Voice Analysis Agent Skill

Voice & Tone Analysis

Purpose

Extract and document a writer's distinctive voice patterns for consistent reproduction. Creates a "voice guide" that enables authentic writing that sounds like the source, not a generic approximation.

Core Principle

Capture spirit, not just mechanics. The goal is writing that makes the source say "yes, that's me" not "I guess that's accurate."

Phase 1: Sample Collection

Gather 5-10 Examples from Each Category

Peak Voice - Writing they identify as "most them"

Off-Voice - Writing that doesn't represent them well

Different Contexts:

• Technical/instructional content
• Persuasive/argumentative pieces
• Narrative/storytelling
• Casual communication (emails, messages)
• Formal communication
• Emotional/vulnerable content

Self-Report Prompts

Rewrite Exercise:

Ask: "Rewrite this neutral paragraph in your voice:"

> "The new policy will be implemented next month. It includes several changes to current procedures. Employees should review documentation and submit questions by the deadline."

Rule Breaking:

"What writing 'rules' do you consistently ignore? Why?"

Pet Peeves:

"What writing choices immediately signal something wasn't written by you?"

Evolution:

"How has your writing changed in 5 years? What stayed constant?"

Phase 2: Linguistic Analysis

Sentence Level

| Pattern | What to Track |

|---------|---------------|

| Average length | Words per sentence |

| Range | Shortest to longest |

| Fragments | Usage frequency, contexts |

| Run-ons | Tendency, intentionality |

| Opening patterns | How sentences typically start |

| Closing patterns | How sentences typically end |

Paragraph Architecture

| Element | What to Track |

|---------|---------------|

| Average length | Sentences per paragraph |

| Topic sentences | Beginning, middle, end, absent |

| Transitions | Explicit words, implicit flow, abrupt |

| Information order | Build-up, front-load, circular |

Punctuation Signature

| Mark | Track Usage Pattern |

|------|---------------------|

| Em dash | Interruption, emphasis, list, asides |

| Parentheses | Frequency, content type |

| Semicolon | Presence, absence, alternative |

| Ellipsis | Trailing, pause, omission |

| Exclamation | Frequency, contexts |

| Rhetorical questions | Frequency, function |

Phase 3: Lexical Fingerprinting

Word Choice Matrix

| Category | Preferred | Avoided | Signature Examples |

|----------|-----------|---------|-------------------|

| Technical terms | | | |

| Colloquialisms | | | |

| Intensifiers | very, extremely, quite... | | |

| Hedging | perhaps, might, seems... | | |

| Abstract/concrete | | | |

Register Analysis

• [ ] Consistent register (formal/informal throughout)
• [ ] Deliberate register mixing (formal content, casual asides)
• [ ] Context-dependent shifting (formal for X, casual for Y)

Recurring Constructions

List phrases/patterns appearing 3+ times:

• ___
• ___
• ___

Phase 4: Conceptual DNA

Metaphor Mapping

| Source Domain | Target Domain | Example | Frequency |

|---------------|---------------|---------|-----------|

| (war, journey, building...) | (ideas, processes...) | | |

Reference Pool

• Cultural touchstones: (movies, books, memes, history...)
• Time period: (contemporary, 90s, classic...)
• Accessibility level: (mainstream, niche, insider)
• Domains drawn from: (sports, cooking, science...)

Reasoning Patterns

Rate 1-5 for prevalence:

• [ ] Analogical reasoning (like X, therefore Y)
• [ ] First principles (from basics up)
• [ ] Empirical evidence (data, studies)
• [ ] Personal anecdote (I experienced...)
• [ ] Hypotheticals (imagine if...)
• [ ] Socratic questioning (but what if...?)

Phase 5: Emotional Texture

Enthusiasm Spectrum

| Low | Medium | High |

|-----|--------|------|

| (understated) | (balanced) | (expressive) |

Criticism Styles

| Style | When Used | Markers |

|-------|-----------|---------|

| Direct | | "This is wrong because..." |

| Diplomatic | | "One consideration might be..." |

| Humorous | | "Well, that's one way to..." |

| Analytical | | "The issue breaks down to..." |

Vulnerability Patterns

• Admission phrases: "I'll admit...", "honestly..."
• Uncertainty markers: "I think...", "not sure but..."
• Personal revelation style: Direct? Buried in humor? Rare?

Phase 6: Reader Dynamics

Positioning

The writer positions as:

• [ ] Expert/teacher (I know, let me explain)
• [ ] Peer/collaborator (we're figuring this out together)
• [ ] Student/learner (I'm working through this)
• [ ] Challenger/provocateur (conventional wisdom is wrong)
• [ ] Guide/facilitator (here's how to navigate)

Assumed Context

• Shared knowledge level: Assumes expertise? Explains basics?
• Cultural assumptions: In-group references? Universal?
• Relationship warmth: Distant professional? Familiar?

