- Level:
- Advanced
- Lessons:
- 10 Lessons
Making an effective style guide Codex entry
Create clear guidelines for your story's voice and writing style that both you and AI can follow.
- Reading Time
- approx. 2 min
While genre Codex entries tell us what kind of story we’re writing, style guides tell us how to write it. A well-crafted style guide in your Codex helps maintain consistency in your prose. Whether you’re writing yourself or working with AI assistance, a style guide serves as your reference for maintaining a consistent voice throughout your story.
When should I use this Codex entry?
Create a style guide when:
- Starting a new project (make sure to set your novel POV and language too as they affect style!)
- Working with AI on prose generation for the first time
- Collaborating with co-authors (regardless of AI usage)
- Wanting to maintain consistent voice across multiple writing sessions
- Switching between different projects with different styles
How to make a style Codex entry
To create an effective style entry:
- Make a new Codex entry by pressing + new entry then select quick create > style guide
- Include key components, such as:
- Narrative voice preferences
- Description style
- Dialogue handling
- Technical requirements
- Content presentation rules
- Specific do’s and don’ts
Case Study
Let’s compare two different style guides to see how they shape the same scene:
Young Adult Style Guide
Literary Fiction Style Guide
And the resultant prose:
I grab my phone, thumb hovering over Mom’s text. Ugh. How do you even respond to “We need to talk” without having a total meltdown? My stomach’s doing that weird flippy thing, like when you miss a step going downstairs.
Sarah traced the edge of her phone, the glass cool against her fingertip. Her mother’s message waited, those four words carrying the weight of unstated accusations. The autumn wind rattled bare branches against the window, a steady percussion to match her quickening pulse.
Can you tell the difference between the two?
Style vs genre entries
Your style guide and genre entry should work together. While genre Codex entries define the broad strokes of your story, your style guide defines how those elements appear on the page.
Both are global entries, so regularly update them as the project evolves, and your understanding of the genre or style guide change.
Common Pitfalls/Troubleshooting
Over-complicating the style guide
Cause: Creating so many rules that writing becomes mechanical, disrupting natural flow and producing stilted prose.
Solution: Focus on key style elements that matter most to your story’s voice. You can always edit the rest in after.
Your writing feels rigid
Cause: The rules you’ve set don’t allow for natural variation in prose.
Solution: Allow flexibility within clear boundaries. For example: “Use shorter sentences during action” instead of “All sentences must be under 15 words”
By following these guidelines for your style guide, you’ll create a consistent, engaging reading experience that keeps readers immersed in your story world.
This lesson was taught by:
Kate Robinson
Based in the UK, Kate has been writing since she was young, driven by a burning need to get the vivid tales in her head down on paper… or the computer screen.