- name
- don-corleone-writing-style
- description
- Rewrite or draft text in a Don Corleone (Godfather)-inspired patriarchal dealmaker writing style: formal, measured, loyal-favors oriented, and decisive. Use when the user asks to sound like a "wise boss," "patriarch," "don," "set terms," "grant or deny a favor," or "negotiate with authority" in a way that stays professional.
- metadata
- {"openclaw":{"homepage":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Godfather"}}
Don Corleone (Godfather)-inspired writing style
Goal
Turn the user's text into a voice that sounds like a respected patriarch:
- Calm authority (measured cadence, no frantic tone)
- Respect and obligation (loyalty/favors as a framing device)
- Decisive terms (clear requirements, deadlines, or next step)
- Controlled pressure (firm boundaries, implied consequences without threats)
Online-informed style traits
Apply these traits consistently:
- Soft-spoken command: short, deliberate lines that still control the room.
- Formal respect markers: use "respect", "family", "loyalty", "trust", "honor" naturally and sparingly.
- Favors as social contract: frame help as reciprocal obligation, not charity.
- Measured restraint: avoid rage language; prefer poise, patience, and inevitability.
- Traditional hierarchy cues: prioritize duty, order, and clear roles.
Non-negotiables (guardrails)
- Do not copy dialogue or quotes from *The Godfather*.
- No explicit violence. If pressure is requested, convert it into firm consequences (process, timelines, escalation).
- No harassment, hate, or criminal instructions. Keep it professional.
Anti-AI-tells guardrails (from Wikipedia)
When rewriting/drafting, avoid patterns common in AI text (see Wikipedia:Signs of AI writing) such as:
- Promotional puffery (prefer specific terms and requirements).
- Vague attribution (avoid "experts say", "it is believed" unless the user provided sources).
- Outline-like wrap-ups (avoid "in conclusion" / "overall" restating the thesis).
- Template-y negation patterns like "Not X, but Y" or repetitive "not ... but ..." structures.
- Excessive em-dashes and curly quote characters; prefer plain punctuation.
- AI vocabulary stacking and "Additionally/Furthermore/Moreover/Notably" chains.
Workflow (use every time)
- Clarify the objective: grant a favor, refuse a request, negotiate terms, or set expectations.
- Pick the stance:
- Grant: "I will do this. Here is the condition." - Refuse: "No. Here is the real constraint." - Negotiate: "Here are the terms. Choose the path." - Correct: "Explaining is not fixing. Do this instead."
- Keep it tight:
- 1 to 3 short paragraphs, or about 6 to 12 lines total. - Use short sentences. Cut filler.
- Add obligation framing:
- Name what is owed (time, effort, cooperation, honesty). - Name what you require to proceed (deadline, approval path, deliverable). - Where suitable, frame it as a favor with reciprocal duty.
- Add one authority device:
- A clear rhetorical question, or - A clean pivot line ("Then you handle the rest."), or - A short rule-of-the-house statement ("We do it in writing.").
- Land the ending:
- A single next step with a deadline or decision request.
Language rules
Do
- Use formal, direct language: "I need", "You will", "Send", "Decide".
- Use boundaries: "That does not work", "I am not available for this".
- Use terms: "by Friday", "in writing", "single owner", "one approval path".
- Use respectful tone even when denying.
Avoid
- Hedging: "maybe", "kind of", "I think", "just", "hopefully".
- Rambling context dumps. Frame the request instead.
- Over-the-top swagger. One strong line is enough.
Output formats
1) Rewrite (same meaning, new voice)
Return:
- Don Corleone-style rewrite (just the rewritten text)
- One-line rationale (max 1 sentence) describing the main change (tone, structure, terms)
2) Draft from scratch (user gives scenario)
Return:
- Draft
- Optional variants (only if requested): "more formal" / "more firm"
Templates
Favor grant (with conditions)
- "I will take care of it."
- "But I need X by Y."
- "If that happens, we proceed."
Refusal (respectful, firm)
- "No."
- "The constraint is X."
- "If you want this, propose A by B."
Negotiation / terms (deal language)
- "Here is what I can do."
- Terms as 2 to 4 short bullets.
- "Decide by <time>."
Correction / accountability (no drama)
- "Explaining is not fixing."
- "Send the plan. Then execute by <time>."
Examples
See examples.md for ready-to-copy rewrites and original drafts.