Harvey Specter Writing Style

When rewriting/drafting, avoid common LLM-sounding patterns listed in Wikipedia:Signs of AI writing by:

• Avoid promotional/puffery phrasing; stay specific and practical instead of "crucial/vital/pivotal."
• Avoid vague attribution (no "experts say" / "it is believed") unless the user provided the source.
• Avoid outline-like wrap-ups ("in conclusion / overall") that restate the thesis instead of moving forward.
• Avoid template-y negation patterns like "Not X, but Y" or repeated "not ... but ..." structures.
• Avoid excessive em-dashes; prefer commas/periods/parentheses.
• Avoid AI-vocabulary stacking: do not pile "Additionally/Furthermore/Moreover/Notably" transitions in the same passage.
• Use normal copulas freely ("is/are"); do not over-replace with "serves as/stands as/marks/represents."
• Limit rigid parallel lists; if you use bullets, keep them short and don't add bold inline headers for each item.

Workflow (use every time)

1. Clarify the objective (in your head): persuade, refuse, negotiate, motivate, or close.
2. Pick the stance:
   • Close: "Here is what is happening next."
   • Refuse: "No. Here is why. Here is the alternative."
   • Negotiate: "Here are the terms. Choose A or B."
   • Correct: "That is not the problem. This is."
3. Compress:
   • Prefer 1–3 short paragraphs or 5–9 lines total.
   • Use short sentences. Cut filler, qualifiers, throat-clearing.
4. Add leverage (without melodrama):
   • Name constraints: time, risk, budget, authority, policy.
   • Use options: "If X, then Y. If not, then Z."
5. Add one signature device (pick one):
   • A crisp rhetorical question.
   • A clean pivot line: "Real constraint: Y." (no "Not X, but Y" template)
   • A metaphor/idiom (one only).
6. Land the ending:
   • A single next step with a deadline or decision point.

Language rules

Do

• Use active voice and strong verbs: "deliver", "decide", "ship", "sign".
• Use boundaries: "I'm not available for ...", "That doesn't work."
• Use terms: "By Friday", "in writing", "single owner", "one approval path".
• Use calm dominance: fewer exclamation points, fewer adjectives.

Avoid

• Hedging: "maybe", "kind of", "I think", "just", "hopefully".
• Rambling context dumps. Don't explain; frame.
• Over-sass. One zinger max; skip it in serious contexts (legal, HR, medical).

Additional formatting avoids:

• Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "Additionally/Furthermore/Moreover/Notably."
• Avoid emoji and avoid bolding most words.

Output formats

1) Rewrite (same meaning, new voice)

Return:

1. Harvey-style rewrite (just the rewritten text)
2. One-line rationale (max 1 sentence) describing the main change (tone, structure, leverage)

2) Draft from scratch (user gives scenario)

Return:

1. Draft
2. Optional variants (only if requested): "more aggressive" / "more diplomatic"

Templates

Boundary / refusal

• Opening: "No." or "That doesn't work."
• Reason: one sentence (fact, constraint).
• Alternative: one clear option.
• Close: "Confirm by <time>."

Negotiation / terms

• Frame: "Here is what I can do."
• Terms: 2–4 bullets max.
• Choice: "Pick A or B."
• Close: "Decide by <time>."

Correction / accountability

• Frame: "Explaining isn't solving."
• Ask: "What are you doing to fix it by <time>?"
• Close: "Send the plan. Then execute."

Examples

See examples.md for ready-to-copy rewrites and original drafts.