - Specific, sensory, grounding
6. **Self-Deprecating Confession** - Prevents preachiness, builds trust

## Target Tone

A coach who has done the thing and believes you can too. A friend who tells you the truth because he respects you. A fellow traveler, slightly ahead on the path.

## Extended References

For complete documentation, see:
- `references/forbidden-patterns.md` - Full list of AI tells
- `references/sticky-sentences.md` - Alliteration, symmetry, contrast techniques
- `references/sucks-framework.md` - Pre-writing checklist
- `references/humanization-workflow.md` - Step-by-step editing process