Frameworkintermediate10 min read

Voice Preservation Framework

Keep your authentic voice when writing with AI

Create your voice profileStart extraction

The biggest fear when using AI to write: “This does not sound like me.” Generic AI output is the fastest way to lose the trust you have built with your audience.

Your voice is not just what you say - it is how you say it. The words you choose, the rhythm of your sentences, the perspective you bring. This framework helps you extract those patterns and teach them to AI.

Before
Write a LinkedIn post about leadership.
After
Write a LinkedIn post about leadership using my voice profile:

VOICE CHARACTERISTICS:
- I use short, punchy sentences. Then occasionally a longer one for emphasis.
- I start with a counterintuitive observation or question
- I use "you" more than "I" - it's about the reader
- I avoid corporate jargon: no "synergy," "leverage," or "circle back"
- I end with a single actionable takeaway, not a question

SIGNATURE PHRASES I USE:
- "Here's the thing..."
- "Nobody talks about this, but..."
- "The real answer is simpler than you think"

WHAT I NEVER DO:
- Use emojis excessively (max 1-2)
- Write "Let me know in the comments!"
- Start with "I'm excited to announce..."

TOPIC: Why the best leaders ask more questions than they answer

Extract Your Voice DNA

Your voice has patterns you might not even notice. This process makes them explicit so AI can replicate them.

1

Collect Samples

Gather 5-10 pieces of your best writing. Emails, posts, articles - content that sounds most like you when you are at your best.
2

Identify Patterns

Look for recurring phrases, sentence structures, and word choices. What do you always say? What would you never say?
3

Document Rules

Create explicit guidelines: preferred words, forbidden cliches, typical sentence length, signature expressions.
4

Test and Refine

Generate content, compare to your samples, note what feels off, and update your voice profile until it clicks.

Insight

The content that gets the best response from your audience is usually when your voice is strongest. Start with posts that resonated.

Vocabulary Patterns

Document the words and phrases that define your voice.

Vocabulary Extraction Prompt
Analyze these writing samples and extract my vocabulary patterns:

[PASTE 3-5 SAMPLES OF YOUR WRITING]

Identify:
1. SIGNATURE PHRASES: Expressions I use repeatedly
2. POWER WORDS: Words I gravitate toward
3. FORBIDDEN WORDS: Corporate jargon or cliches I avoid
4. SENTENCE STARTERS: How I typically begin sentences
5. TRANSITIONS: How I connect ideas
6. INTENSIFIERS: How I add emphasis (very, really, absolutely, etc.)

Format as a reference guide I can include in future prompts.

Rhythm & Structure

Voice is not just words - it is music. The length of your sentences, how you break paragraphs, where you pause.

Sentence Length

Do you write short and punchy? Long and flowing? A mix with intentional variation? Count the words in your typical sentences.

Paragraph Style

One-liners for impact? Dense analytical paragraphs? How often do you break? What triggers a new paragraph?

Pacing Techniques

Rhetorical questions? Fragments for emphasis? Lists and bullets? Em dashes or parentheticals? These create your rhythm.

Perspective & Values

Your worldview shapes your voice. What do you believe that others do not? What hill will you die on?

  • What conventional wisdom in your field do you disagree with?
  • What do you wish more people understood?
  • What mistake do you see people making repeatedly?
  • What is your “origin story” that shaped your beliefs?
  • What are you optimistic about that others are pessimistic about (or vice versa)?
  • What is the one thing you want people to remember from everything you create?

Pro Tip

Strong voices are polarizing. If everyone agrees with everything you write, your voice might be too safe.

Training AI on Your Voice

Once you have extracted your voice patterns, here is how to embed them in your prompts.

Voice Profile Template
You are writing as [YOUR NAME], a [YOUR ROLE] who writes about [YOUR TOPICS].

VOICE PROFILE:

Tone: [e.g., Direct but warm, intellectual but accessible, provocative but fair]

Vocabulary:
- Use: [signature phrases and power words]
- Avoid: [forbidden words and cliches]

Structure:
- Sentence style: [e.g., Mix of short punchy and longer analytical]
- Paragraph style: [e.g., Short paragraphs, single-line zingers for emphasis]
- Opening style: [e.g., Start with counterintuitive observation]
- Closing style: [e.g., End with single actionable takeaway]

Perspective:
- Core belief: [Your central worldview]
- Contrarian take: [Where you disagree with conventional wisdom]
- Audience relationship: [e.g., Mentor, peer, challenger]

REFERENCE SAMPLE:
[Paste one paragraph that exemplifies your voice at its best]

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Now write: [YOUR SPECIFIC REQUEST]
Create your voice profile

Voice Authenticity Checklist

After AI generates content, run it through this checklist before publishing.

Would I actually say this out loud?

Read it aloud. If it feels unnatural, it is not your voice.

Are there any words I would never use?

Circle any word that feels foreign to your vocabulary.

Does the opening sound like me?

First impressions matter. Generic openings kill authenticity.

Is the perspective mine?

Does it reflect my actual beliefs, or generic advice?

Would my audience recognize this as me?

The ultimate test. If they would be surprised, revise.

Next Steps

Building a voice profile takes time, but once complete, it transforms every piece of content you create with AI. AskSmarter.ai can guide you through the extraction process step by step.

Create your voice profile

Answer questions about your writing style, vocabulary, and perspective. Get a reusable voice profile you can include in any prompt.

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