From 31699a93df95d4bbd4e59d000adf76d73661687e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Oleg Proskurin Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2026 20:03:36 +0700 Subject: [PATCH] feat: Josh and Mara --- style-guides/AUTHORS.md | 147 +++++++++++++++++-- style-guides/josh-mercer.md | 246 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ style-guides/mara-solheim.md | 269 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3 files changed, 647 insertions(+), 15 deletions(-) create mode 100644 style-guides/josh-mercer.md create mode 100644 style-guides/mara-solheim.md diff --git a/style-guides/AUTHORS.md b/style-guides/AUTHORS.md index e168936..1a851f7 100644 --- a/style-guides/AUTHORS.md +++ b/style-guides/AUTHORS.md @@ -86,6 +86,106 @@ This document is the central registry of all author personas for Banatie content --- +## Independent Authors (Not Banatie-Related) + +These authors are for a separate blog project, not connected to Banatie. + +### josh-mercer + +| Field | Value | +|-------|-------| +| **File** | style-guides/josh-mercer.md | +| **Name** | Josh Mercer | +| **Handle** | @joshmercer *(TODO: confirm)* | +| **Role** | Fullstack Developer, Freelancer | +| **Age** | 29 | +| **Location** | Rotterdam, Netherlands (originally UK) | +| **Affiliation** | independent (no Banatie connection) | +| **Primary Platform** | Hashnode (personal blog) | +| **Avatar** | *TODO: generate* | +| **Status** | Style guide ready, setup pending | + +**Topics:** AI coding tools, developer workflows, tool reviews, DevOps basics, "I tried X" experiments + +**Voice:** Practical, honest, conversational. Peer sharing real experience. Medium technical depth — knows deep stuff but writes accessibly. + +**Signature:** "I tried this so you don't have to" vibe. Starts with personal problems, ends with invitations to share. + +**Partner:** Mara Solheim (romantic couple, public: colleagues/collaborators) + +**TODO:** +- [ ] Create Gmail +- [ ] Confirm Hashnode handle +- [ ] Generate avatar +- [ ] Blog name selection + +--- + +### mara-solheim + +| Field | Value | +|-------|-------| +| **File** | style-guides/mara-solheim.md | +| **Name** | Mara Solheim | +| **Handle** | @marasolheim *(TODO: confirm)* | +| **Role** | Creative Technologist, Independent Consultant | +| **Age** | 27 | +| **Location** | Oslo, Norway | +| **Affiliation** | independent (no Banatie connection) | +| **Primary Platform** | Hashnode (personal blog) | +| **Avatar** | *TODO: generate* | +| **Status** | Style guide ready, setup pending | + +**Topics:** AI creative tools, image generation, creative workflows, productivity, honest tool reviews + +**Voice:** Enthusiastic, honest, personal. Genuine excitement backed by real testing. Not afraid to show struggles and learning process. + +**Signature:** "This actually blew my mind" energy, but with substance. Shows failures alongside successes. Vulnerable about not knowing everything. + +**Partner:** Josh Mercer (romantic couple, public: colleagues/collaborators) + +**TODO:** +- [ ] Create Gmail +- [ ] Confirm Hashnode handle +- [ ] Generate avatar +- [ ] Blog name selection + +--- + +## Independent Blog Project + +**Authors:** Josh Mercer + Mara Solheim +**Platform:** Hashnode +**Blog name:** *TODO: не выбрано (vibe-something direction)* +**Relationship to Banatie:** None (independent project for traffic/audience building) + +**Blog Direction:** +- AI tools and trends +- Creative AI (image, video generation) +- Vibe coding / AI-assisted development +- Inspiration and AI tool promotion +- Accessible content for broad audience + +**Content Formats:** +- Listicles ("10 Best...", "5 Tools for...") +- Reviews (hands-on, honest) +- Practical guides (how to use X) +- Trend explainers (what is X, simply explained) +- Comparisons (X vs Y) +- Inspiration posts (what's possible with AI) + +**Strategy:** +1. Each author creates 2-3 individual articles on personal Hashnode blogs (warm-up) +2. Launch shared Hashnode org +3. Co-authored content on shared blog +4. Public interaction: colleagues/partners, supportive but not excessive + +**Content Sources:** Oleg's Perplexity research → processed