Written by We all have quirks that make us who we are. Maybe your best friend always starts the day with one perfect cup of coffee, followed by an orange juice, and then waits exactly 30 minutes before eating breakfast. That’s their ritual. It’s something you remember about them, not because it’s wildly unique, but because it’s consistently them.
Communication works the same way.
Whether we realise it or not, we all have rituals in how we speak, write, explain, and describe. The little words we choose, the way we pause, and the turns of phrases we repeat are not mistakes. They should not be corrected. They are what make us interesting and memorable.
When we treat communication as just transferring information, we risk becoming generic. It becomes far more powerful when we think of it as sharing, revealing and showcasing what makes us unique.
This is especially important when we use AI tools to help us work faster, write better, or structure content. There is a risk in smoothing things out too much. When we make it sound more “professional,” we also start to sound like everyone else. We must avoid this danger at all costs. We do not want to sound boring.
Here is my simple process for working with AI in a way that supports creativity without replacing it. Follow these steps, and you’ll still sound like yourself with some help from AI.
AI Writing Process
Step 1: Brain dump
- Get everything out of your head and onto the page without editing or second-guessing. This is about raw thoughts, not polished prose.
Step 2: Structure
- Copy that content into ChatGPT (or your tool of choice) and give it instructions. Explain the content, what it needs to include, the tone, and the key takeaways.
- Be specific in your prompt: no em dashes, no emojis.
- It will usually follow this, but keep an eye out for any that sneak in.
Step 3: Rework
- Download and revise the draft. Cut unnecessary content, rearrange ideas, and rewrite anything that doesn’t sound like you or doesn’t make sense.
Step 4: Polish
- Run the draft through grammar and punctuation tools. Make sure it is clean and correct without losing your voice.
Step 5: Finalise with the checklist below
- These final steps help avoid the one mistake we cannot afford to make: being forgettable.
The Checklist: How Not to Sound Boring Using AI
1. Keep the real you in your writing
AI often removes the texture and personality of your voice. To bring it back:
- Look for phrases that feel generic or overly formal.
- Compare the AI version to your original brain dump.
- Blend the two. Put vivid, personal imagery back in.
- For example, do not let “Friday night date at an Italian restaurant” replace “my favourite little place with red chequered tablecloths and candles in Chianti bottles.”
- If it is how you would say it in real life, it should stay.
2. Swap out words that AI would not know you use
AI tends to favour neutral, common words that may not sound like you.
- Replace words with your go-to language.
- If you always say “incredible,” do not let AI change it to “excellent” or “amazing.”
- This is not about being technically correct. It is about keeping your natural tone.
3. Protect your phrasing and rhythm
AI often flattens the rhythm of language. You can fix this by:
- Looking for where you naturally group ideas or thoughts.
- Restoring the original rhythm where it makes sense.
- For example: “She’d hop. Then she’d pause. Take a breath. And hop again.”
- Pacing is key. It helps guide your reader and gives your writing momentum.
Bonus Tips
- Use phrasing that gives readers a sense of your energy and tone.
- Do not be afraid of a little bit of weirdness. Quirks make your writing memorable.
- Read your writing aloud. If it sounds like you when spoken, it is usually spot on.
You are ready to write. With AI’s help, you will still be you, just a bit faster.
I would love to hear from you if you have any questions or want to swap ideas about writing with AI. Let’s keep communication personal, vivid and never boring.
Storytelling Built For Innovation 