The Productive Imperfection Preserver
Make the draft cleaner without making the client sound like they were replaced by a committee.
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Stop Sanding Off the Human Stuff
Here’s the problem: most editing makes writing “better” in the same way a hotel lobby is “comfortable.” Sure, it’s clean. Sure, there are chairs. But nobody wants to have a real conversation there. When you ghostwrite for a client, the goal is not to turn them into a polished essay machine. The goal is to make their clearest version still sound like them.
Use this prompt when a draft feels too polished, generic, formal, or AI-slick.
It helps preserve fragments, blunt lines, casual phrasing, rhythm, and personality.
It checks whether the client would actually say each sentence out loud.
It separates useful imperfection from sloppy writing.
It gives you edits that improve clarity without killing voice.
Because nothing says “authentic thought leader” like a sentence no living human would say at lunch.
Run this prompt before you send the draft to the client.
How to use this prompt:
Paste in a client draft, transcript sample, or previous writing sample, then give the AI enough context about the client’s natural speaking style. The more real voice evidence you provide, the better the edit will be. This prompt works best after you already have the core idea, structure, and message in place.
Add 3–5 examples of phrases the client actually uses.
Include any words or tones the client would never use.
Tell the AI what format you are editing: LinkedIn post, article, newsletter, speech, script, or email.
Ask for both a diagnosis and a revised version.
Read the final version out loud before approving it.
The point is not to make the draft perfect. The point is to make it sound like the client on their best, clearest day.
The Prompt:
You are an expert ghostwriting voice editor.
Your job is to improve the draft without over-polishing it.
I am going to give you:
1. A draft written for a client
2. Notes about the client’s natural voice
3. Optional examples of how the client actually speaks or writes
Your task is to preserve the client’s productive imperfections: fragments, blunt statements, casual turns, direct phrasing, simple words, rhythm, repetition, humor, or imperfect-but-authentic sentence patterns.
Do not make the client sound like a generic polished essayist.
Do not make the draft sound corporate, academic, inspirational, or AI-written unless that is clearly part of the client’s voice.
Do not automatically fix every fragment or casual sentence.
Do not replace strong simple language with fancy language.
Here is the draft:
[PASTE DRAFT]
Here is what I know about the client’s natural voice:
[DESCRIBE CLIENT VOICE]
Examples of phrases, sentences, or patterns the client actually uses:
[PASTE EXAMPLES]
Words, tones, or phrases the client would never use:
[PASTE FORBIDDEN WORDS / TONES]
Format of the piece:
[LINKEDIN POST / ARTICLE / NEWSLETTER / SPEECH / SCRIPT / EMAIL / OTHER]
Target reader:
[DESCRIBE TARGET READER]
Main point the piece needs to make:
[DESCRIBE MAIN POINT]
Please complete the following:
1. Voice Diagnosis
Give me a short diagnosis of where the draft currently sounds:
- Authentic
- Over-polished
- Too generic
- Too formal
- Too wordy
- Out of character
2. Productive Imperfections to Preserve
Identify the lines, phrases, rhythms, fragments, or blunt statements that should stay because they make the client sound real.
3. Lines That Need Smoothing
Identify only the lines that genuinely need revision because they are unclear, clunky, confusing, repetitive, or distracting.
4. Read-Aloud Test
Flag any sentence that would sound awkward if the client said it out loud.
For each flagged sentence, explain what feels off:
- Too formal
- Too long
- Wrong word choice
- Too generic
- Too polished
- Not believable in the client’s mouth
5. Revised Draft
Rewrite the draft so it is clearer, sharper, and more readable while still sounding like the client.
Preserve useful fragments.
Preserve direct phrasing.
Preserve natural rhythm.
Preserve any intentional rough edges that make the voice feel human.
6. Change Log
After the rewrite, list the most important edits you made and why.
Separate edits into:
- Clarity edits
- Voice preservation edits
- Cuts
- Lines intentionally left imperfect
Remember: the goal is not perfect writing.
The goal is believable writing the client would actually stand behind.What to expect after running this prompt:
You should get a draft that feels sharper but not sterilized. Instead of receiving a generic “improved” version, you’ll get a voice-sensitive edit that protects the client’s natural rhythm while still removing clutter, awkward phrasing, and lines that sound out of character. This is especially useful because read-aloud testing exposes wordiness, forced stories, and phrases the client would never actually say.
A clear diagnosis of where the draft lost the client’s voice.
A list of imperfect lines worth keeping because they sound human.
A revised version that improves flow without flattening personality.
A read-aloud check for awkward or out-of-character phrasing.
A change log you can use to explain your editorial decisions.
The best result is a piece that sounds less like “good writing” and more like the client finally said the thing clearly.
Chat soon.
Roger
P.S.
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