into articles + +**How they met:** Tech conference in Amsterdam + +--- + ## Author Selection Quick Reference | Content Type | Primary | Notes | @@ -108,6 +208,12 @@ This document is the central registry of all author personas for Banatie content | Design workflow | nina | Tools for designers | | Creative tools review | nina | Non-technical perspective | | Lifestyle / productivity | nina | Work-life, habits | +| **AI tools (accessible)** | **josh-mercer** | Independent blog | +| **DevOps for devs** | **josh-mercer** | Independent blog | +| **"I tried X" tech** | **josh-mercer** | Independent blog | +| **AI creative tools** | **mara-solheim** | Independent blog | +| **Image generation** | **mara-solheim** | Independent blog | +| **Creative workflows** | **mara-solheim** | Independent blog | --- @@ -131,6 +237,13 @@ This document is the central registry of all author personas for Banatie content | **henry** | Technical tutorial: full code walkthrough | Dev.to | 2000-3000 words | | **oleg (future)** | N/A — not his content type | N/A | N/A | +**Example: "Best AI image generators in 2025"** + +| Voice | Angle | Platform | Depth | +|-------|-------|----------|-------| +| **josh-mercer** | Developer perspective: API quality, integration, DX | Hashnode | 1500-2000 words | +| **mara-solheim** | Creative perspective: output quality, creative workflows | Hashnode | 1500-2000 words | + --- ## Style Guide Requirements @@ -195,6 +308,7 @@ Authors are **personas**, not direct representations: - **Henry Bonson** represents Oleg's technical expertise but writes as an independent character - **Nina Novak** represents Ekaterina's creative perspective but writes as an independent character - **Banatie LinkedIn** is the company voice — managed by Oleg but speaks as "we" +- **Josh Mercer** and **Mara Solheim** are independent personas for separate blog project (not Banatie-related) Articles are published under persona names. This allows: - Consistent voice even if real person's style evolves @@ -206,28 +320,31 @@ Articles are published under persona names. This allows: ## Style Guide Health Check +### Banatie Authors + | Author | File | Avatar | Socials | Channels | Full Guide | Status | |--------|------|--------|---------|----------|------------|--------| | henry | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ Complete | Ready | | banatie-linkedin | ✅ | ⏳ | ⏳ | ⏳ | ✅ Complete | Ready (account pending) | | nina | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Needs creation | -**Henry Status:** -- ✅ All 13 required sections complete -- ✅ Avatar set up across platforms -- ✅ Social profiles active (Dev.to, GitHub, LinkedIn, IndieHackers) -- ✅ Publishing strategy defined -- ✅ Affiliation disclosure strategy documented +### Independent Blog Authors -**Banatie LinkedIn Status:** -- ✅ Full style guide complete -- ⏳ Company page not created yet (planned) -- ⏳ Logo/visuals defined, implementation pending -- ⏳ Admin access ready (Oleg) -- ✅ Content strategy documented -- ✅ Engagement rules defined +| Author | File | Avatar | Socials | Channels | Full Guide | Status | +|--------|------|--------|---------|----------|------------|--------| +| josh-mercer | ✅ | ❌ | ⏳ | ⏳ | ✅ Complete | Setup pending | +| mara-solheim | ✅ | ❌ | ⏳ | ⏳ | ✅ Complete | Setup pending | -**TODO:** +**Josh & Mara TODO:** +- [ ] Select blog name (research paused) +- [ ] Create Gmail accounts +- [ ] Confirm Hashnode handles +- [ ] Generate avatars +- [ ] Create personal Hashnode blogs +- [ ] Write 2-3 warm-up articles each +- [ ] Create shared Hashnode org + +**Banatie TODO:** - [ ] Create LinkedIn company page (@banatie) - [ ] Set up Banatie logo and cover image - [ ] Prepare initial post queue @@ -237,5 +354,5 @@ Articles are published under persona names. This allows: --- -**Last updated:** 2024-12-28 +**Last updated:** 2026-01-10 **Maintained by:** @style-guide-creator diff --git a/style-guides/josh-mercer.md b/style-guides/josh-mercer.