I tend to read a lot of articles, newsletters, and social media content, and I’m on LinkedIn almost every day. As I’m reading, I have to admit that my eyes are drawn to a confident statement… but they also start to glaze over as I see it followed by a colon and three emoji bullet points.
Basically, I know I’m reading the words generated by an LLM.
Here’s how you lose your voice.
Not because the ideas are bad, but because the shape of the language has given it away. And also sometimes the ideas are bad.
You know the format:
“Leadership is changing faster than ever:
🚀 Adapt
💡 Innovate
🔥 Execute”
The thing that bugs me the most about it, though, is that the voice is gone, so my interest follows shortly after. I know I’m not alone in thinking that your unique voice is what makes you interesting. I want to feel like I’m getting an insight into your thoughts, not just LLM word vomit.
This is harsh, I know. I’m also a hypocrite because I’ve done exactly what I’m criticizing. But as I’ve consumed more content, I see so many titles that are exactly the same, formatting that is exactly the same, and framing that is the same. You’ll be happy to know, I am now reformed.
Now, to be clear, I’m not advocating for dismantling the use of AI in creative writing (we are in The Rightside Up). Because when used well, it can amplify a voice instead of replacing it. I myself went to a Chicago Public School and need a grammar boost from time to time. No shade to my English teachers — love you, Ms. Stevenson!
You might ask: “But Natasha- how do I make my content consumable and draw someone’s attention?”
I certainly don’t claim to have the secret sauce. There is definitely something to using bullet points and breaking up the text, but you’re not fooling anyone, honey, when you let the LLM do all the work.
Here are some ideas for using LLMS while still making your writing sound like you.
First, feed it your raw material, not just an idea. In short, your first draft. LLMs are at their best when they’re revising, compressing, and sharpening, not inventing a voice from scratch. Give it a paragraph you wrote, even if written badly. Give it notes, half-sentences, and opinions you’re not yet sure about.
Second, stop letting it formulate the structure by default. When you ask for “a LinkedIn post,” you’re already steering the output toward the most generic shape possible. If you want writing that feels like you, give it your structure. Use the LLM to uncover your shape, not give it shape.
Finally, remember that recognizability is the real tell. The three emoji bullets, you already know. People don’t say “this sounds like AI” because the grammar is wrong. They say it because they’ve seen the same paragraph and the same formatting a hundred times before. Your job isn’t to sound polished. It’s to sound specific—to sound like someone who could only be you.
For all you Em Dash users, we ride at dawn! I know everyone now thinks you’re AI — but don’t shrink your voice. Keep writing boldly and keep using what works. We’re taking it back!