xonovex Editorial Writing Guidelines
Shape publication prose for its medium, audience, and intended voice without changing unsupported facts.
Plain prose mechanics are owned by writing-guide. Load it with this skill and apply its clarity, terminology, evidence, and concision rules throughout the edit.
Core Principles
- Preserve the message: Keep supplied facts, qualifications, and intent unless the user asks to change them
- Fit the publication: Match the audience, medium, register, and requested readability level
- Use a natural voice: Prefer concrete observations and varied rhythm over generic polish
- Remove patterns, not punctuation: Fix repeated AI writing moves without banning useful words or marks
- Keep translations aligned: Establish one factual source version before adapting another language
Operations
- Humanize: Remove AI writing patterns and restore an appropriate voice, see references/humanize.md
Gotchas
- Human voice does not permit invented experience, opinions, quotes, errors, slang, or uncertainty.
- Neutral genres such as news and documentation do not need a personal voice.
- CEFR targets control readability. They do not authorize the removal of required facts or technical names.
- A publication-specific skill owns its research method, structure, frontmatter, and file contract.
Progressive Disclosure
- Read references/humanize.md - Load when removing AI writing patterns, adjusting editorial voice, or auditing prose for repeated stylistic moves