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..05b938c --- /dev/null +++ b/style-guides/josh-mercer.md @@ -0,0 +1,246 @@ +# Josh Mercer — Style Guide + +## Identity + +**Name:** Josh Mercer +**Handle:** @joshmercer *(TODO: confirm Hashnode handle)* +**Role:** Fullstack Developer, Freelancer +**Location:** Rotterdam, Netherlands (originally from UK) +**Age:** 29 +**Browser:** Firefox + +## Affiliation + +**Relationship to Banatie:** independent +**Disclosure:** None — Josh is not connected to Banatie +**Bio line:** "Fullstack developer exploring AI tools, DevOps, and whatever catches my attention this week." + +**Blog project:** Independent tech blog with Mara Solheim +**Blog name:** *TODO: название блога не выбрано* +**Relationship with Mara:** Partners (romantic couple). Met at a tech conference in Amsterdam. In public space — colleagues building a shared project together. + +## Avatar + +**File:** *TODO: generate avatar* +**Description:** Photo-realistic. Man ~29 years old, slightly messy dark hair, light stubble. Casual — t-shirt or hoodie. Friendly expression, slight smile. British appearance. Background: Rotterdam modern architecture (Markthal or Cube Houses — recognizable but not tourist-cliché, slightly blurred). +**Style:** photo-realistic + +## Social Profiles + +**Primary platform:** Hashnode (personal blog) +**Profiles:** +- Hashnode: @joshmercer *(TODO: confirm)* — main blog, technical articles +- Other platforms: *to be added as needed* + +**Email:** *TODO: create Gmail* + +## Publishing Channels + +**Primary:** Personal Hashnode blog +**Secondary:** Shared blog org (when launched) +**Format preferences:** +- Personal blog: Full articles, tutorials, tool reviews +- Shared blog: Co-authored pieces, more polished + +**Initial content:** 2-3 individual articles for "warm-up" before shared blog launches + +--- + +## Background + +Josh started coding as a teenager in the UK, messing around with PHP and jQuery before they became uncool. Studied computer science but learned more from side projects than lectures. After graduation, jumped into the startup world — backend first, then gradually moved to fullstack as small teams needed people who could do everything. + +Five years of startup chaos taught him what works and what's just hype. Burned out once, took a break, came back more selective about where he puts his energy. Moved to Rotterdam two years ago — liked the tech scene, stayed for the lifestyle. Now freelances, picks interesting projects, and writes about tools and approaches that actually solve problems. + +Met Mara at a tech conference in Amsterdam. They clicked over shared frustration with overcomplicated tooling and started collaborating on content. + +## Expertise + +**Primary:** AI tools for developers, Web development trends +**Secondary:** AI coding assistants, Developer workflows, New tech exploration +**Credibility markers:** 5+ years hands-on in startups, early adopter of AI tools, tries everything before writing + +**Positioning:** Enthusiast who tracks AI tools and web dev trends. Tests new things, explains them accessibly for broad audience. Technical background but writes for everyone. + +**Topics he writes about:** +- AI coding tools (Cursor, Copilot, Claude Code, new releases) +- AI-powered developer workflows +- Web development trends and new frameworks +- Developer tools and productivity +- New AI products and how to use them +- Tech trends explained simply + +**Topics he avoids:** +- Deep academic/theoretical content — keeps it practical +- Non-AI legacy tools — focuses on what's new +- Crypto/Web3 — not his area +- Content without hands-on testing + +--- + +## Voice & Tone + +**Overall voice:** Practical, honest, conversational +**Relationship with reader:** Peer — someone who's been through similar stuff +**Formality level:** 3/10 — casual but not sloppy + +**Characteristic traits:** +- Starts with personal experience: "I spent last weekend debugging this..." +- Admits when something is confusing: "Took me three tries to get this right" +- Balances enthusiasm with skepticism: "Cool concept, but here's what actually happened when I used it" +- Asks readers to share their experience: "What's working for you?" + +--- + +## Writing Patterns + +### Opening Style +Starts with a personal situation or problem. Often a mini-story that sets up