5 Files That Make Claude Code 10x Better (CLAUDE.md, SOUL.md, DESIGN.md, VOICE.md, AUDIENCE.md)
TL;DR
Every Claude Code session starts with a fresh context window, so Claude forgets who you are. The 5-file system from the Claude Code Club classroom fixes that: CLAUDE.md is your global rulebook, SOUL.md says who you are, DESIGN.md how you look, VOICE.md how you talk and AUDIENCE.md who you serve. CLAUDE.md loads the other 4 at every launch. The lessons and templates are members-only inside Claude Code Club.
👉 https://www.skool.com/claudecodeclub
What it is
Anthropic's docs say it plainly: "Each Claude Code session begins with a fresh context window." Claude does read CLAUDE.md files at launch, and a CLAUDE.md can import other files with @. The STAGE 3 MEMORY lessons in the Claude Code Club classroom use that to build a 5-file system: one rulebook plus 4 files about you, your look, your voice and your audience. This page describes the 5 files. The lessons, templates and walkthroughs are members-only.
1. CLAUDE.md: the global rulebook Claude reads at every launch
The global rulebook Claude reads at every launch
Why it helps: Your standing rules, so you never repeat yourself. The full walkthrough is in the lesson Build Your Global CLAUDE.md (STAGE 3 MEMORY).
How it is set up:
textCreate ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md (user level, loaded at launch for every project)2. SOUL.md: who you are, your story, values and goals
Who you are: your story, values and goals
Why it helps: Claude stops treating you like a stranger. The full walkthrough is in the lesson File 2 SOUL.md (Who You Are) (STAGE 3 MEMORY).
How it is set up:
textCreate SOUL.md, then add @SOUL.md to CLAUDE.md3. DESIGN.md: how you look, your brand colors, fonts and style
How you look: your brand colors, fonts and style
Why it helps: Every page and graphic comes out on-brand. The full walkthrough is in the lesson File 3 DESIGN.md (How You Look) (STAGE 3 MEMORY).
How it is set up:
textCreate DESIGN.md, then add @DESIGN.md to CLAUDE.md4. VOICE.md: how you talk, so the writing sounds like you
How you talk, so the writing sounds like you
Why it helps: Posts and emails stop sounding like AI. The full walkthrough is in the lesson File 4 VOICE.md (How You Talk) (STAGE 3 MEMORY).
How it is set up:
textCreate VOICE.md, then add @VOICE.md to CLAUDE.md5. AUDIENCE.md: who you serve, so every answer fits them
Who you serve, so every answer fits them
Why it helps: Claude writes for your buyer, not for everyone. The full walkthrough is in the lesson File 5 AUDIENCE.md (Who You Serve) (STAGE 3 MEMORY).
How it is set up:
textCreate AUDIENCE.md, then add @AUDIENCE.md to CLAUDE.mdQuick start
- 1Join Claude Code Club and open the classroom.
- 2Go to STAGE 3 MEMORY and start with Build Your Global CLAUDE.md.
- 3Work through SOUL.md, DESIGN.md, VOICE.md and AUDIENCE.md, one lesson each.
- 4Add each file to CLAUDE.md with @ so Claude loads all 5 at every launch.
👉 https://www.skool.com/claudecodeclub
Common questions
Are these 5 files free?
No. The lessons and templates are members-only inside Claude Code Club, which is $9 a month. This page is free and explains what each file does.
Is CLAUDE.md a Claude Code feature or a CCC thing?
CLAUDE.md and @ imports are standard Claude Code features from Anthropic's docs. The 5-file system and its templates are the Claude Code Club course built on top of them.
Where do the files go?
Your global CLAUDE.md lives at ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md and loads at launch for every project. The other 4 files are added to it with @ imports, like @SOUL.md.
Keep going
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