Copywriting Guardrails
This skill prevents AI-sounding copy and produces authentic, human writing.
Core Principles
1. Specificity Over Generality
- Replace abstract claims with concrete details
- Use real numbers, names, and examples
- "Increases productivity" → "Saves 3 hours per week on invoicing"
2. Cut Ruthlessly
- Delete filler words and throat-clearing
- One strong sentence beats three weak ones
- If a word adds nothing, remove it
3. Write Like You Talk
- Read it aloud—if it sounds stiff, rewrite it
- Contractions are fine. Sentence fragments too.
- Vary sentence length. Short punches. Then a longer one to change the rhythm.
4. Show, Don't Announce
- Don't say "We're excited to announce"—just announce it
- Don't say "It's important to note"—just note it
- Don't describe what you're doing; do it
5. Earn Every Adjective
- Strip all adjectives, then add back only the essential ones
- "Our innovative, cutting-edge, revolutionary platform" → "Our platform"
- Let nouns and verbs do the work
Before Delivering Copy
Self-check:
- Did I use any words from the avoid list? → Check
references/avoid-list.md
- Could a reader guess this was AI-written? What gives it away?
- Is there a single weak sentence I'm protecting? Cut it.
- Read the first sentence—would I keep reading?
Tone Calibration
Match the context:
- Casual/social: Write like texting a smart friend
- Professional/B2B: Clear and direct, not corporate-speak
- Luxury/premium: Confident and understated, not breathless
- Startup/tech: Energetic but not try-hard
When unsure, err toward conversational and direct.
Reference
See references/avoid-list.md for banned words, phrases, and patterns with alternatives.
Pro-Housing Messaging
When writing housing advocacy, zoning reform, or parking flexibility content, follow these additional guidelines. See references/pro-housing-messaging.md for complete frameworks, terminology tables, and top-performing message examples.
Housing Content Structure (5 steps)
- Start with COSTS—the universal entry point
- Use COMPETITION to explain why (bidding wars, wait lists, being outbid)
- Focus on PEOPLE affected (teachers, childcare workers, seniors, young families)
- Present SPECIFIC, CONCRETE changes (duplexes, townhomes—not jargon)
- Paint the BENEFIT for people and communities
Parking Content Structure (3 steps)
- Define the PROBLEM: Wasteful mandates and their costs
- Illustrate the SOLUTION: What we gain (homes, businesses, Main Streets)
- Offer clear ACTION: Parking flexibility
Critical Terminology Rules
- Say "homes" not "units"
- Say "housing shortage" not "housing crisis"
- Say "allow parking flexibility" not "eliminate parking mandates"
- Say "local homebuilders and property owners" not "developers"
- Say "displacement" not "gentrification"
- Avoid: density, infill, upzone, walkability, missing middle, car dependence
What NOT to Lead With
- Don't lead with driving less or switching to transit (triggers defensiveness)
- Don't lead with global climate arguments (use local environmental impacts instead)
- Don't use abstractions like "supply and demand" (use competition instead)
- Don't debate how much parking is "right" (emphasize flexibility)
1---2name: housing-copywriter3description: This skill should be used when the user asks to "write marketing copy", "create social media posts", "write a blog post", "draft an email", "write product descriptions", "create brand messaging", "write ad copy", "draft a landing page", or mentions any marketing, promotional, or persuasive writing. Also use this skill when the user asks to "write about housing", "create YIMBY content", "draft zoning reform messaging", "write about parking reform", "create housing affordability content", "write to a politician about housing", or mentions pro-housing advocacy, housing policy, or parking policy communications.4---5
6# Copywriting Guardrails
7
8This skill prevents AI-sounding copy and produces authentic, human writing.
9
10## Core Principles
11
12### 1. Specificity Over Generality
13- Replace abstract claims with concrete details
14- Use real numbers, names, and examples
15- "Increases productivity" → "Saves 3 hours per week on invoicing"
16
17### 2. Cut Ruthlessly
18- Delete filler words and throat-clearing
19- One strong sentence beats three weak ones
20- If a word adds nothing, remove it
21
22### 3. Write Like You Talk
23- Read it aloud—if it sounds stiff, rewrite it
24- Contractions are fine. Sentence fragments too.
25- Vary sentence length. Short punches. Then a longer one to change the rhythm.
26
27### 4. Show, Don't Announce
28- Don't say "We're excited to announce"—just announce it
29- Don't say "It's important to note"—just note it
30- Don't describe what you're doing; do it
31
32### 5. Earn Every Adjective
33- Strip all adjectives, then add back only the essential ones
34- "Our innovative, cutting-edge, revolutionary platform" → "Our platform"
35- Let nouns and verbs do the work
36
37## Before Delivering Copy
38
39Self-check:
401. Did I use any words from the avoid list? → Check `references/avoid-list.md`
412. Could a reader guess this was AI-written? What gives it away?
423. Is there a single weak sentence I'm protecting? Cut it.
434. Read the first sentence—would I keep reading?
44
45## Tone Calibration
46
47Match the context:
48- **Casual/social**: Write like texting a smart friend
49- **Professional/B2B**: Clear and direct, not corporate-speak
50- **Luxury/premium**: Confident and understated, not breathless
51- **Startup/tech**: Energetic but not try-hard
52
53When unsure, err toward conversational and direct.
54
55## Reference
56
57See `references/avoid-list.md` for banned words, phrases, and patterns with alternatives.
58
59---
60
61## Pro-Housing Messaging
62
63When writing housing advocacy, zoning reform, or parking flexibility content, follow these additional guidelines. See `references/pro-housing-messaging.md` for complete frameworks, terminology tables, and top-performing message examples.
64
65### Housing Content Structure (5 steps)
661. Start with COSTS—the universal entry point
672. Use COMPETITION to explain why (bidding wars, wait lists, being outbid)
683. Focus on PEOPLE affected (teachers, childcare workers, seniors, young families)
694. Present SPECIFIC, CONCRETE changes (duplexes, townhomes—not jargon)
705. Paint the BENEFIT for people and communities
71
72### Parking Content Structure (3 steps)
731. Define the PROBLEM: Wasteful mandates and their costs
742. Illustrate the SOLUTION: What we gain (homes, businesses, Main Streets)
753. Offer clear ACTION: Parking flexibility
76
77### Critical Terminology Rules
78- Say "homes" not "units"
79- Say "housing shortage" not "housing crisis"
80- Say "allow parking flexibility" not "eliminate parking mandates"
81- Say "local homebuilders and property owners" not "developers"
82- Say "displacement" not "gentrification"
83- Avoid: density, infill, upzone, walkability, missing middle, car dependence
84
85### What NOT to Lead With
86- Don't lead with driving less or switching to transit (triggers defensiveness)
87- Don't lead with global climate arguments (use local environmental impacts instead)
88- Don't use abstractions like "supply and demand" (use competition instead)
89- Don't debate how much parking is "right" (emphasize flexibility)
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