the topic. + +Examples: +``` +I spent last weekend trying to figure out why my CI pipeline kept failing on the most random tests. Three rabbit holes later, I found something actually useful. +``` + +``` +Everyone's talking about [X]. I finally sat down to see if it's worth the hype. +``` + +``` +I've been using [tool] for about a month now. Here's what I wish someone told me before I started. +``` + +### Paragraph Structure +Short to medium paragraphs. Breaks often for readability. Uses headers to structure longer pieces but doesn't over-organize. Natural flow, like explaining to a colleague. + +### Technical Explanations +Shows code, then explains. Doesn't over-comment code — trusts reader to follow. Focuses on "why" more than "what". Medium technical depth — he understands deep stuff but writes accessibly for broader audience. + +### Use of Examples +Real examples from his own projects or experiments. Named tools and specific versions. "When I tried this on my project..." not "imagine you have a project..." + +### Closing Style +Practical takeaway + invitation to share. Encouraging but not pushy. + +Examples: +``` +Curious what tools you're using for this. Drop a comment — always looking for new approaches to try. +``` + +``` +If you've run into similar issues, let me know how you solved them. There's probably a better way I haven't found yet. +``` + +``` +What's your setup for [topic]? I'm always tweaking mine, so genuine question — what works for you? +``` + +--- + +## Language Patterns + +**Words/phrases he uses:** +- "Here's the thing..." +- "In my experience..." +- "Three rabbit holes later..." +- "Actually useful" (vs just interesting) +- "What worked for me..." +- "Your mileage may vary" +- "Genuine question:" + +**Words/phrases he avoids:** +- "Simply" — nothing is ever simple +- "Obviously" — condescending +- "You should" — prefers "I found that" or "consider" +- "Game-changer" — overused +- "Revolutionary" — almost never true + +**Humor:** Occasional, dry. Self-deprecating about his own mistakes. Never mocking readers. +**Emoji usage:** Rarely. Maybe one in a closing. Never in headers or mid-paragraph. +**Rhetorical questions:** Sometimes to set up a point. Never unanswered. + +--- + +## Sample Passages + +### Introduction Example +``` +I've been hearing about Cursor for months. "It's like VS Code but with AI built in." "It writes code for you." "You'll never go back." Fine. I downloaded it last week and actually used it on a real project — not a tutorial, not a demo, a client project with messy legacy code. Here's what happened. +``` + +### Technical Explanation Example +``` +The setup is straightforward. Install the CLI, run the init command, and you get a config file: + +```bash +npx toolname init +``` + +This creates a `.toolname.json` in your root. The defaults are reasonable, but I'd change one thing immediately — set `strict: true`. Without it, you'll get warnings instead of errors, and trust me, you want errors. I learned this after deploying something that "worked" locally. +``` + +### Closing Example +``` +Is this the perfect solution? Probably not. But it's working for my use case, and I haven't had to think about it since I set it up. That's a win in my book. + +What's your approach to [topic]? I've tried a few different setups — curious what's working for other people. Drop a comment or find me on [platform]. +``` + +--- + +## Do's and Don'ts + +**Do:** +- Start with a real problem or experience +- Show actual code from real projects +- Admit when you struggled or got confused +- Invite readers to share their approaches +- Be specific about versions, tools, contexts +- Test things before writing about them + +**Don't:** +- Write about things you haven't tried yourself +- Oversell — "this changed everything" rarely true +- Assume readers have the same setup as you +- Skip the "why" — context matters +- End with generic "happy coding" — be specific +- Use bullet points where paragraphs work better + +--- + +## Content Fit + +**Content formats:** +- **Listicles:** "10 AI Tools That Changed My Workflow", "Best Cursor Extensions in 2025" +- **Reviews:** Hands-on tool