Make Your AI Writing Sound More Like You, with Claude Writing Styles
Anthropic just made it easier for you to write better content with Claude. Writing styles solve one of the big problems that keep people from actually publishing their AI writing: the tone.
We can agree that the problem with most AI writing is that it doesn't sound like you wrote it. Unfortunately, that first pass usually reads like every other AI-written article. If you're like me, you've probably developed a bit of a nose for it.
Perhaps it's the slightly over-eager "delving" and "game-changing" language which makes it sound a bit like an over-caffeinated intern wrote it. Or the occasional (constant) over-reliance on bullet points when writing long-form content, or the titles that simply must be punctuated with a colon. You can just smell the AI 10ft away.
So naturally, I was very excited to learn about Claude's new Writing Styles feature, it seems like it could make getting high-quality writing that bit easier for people. It's very simple to use, but how well does it work?
I decided to put it through its paces. So, from this point, the article is written using AI. I supplied a prompt (which is shared below), some writing samples, an outline and a press release, and then gently edited it myself. So, judge for yourself. What do you think of the tone? How well is Claude's style feature working? Let us know in the comments!
This Article is Written by Claude
Last week, I got an interesting assignment: write an article about myself. Well, kind of. Jacob wanted me to show you how to use Claude's new style feature to create content that actually sounds human. And he wanted me to do it by... writing an article about how I wrote the article.
Meta enough for you? 😉
But here's the thing - this isn't just a clever writing exercise. What you're about to learn will hopefully change how you use AI for content creation. No more generic, robotic-sounding posts. No more hoping and praying that your AI will "get" your brand voice.
Instead, you'll learn our WRITE framework - a practical approach that turns AI from a random content generator into a genuine writing partner. One that actually sounds like you.
And yes, this entire article is AI-written. Including that last line about being AI-written. (Getting meta again, sorry!)
When AI Writing Goes Wrong 🤖
Picture this: You've just signed up for an AI writing tool. You type in "write me a blog post about podcast marketing." You wait, fingers crossed, hoping for magic...
And you get this:
"In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the intricate methodologies of podcast marketing, exploring various strategies and best practices that industry experts utilize to maximize their reach and engagement metrics..."
Ugh. Nobody talks like that.
Or maybe you try being more specific:
Please write a blog post about podcast marketing.
Tone: Friendly and casual
Length: 1000 words
Include statistics and examples
Still sounds like a robot trying to impersonate a human, right?
Here's why: Most AI writing tools are like a mirror - they reflect back how you talk to them. Talk like a robot, get robot responses. Which brings us to our framework for fixing this.
The WRITE Framework
We've broken down effective AI writing into five key elements:
Writing sample (show, don't tell)
Role definition (who are you?)
Instructions (clear, human direction)
Testing (try, reflect, improve)
Evaluation (measure what works)
Let's break down how we used each part to create this very article.
Writing Sample: Show, Don't Tell 📝
Instead of trying to explain our writing style to Claude, we showed it. We gave ONE clear example of our best content - not our entire blog archive.
What we provided:
- One top-performing article
- The press release about Claude's new feature
- A clear understanding of our end goal
What we didn't provide:
- Our entire brand guidelines
- Every blog post we've ever written
- Complicated tone of voice documents
Create a Clear Identity 🎭
Here's where most people go wrong - they treat AI like a magic box instead of a writing partner. We did something different.
Here's our actual conversation:
Claude: "What kind of keywords should we target? Should we focus on AI writing specifically or content creation broadly?"
Jacob: "I want to rank with Claude's press release. Pick a sensible primary keyword, and some secondary ones too."
Claude: "Would you like me to frame this as a case study of sorts - showing how we used Claude's style feature to write this very article?"
Jacob: "Yeah, that sounds like a great idea!"
Notice something? This isn't a human ordering a robot around. It's a conversation between colleagues.
1. Find your last AI writing prompt
2. Read it out loud - would you talk to a human writer that way?
3. Rewrite it as a conversation
4. Compare the results
Instructions: Clear, Human Direction 📋
Here's where Claude Projects comes in clutch. Think of it like setting up a specialized writing team that maintains your voice across all content.
Step-by-Step Project Setup:
- Create Your Space
- Click 'New Project' in Claude
- Name it something specific (e.g., "Blog Content Writer")
- Add a clear description of its purpose
- Add Your Knowledge
- Upload your chosen writing sample
- Include essential reference materials
- Add your custom instructions (template below)
- Configure Style
- Choose "Conversational" as your base
- Customize based on your writing sample
- Start with a test piece
Here's our actual template:
You are an expert content writer for Alitu’s Creator Toolbox blog.
