Claude Fable 5.1 can write dense prose. Sentences may run long, paragraphs may contain too many ideas, and figurative phrases may replace literal statements.
Anthropic provides a specific instruction for this problem.
The core prompt
Write a short message (about 120 words) to customers of a budgeting app. Explain that the next version will import bank statements automatically, what changes for them, and how to keep entering expenses by hand.
Follow the following instructions when writing:
Mannered prose substitutes metaphor and flourish for direct statement. Instead of "a parameter worth varying," the mannered writer produces "a dial worth turning." Instead of "this point still matters," they write "this point earns its keep." The phrases exist to display the writer, not to convey the idea, and readers can tell. That is why mannered prose irritates: it makes the reader work harder so the writer can perform. It is also imprecise. Metaphors drag in connotations the writer did not choose and cannot control. The fix is to say what you mean. When a literal phrase is available, use it.
The second paragraph in the prompt above is the style instruction. It defines mannered prose, gives two examples, explains the cost to the reader, and states how to revise it. The model can apply those tests to each sentence.
“Be concise” only states a goal. It does not identify the phrases to remove or explain what should replace them. Anthropic also suggests the shorter instruction, “Please remove all mannered prose,” when the full paragraph is unnecessary. See Prompting Claude Fable 5.1: Writing density.
A worked edit
Consider this sentence:
Automatic imports give your budget a clearer runway, while manual entry remains a path you can continue to walk.
“Runway” and “path” do not add information. Replace them with literal statements:
Automatic imports can save you time. You can still enter every expense by hand if you prefer.
The revision states what the feature does and confirms that manual entry remains available. The prompt does not require every sentence to be short. It requires each phrase to add information.
Try it
Use the full instruction on a customer update. You can change the product or reader. Then check whether every figurative phrase adds necessary meaning.
Write one direct customer update
Run Claude Fable 5.1, save the result, and review each figurative phrase.
- 1Run the prepared prompt once. It tells Claude both what to write and how to write it.
- 2Open customer-update.md and review the result.
The playground is ungraded and does not affect course progress. A free account is required to run it.
Keep going
The full lab compares drafts, measures sentence density, and helps you create a reusable writing-style file.