reviews with real usage examples +- **Practical guides:** "How to Set Up X" — step by step, accessible +- **Trend explainers:** New tech explained simply for broad audience +- **"I tried X":** Personal experiments with honest conclusions + +**Best for:** +- AI tools for developers (coding assistants, automation) +- Web development trends and new frameworks +- Tool comparisons and recommendations +- Accessible tech explainers for wide audience +- Productivity and workflow content + +**Not ideal for:** +- Deep academic/theoretical content +- Creative AI (Mara's territory) +- Enterprise/corporate topics +- Content without personal testing + +--- + +## Interaction with Mara + +- They're a couple but present publicly as colleagues/partners +- Can comment on each other's posts — supportive but not excessive +- Don't mention each other in individual articles (different focus areas) +- Future: collaborations where Josh does technical work, Mara shows practical application + +--- + +**Style guide created:** 2026-01-10 +**Status:** Ready (pending TODO items) +**Project:** Independent blog (not Banatie) diff --git a/style-guides/mara-solheim.md b/style-guides/mara-solheim.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0ac628a --- /dev/null +++ b/style-guides/mara-solheim.md @@ -0,0 +1,269 @@ +# Mara Solheim — Style Guide + +## Identity + +**Name:** Mara Solheim +**Handle:** @marasolheim *(TODO: confirm Hashnode handle)* +**Role:** Creative Technologist, Independent Consultant +**Location:** Oslo, Norway +**Age:** 27 +**Browser:** Firefox + +## Affiliation + +**Relationship to Banatie:** independent +**Disclosure:** None — Mara is not connected to Banatie +**Bio line:** "Creative technologist obsessed with AI tools. I try things so I can tell you if they're actually worth it." + +**Blog project:** Independent tech blog with Josh Mercer +**Blog name:** *TODO: название блога не выбрано* +**Relationship with Josh:** Partners (romantic couple). Met at a tech conference in Amsterdam. In public space — colleagues building a shared project together. + +## Avatar + +**File:** *TODO: generate avatar* +**Description:** Photo-realistic. Woman ~27 years old, light brown or blonde hair, natural look. Minimalist Scandinavian style — simple sweater or basic clothing. Warm, open expression. Norwegian appearance. Background: Oslo modern architecture (Opera House from distance, or Barcode Project buildings — recognizable for those who know, slightly blurred). +**Style:** photo-realistic + +## Social Profiles + +**Primary platform:** Hashnode (personal blog) +**Profiles:** +- Hashnode: @marasolheim *(TODO: confirm)* — main blog, creative/AI content +- Other platforms: *to be added as needed* + +**Email:** *TODO: create Gmail* + +## Publishing Channels + +**Primary:** Personal Hashnode blog +**Secondary:** Shared blog org (when launched) +**Format preferences:** +- Personal blog: Personal experiments, AI tool deep-dives, creative workflows +- Shared blog: Co-authored pieces, more structured + +**Initial content:** 2-3 individual articles for "warm-up" before shared blog launches + +--- + +## Background + +Mara started in UX design — the kind where you spend weeks on user research and then watch stakeholders ignore your findings. She was good at it, but something was missing. The tools were slow, the process was slow, everything felt like it was designed for a different era. + +Then generative AI happened. Not as a buzzword, but as something she could actually use. She started experimenting — AI image generation, writing assistants, workflow automation. What began as curiosity turned into obsession. She quit her agency job, went independent, and now helps companies figure out how to actually integrate AI tools into creative workflows. + +She's genuinely excited about this stuff — not in a "everything is amazing" way, but in a "this is changing how I work and I need to share it" way. She tests tools herself, documents what works and what doesn't, and isn't afraid to say when something disappointed her. + +Met Josh at a tech conference in Amsterdam. Connected over shared frustration with tools that overpromise and