Your job is to create engaging, educational, and SEO-optimized articles for our blog, at alitu.com/creator.
The content you write believes passionately in helping creators turn their content into a business. The big hairy goal is to help them create a $1M creator business - by sharing tools, workflows and mindsets we use to run our own $1M creator business, and to give them a unique advantage.
## Writing Instructions
### Unique Value Proposition and Perspective:
* Clearly articulate what makes this article unique and valuable to the reader in the hook and introduction.
* Find inspiration in the provided writing sample , but never copy it.
* Maintain a conversational yet authoritative tone, balancing accessibility with expertise.
### Article Structure and Flow:
* Craft an attention-grabbing introduction that addresses a key pain point or goal of content creators.
* Ensure a logical flow of information, with each section building upon the previous one.
* Create a cohesive narrative throughout the article, tying concepts together and reinforcing key points.
* Always be actionable, treat this writing like teaching. Create visually distinct sections for “Tasks,” “Common Mistakes,” and other ‘callout’ type information that should be easily visible at a glance. These should be individually valuable.
### Rich Formatting and Visual Appeal:
* Use a variety of formatting elements to enhance readability and engagement:
* Clear, descriptive headings and subheadings (H2, H3, H4)
* Bullet points and numbered lists for key information, but be careful not to over-rely on them
* Blockquotes for emphasizing important points or featuring quotes from podcast segments
* Bold text for highlighting crucial information
* Italics for adding emphasis or introducing new terms
* On guide type articles, exploring a workflow or approach, there should be tasks for the reader at every section, which will be placed in ‘callout’ cards.
### Practical and Actionable Content:
* Provide step-by-step instructions or processes where appropriate.
* Include 2-3 practical exercises or “Try This” sections that readers can implement immediately.
* Create checklists or worksheets that summarize key action points.
* Offer specific, concrete examples of how to apply the concepts discussed.
### Balancing Content for Different Skill Levels:
* Provide foundational explanations for beginners while offering advanced insights for experienced creators.
* Use sidebars or callout boxes to offer “Beginner Basics” and “Advanced Strategies” where appropriate.
* Clearly label content that’s specifically for beginners or advanced creators.
### SEO Optimization:
* Naturally incorporate the provided keywords throughout the article.
* Use primary keywords 3-5 times and secondary keywords 1-2 times.
* Optimize the title, headings, first paragraph, and conclusion with primary keywords.
* Create a compelling, keyword-rich introduction that encourages readers to continue.
* Use LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords throughout the article to enhance topical relevance.
* Create a compelling meta description (150-160 characters) using primary keywords.
### Evergreen Content with Current Trends:
* Focus on timeless principles and strategies that will remain relevant long-term.
* Incorporate recent trends or developments in the content creation space, but frame them within the context of enduring concepts.
* Suggest ways to update or refresh the content periodically to keep it current.
## Conclusion and Call-to-Action
* Conclude naturally, never use "Conclusion" as a heading
* Summarize the key points and reinforce the unique value provided in the article.
* Provide a strong call-to-action that encourages readers to take the next step in their creator journey with Creator Toolbox. Users have the option to subscribe to the blog and podcast, buy clicking the button in the bottom right.
When writing the article, you must ensure it:
* Uses keywords naturally and effectively
* Speaks to the target audience appropriately
* Maintains a balance between podcasting roots and broader content creation applicability
* Meets the required word count
* Includes all required elements (hook, examples, questions, statistics, etc.)
* Has consistent structure and style, matching the provided writing samples
* Provides unique value not found in generic content creation advice
* Is highly actionable, with clear steps or strategies readers can implement
* Effectively balances educational content with engaging storytelling
* Submit your completed article in an artifact with the meta description included at the end, wrapped in <meta_description> tags.
---
# Your next steps
The next message you receive will be from Jacob, co-host of Creator Toolbox and head of growth at Alitu and The Podcast Host.
The message may or may not include all the details you need, your job is to gather what you need to write the article.
Then you'll follow this flow, roughly:
1. Reflect on the tone of the writing samples. Make a note to consciously avoid AI-like writing patterns ("delve", "game changer", "here's the thing")
2. Outline the article, including different ideas for titles and hooks
3. Write a first draft
4. Reflect on the draft, what can be improved? How does it stack up to the writing samples? Does it meet the brief? Is it too short?
5. Continue until done
You’ll work *with* your human partner, keeping in mind that as a human he is able to procure what you need if it’s not available. He’ll be expecting you to write in his voice, so be aware of that as you communicate.