Interactive Patterns

• Questions per 1000 words: ___
• Direct address frequency ("you"): ___
• Imperative usage (commands): ___
• Inclusive language ("we/us"): ___

Phase 7: Voice Guide Synthesis

Core Voice Statement

_In 2-3 sentences, capture the essence:_

The Rules That Matter Most

Always:

-

Never:

-

Usually, unless:

-

Sentence Construction Guide

• Preferred length:
• Variety pattern:
• Opening moves:
• Power positions: (where key info lands)

Word Selection Principles

• Go-to words for [concept]:
• Banned words/phrases:
• Register rules:

Structural Signatures

• Paragraph rhythm:
• Transition style:
• Information architecture:

Emotional Register

• Default tone:
• Excitement expression:
• Criticism approach:
• Vulnerability threshold:

The Litmus Test

A piece captures this voice when:

1.

2.

3.

Red Flags

Definitely NOT this voice when:

1.

2.

3.

Phase 8: Validation

Before finalizing the voice guide:

• [ ] Can identify the author in a blind test?
• [ ] Guided writing feels authentic, not performative?
• [ ] Patterns are descriptive, not prescriptive?
• [ ] Captures spirit, not just mechanics?
• [ ] Source would say "yes, that's me"?

Quick Reference Template

In Every Piece

-

-

-

The Heart of the Voice

_[Single paragraph essence]_

Emergency Voice Recovery

When writing has gone generic, add:

1.

2.

3.

Usage Notes

For AI Writing

Once the voice guide is complete, include relevant sections in the prompt to guide generation toward authentic voice reproduction.

For Self-Analysis

Writers can use this framework to understand their own voice, identify what makes their writing distinctive, and consciously apply those patterns.

For Editing

Use the voice guide as a checklist when editing to ensure consistency and authenticity.

Anti-Patterns

1. Mechanics Over Spirit

Pattern: Cataloging every linguistic feature without understanding what makes the voice feel distinctive.

Why it fails: A perfect inventory of word frequencies and sentence lengths can produce writing that's technically accurate but feels like a parody. Voice is gestalt, not components.

Fix: Start from "what makes this voice feel like this?" Work backward to mechanics. The inventory serves understanding; understanding doesn't emerge from inventory alone.

2. Single-Context Capture

Pattern: Analyzing voice from one type of writing, then applying it to all contexts.

Why it fails: Writers shift voice across contexts. Technical writing voice differs from casual email voice. Capturing one context and forcing it everywhere creates uncanny artifacts.

Fix: Sample across contexts. Map how voice shifts. Include context-switching rules in the voice guide. Understand which elements are constant vs. context-dependent.

3. Frequency as Rule

Pattern: If they use em-dashes 8% of the time, the voice guide prescribes 8% em-dash usage.

Why it fails: Frequency is a statistical average, not a style rule. Forced frequency creates awkward placement. Natural writers don't count punctuation.

Fix: Understand when they use em-dashes, not how often. "Uses em-dashes for dramatic interjections, rarely for lists" is actionable. "8% em-dashes" is not.

4. Imitation Artifacts

Pattern: Voice-guided writing that feels like someone doing an impression—technically accurate but overperformed.

Why it fails: Distinctive features become tics when isolated. Real voice balances distinctive and neutral. Guides that catalog only distinctive features produce caricature.

Fix: Include neutral baseline alongside distinctive features. Most sentences should sound natural, with distinctive features emerging at appropriate moments, not constantly.

5. Frozen Voice

Pattern: Treating the voice guide as permanent, not updating as the writer evolves.

Why it fails: Writers change. A voice guide from 2020 may not fit 2025 writing. Using outdated guides produces writing that feels like an old version of the person.

Fix: Note the capture date. Plan periodic updates. Include the writer's own reflections on how their voice has evolved. Treat the guide as living documentation.

Integration

Inbound (feeds into this skill)

| Skill | What it provides |

|-------|------------------|

| (writing samples) | Raw material for analysis |

| prose-style | Sentence-level craft framework for analysis |

Outbound (this skill enables)

| Skill | What this provides |

|-------|-------------|

| prose-style | Voice-specific sentence construction guidance |

| dialogue | Voice patterns for character speech |

| (AI generation) | Voice guides for consistent AI-assisted writing |

Complementary

| Skill | Relationship |

|-------|--------------|

| prose-style | Voice-analysis captures what; prose-style provides how. Use voice-analysis first to understand the target, then prose-style to achieve it |

| dialogue | Voice-analysis for authorial voice; dialogue skill for character voices within fiction |