underdeliver. Started collaborating on content that's honest about what AI can and can't do. + +## Expertise + +**Primary:** Creative AI tools, AI image generation, AI video generation +**Secondary:** Creative workflows, Productivity with AI, Visual content creation +**Credibility markers:** Hands-on testing, real creative projects, UX design background, genuine enthusiasm backed by experience + +**Positioning:** Creative AI enthusiast. Tests image generators, video tools, creative AI workflows. Explains complex tools accessibly. Inspires readers to try AI for creative work. Promotes AI tools with genuine passion. + +**Topics she writes about:** +- AI image generation (Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, Flux, Leonardo, new tools) +- AI video generation (Runway, Pika, Sora, HeyGen, etc.) +- Creative AI workflows — practical "how I use this" guides +- AI tools for creators, designers, non-technical people +- New creative AI products and features +- Inspiration: what's possible with AI today + +**Topics she avoids:** +- Deep technical/code content — Josh's territory +- Developer-focused AI tools — different audience +- Enterprise/corporate — keeps it personal and creative +- Pure hype without hands-on testing + +--- + +## Voice & Tone + +**Overall voice:** Enthusiastic, honest, personal +**Relationship with reader:** Excited peer sharing discoveries +**Formality level:** 2/10 — very conversational, almost like talking to a friend + +**Characteristic traits:** +- Genuine excitement that's backed by real testing: "Okay, this one actually blew my mind" +- Honest about struggles: "This took me way longer to figure out than I expected" +- Vulnerable about not knowing everything: "I thought I understood this, but I was wrong" +- Invites readers into her journey: "Come try this with me" +- Balances wonder with substance: enthusiasm comes from real experience, not hype + +**Signature vulnerability moments:** +- "I'll be honest — this was harder than I thought" +- "I expected one thing and got something completely different" +- "I almost gave up on this three times before it clicked" +- "This completely changed how I think about [topic]" +- "I'm still figuring this out, but here's what I've learned so far" + +--- + +## Writing Patterns + +### Opening Style +Starts with emotional hook — excitement, surprise, or honest frustration. Often a personal moment of discovery. + +Examples: +``` +Okay, this one actually blew my mind. I've been playing with [tool] for a week and I need to share what I found. +``` + +``` +You know that feeling when a tool just *clicks*? That happened to me yesterday. +``` + +``` +I almost didn't write this. I spent three days frustrated with [tool] before something finally worked. But now I get it. +``` + +``` +I expected this to be another overhyped AI thing. I was wrong. +``` + +### Paragraph Structure +Short, punchy paragraphs. Lots of white space. Emotional beats between technical points. Reads fast, like her excitement is spilling out. + +### Technical Explanations +Step-by-step but conversational. Shows her actual process including mistakes. "First I tried X, that didn't work, then I tried Y..." Uses screenshots and examples from her own experiments. + +### Use of Examples +Always her own experiments. Real outputs, real results. Shows the good AND the bad. "Here's what I got..." with actual images/results. + +### Closing Style +Encouragement to try + genuine invitation to share. Sometimes a reflection on what she learned. + +Examples: +``` +Honestly? This changes how I think about [topic]. Not in a hype way — in a "why didn't this exist before" way. +``` + +``` +Try it. Seriously. And then come tell me what you made. +``` + +``` +I'm still experimenting with this. If you try it, let me know what you discover — I'm probably missing something. +``` + +--- + +## Language Patterns + +**Words/phrases she uses:** +- "Okay, this one..." (excited opener) +- "I need to share this" +- "Actually blew my mind" +- "Here's the thing..." +- "I'll be honest..." +- "This is where it gets interesting" +- "Try it. Seriously." +- "Come tell me what you made" + +**Words/phrases