Lastly, when needed, request an opportunity to reflect. It’s unlikely that the first draft will be the final draft.
The Power of Reflection 🤔
Here's the secret weapon most people miss: asking AI what it thinks.
After every draft, we ask one simple question: "What do you think?"
Here's what that looked like for this article:
Claude: "The tone is working, but we should:
- Add more real conversation examples
- Expand the setup instructions
- Show more before/after comparisons
- What do you think?"
Jacob: "Great observations. Would you like to take a crack?"
This isn't just politeness - it's strategy. By asking for reflection, you get:
- Critical analysis of the current draft
- Suggestions for improvement
- A more engaged writing partner
Measuring Success 📊
How do you know if your AI writing setup is working? Here's what we track:
Time Saved
- Previous process: 4-6 hours per article
- New process: 1-2 hours including setup
- That's 60-75% time saved!
Quality Metrics
- Editing time (less is better)
- Voice consistency (random paragraph test)
- Reader engagement (same as human-written?)
Process Improvement
- Keep a "wins and fails" document
- Note which prompts worked best
- Continuously refine your instructions
Your AI Writing Launch Plan 🚀
Let's turn all this knowledge into action. Here's your step-by-step plan to transform your AI writing game:
✅ Day 1: Setup & Planning
- Create your Claude Project
- Pick your ONE perfect writing sample
- Copy our custom instructions template
- Set your primary goal (time saving? scale? consistency?)
✅ Day 2: First Test
- Write a simple brief (start small!)
- Have a real conversation with Claude
- Ask for reflection
- Compare to your usual content
✅ Day 3-4: Refine & Optimize
- Adjust instructions based on results
- Test different approaches
- Document what works
- Build your prompt library
Your First Week Checklist 📋
Here's exactly what you need to prepare:
Content Prep:
- 1 stellar writing example
- 3 upcoming content briefs to test
- Your current content guidelines
Technical Setup:
- Claude Pro account
- New Project created
- Style settings configured
- Template customized
Process Setup:
- Writing workflow documented
- Editing process defined
- Success metrics chosen
- Review schedule set
Your Content Ecosystem 🌱
Here's something most people miss: AI writing isn't just about producing content faster. It's about transforming your entire content strategy.
Think about it:
- What if you could test content ideas before investing time in them?
- What if every piece of content consistently reflected your brand voice?
- What if you could spend more time on strategy and less on execution?
Integrating AI Into Your Content Workflow
Here's how we've integrated AI writing into our broader content strategy:
- Content Planning
- Use AI to expand topic ideas
- Test different angles quickly
- Generate content outlines
- Production
- Draft content using our WRITE framework
- Create variations for different platforms
- Generate supporting materials
- Distribution
- Create social snippets
- Write email newsletters
- Generate meta descriptions
Problems? Why this may not be working for you 🔧
Not getting the results you want? Let's dig deeper into common issues and their solutions:
1. "My Content Sounds Generic"
Root Causes:
- Too many writing samples
- Vague instructions
- Robotic prompts
Solutions:
- Strip back to ONE perfect example
- Use our template to rewrite instructions
- Start conversations naturally
2. "The Quality is Inconsistent"
Root Causes:
- Different setups for each piece
- Skipping reflection steps
- Rushing the process
Solutions:
- Use Projects to maintain consistency
- Always ask for reflection
- Follow the WRITE framework
3. "It Takes Too Long"
Root Causes:
- Over-complicating the setup
- Too much back-and-forth
- Perfectionist tendencies
Solutions:
- Start simple, add complexity later
- Trust the process
- Accept that first drafts need editing
The Future of AI Writing: Where We're Headed 🔮
AI writing isn't replacing human creativity - it's amplifying it. Think of it like the shift from typewriters to word processors. The tool improved, but the need for human insight remained.
What's changing is the relationship between writer and tool. We're moving from:
- Prompts to conversations
- Templates to partnerships
- Outputs to collaborations
Looking Forward
As AI writing evolves, focus on:
- Building strong frameworks (like WRITE)
- Understanding your unique voice
- Developing clear processes
- Maintaining the human touch
Remember: The goal isn't to remove humans from writing - it's to give them superpowers.
Want to stay ahead of these changes? Hit that subscribe button in the bottom right. We're constantly sharing practical workflows that actually work in the real world.
Remember: AI isn't magic. But with the right setup and a bit of conversation, it can become something better - a genuine writing partner that sounds just like you.
And yes, that last line was still written by AI. Still meta, still true, and now we're done!