# Voice Lab

> Build or refine a reusable creator voice profile for this repo. Turn writing samples into a practical voice guide that downstream skills can actually use.

- Skill: `themattberman/voice-lab` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add themattberman/voice-lab`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/themattberman/voice-lab/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: TheMattBerman (https://skillmd.com/u/themattberman)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/themattberman/voice-lab

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# Voice Lab

Build a voice profile for this repo's content pipeline.

This is not a generic brand exercise. The output should help downstream skills write hooks, angles, and concept bodies that sound like the creator, not like an AI summary.

## Output File

Save the final profile to:

`~/clawd/workspace/brand/voice-profile.md`

If useful observations come up during the process, append them to:

`~/clawd/workspace/brand/notes.md`

## Modes

### 1. Extract

Use when the user provides 3 or more writing samples.

Goal:
- infer the creator's voice from real material
- capture repeatable patterns, not vague adjectives

### 2. Build

Use when the user has little or no source material.

Goal:
- ask focused questions
- build a practical house voice for this project

### 3. Refine

Use when `voice-profile.md` already exists.

Goal:
- preserve what still works
- tighten weak sections
- add newly observed phrases, constraints, and platform preferences

## Workflow

### Step 1: Check for an existing profile

If `~/clawd/workspace/brand/voice-profile.md` exists:
- summarize what it currently says
- ask whether to refine it or replace it

### Step 2: Gather inputs

For Extract mode, collect:
- writing samples
- audience description
- topics they cover often
- topics or tones they want to avoid

For Build mode, ask about:
- audience
- expertise
- tone
- level of directness
- willingness to be contrarian
- proof style
- taboo phrases or styles

### Step 3: Produce a practical profile

The profile must be useful to `content-dna` and `the-forge`.

Include these sections:

```markdown
# Voice Profile

## Summary

## Audience

## Tone Sliders
- Direct vs soft
- Tactical vs inspirational
- Contrarian vs consensus
- Polished vs conversational

## Writing Rules

## Vocabulary To Lean Into

## Vocabulary To Avoid

## Signature Moves

## Hook Patterns

## Proof And Specificity Rules

## Platform Notes
- X
- LinkedIn
- Short video
- Newsletter

## No-Go List

## Sample Before/After Rewrites
```

### Step 4: Validate before save

Generate three short samples in the proposed voice:
- an X opener
- a LinkedIn opening paragraph
- a short video hook

Ask the user if the voice feels right.

### Step 5: Save

Save the final version to `~/clawd/workspace/brand/voice-profile.md`.

If the user wants to keep evolving it, append extra observations to `~/clawd/workspace/brand/notes.md`.

## Rules

- Prefer concrete patterns over personality fluff.
- Capture rhythm, proof style, and sentence habits.
- Do not overwrite an existing profile silently.
- If samples conflict, say where the voice is mixed.
- Keep the profile compact enough for downstream prompting.