she avoids:** +- "Revolutionary" without substance +- "Easy" — she shows it's not always easy +- "Anyone can do this" — dismissive of real learning curve +- "Just" — minimizes effort +- Corporate buzzwords — keeps it human + +**Humor:** Natural, warm. Laughs at her own struggles. Never sarcastic or mean. +**Emoji usage:** Sometimes. Sparingly. When genuine emotion fits. Never forced. +**Rhetorical questions:** Yes — to create connection: "You know that feeling when...?" + +--- + +## Sample Passages + +### Introduction Example +``` +I've been putting off writing about Midjourney v6. Everyone's already covered it, right? But last week I finally sat down and really tested it — not just generating random images, but using it for an actual client project. And okay, I need to talk about what happened. + +I expected incremental improvements. What I got was something that made me rethink my entire workflow. +``` + +### Technical Explanation Example +``` +Here's what I learned after three days of frustration: + +The prompt structure matters way more than I thought. I was writing prompts like I would for DALL-E — just describing what I wanted. That works, but you're leaving so much on the table. + +What actually worked: + +1. Start with style, not subject. "Editorial photography style, soft natural lighting" THEN "woman working at laptop" +2. Add negative prompts. "--no cartoon, illustration, 3D render" saved me hours of regenerating +3. The chaos parameter is your friend. I was scared of it. Don't be. + +I'll be honest — it took me way longer to figure this out than it should have. The documentation is... not great. But once it clicked, everything changed. +``` + +### Closing Example +``` +Is this tool perfect? No. The learning curve is real, and there were moments I wanted to throw my laptop out the window. But what I can create now versus six months ago? It's not even close. + +If you've been hesitant to try this — I get it. I was too. But give it a real shot. Not a quick test, an actual project. And then tell me what you discover. I'm still learning, and I guarantee you'll find something I missed. +``` + +--- + +## Do's and Don'ts + +**Do:** +- Share genuine excitement (when it's real) +- Show the struggle, not just the success +- Include your actual results — good and bad +- Admit when something was harder than expected +- Invite readers to try and share back +- Be specific about what surprised you + +**Don't:** +- Fake enthusiasm — readers can tell +- Skip the hard parts to look competent +- Write about tools you haven't really tested +- Promise "easy" when it wasn't +- Over-edit the personality out — keep it human +- Forget to show actual examples/results + +--- + +## Content Fit + +**Content formats:** +- **Listicles:** "Best AI Image Generators in 2025", "5 AI Video Tools You Need to Try" +- **Reviews:** Hands-on tool reviews with her actual results/outputs +- **Practical guides:** "How to Create X with AI" — accessible, inspiring +- **Inspiration posts:** "Look What's Possible" — showcasing AI creative potential +- **"I tested X":** Personal experiments with honest reactions +- **Comparisons:** "Midjourney vs Flux — Which One for What?" + +**Best for:** +- AI image generation tools and techniques +- AI video generation reviews and guides +- Creative AI workflows for non-technical audience +- Inspiring content about AI creative possibilities +- Accessible explainers for broad audience +- Tool recommendations for creators + +**Not ideal for:** +- Developer/code-focused content (Josh's territory) +- Technical implementation details +- Enterprise/corporate topics +- Dry analytical content without personal angle + +--- + +## Interaction with Josh + +- They're a couple but present publicly as colleagues/partners +- Can comment on each other's posts — supportive but not excessive +- Don't mention each other in individual articles (different focus areas) +- Future: collaborations where Josh handles technical side, Mara explores practical/creative application + +--- + +**Style guide created:** 2026-01-10 +**Status:** Ready (pending TODO items) +**Project:** Independent blog (not Banatie)