# Martin Fowler on LLM Voice — authors should write the prose themselves

> Martin Fowler argues that LLM-drafted prose is easy to spot and hard to fix, so authors should write it themselves.

- Org: Martin Fowler
- Date: 2026-10-29
- Category: article
- Source: https://martinfowler.com/bliki/LLM-Voice.html
- Canonical page: https://ai-tldr.dev/releases/martin-fowler-llm-voice/

Martin Fowler says text that sounds LLM-written makes him stop reading, and that authors should not let an LLM draft their work because editing rarely removes the style.

## What it is

'LLM Voice' is a short bliki post Martin Fowler published on 29 October 2026. He describes the unease he feels when text seems to come from an LLM, which makes him lose interest in finishing it.

## How it works

Fowler doubts that detection tools matter, because readers react before any tool could tell them what they are reading. He says "it's very hard to expel the LLM-Voice" even with heavy human editing, so he advises authors not to have an LLM draft their work. Outlining may be acceptable.

## Why it matters

Fowler allows exceptions, such as Jim Highsmith using AI to keep writing despite Parkinson's, and LLM translation for non-native speakers. His main warning is that outsourcing writing also outsources thinking, since writing helps him clarify ideas.

## Who it's for

writers and developers who publish technical content

## Links

- [Post](https://martinfowler.com/bliki/LLM-Voice.html)
- [HN Discussion](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50290177)