Write the Email You've Been Avoiding With AI
TL;DR
The email you keep putting off usually takes two minutes once the words exist. Tell Claude who it's to, what you need, and what's making it hard, and it writes a clear, kind version - plus a softer and a firmer option so you can pick the tone. It's a plain chat, no code, and it gets the dread off your plate.
What you'll have in 5 minutes
The hard email, written - the one where you have to say no, chase a payment, deliver bad news, or apologize. You get a version that's clear and kind without being cold, plus a gentler and a firmer alternative, so you choose the tone instead of agonizing over every word.
What you need (all free, no terminal)
- Claude - the free Claude Desktop app or claude.ai in your browser.
- A minute to think about who the email is to, what you need to happen, and what's making it hard to write.
- No connectors, no command line, no code.
Step 1: Paste the prompt
Start a new chat and paste this. It asks you a few questions first so the email fits your situation and sounds like you, not a robot.
Paste this into ClaudeHelp me write an email I've been putting off. Before you write
anything, ask me: who it's to and our relationship, what I need to
happen, what's making it hard (saying no, asking for money, an
apology, bad news), and the tone I want (warm, firm, or strictly
professional).
Then write a version that's clear, kind, and short - it gets to the
point without being cold or over-apologizing. Also give me one
slightly softer and one slightly firmer alternative so I can pick.
Don't pad it with filler.Step 2: Pick a version and make it yours
Claude gives you three options. Choose the one that feels right, then tweak: "shorter," "a bit warmer," "mention the deadline," "sign off less formally." You can also paste in how you'd normally write so it matches your voice.
Step 3: Send it
Copy the final version into your email and send. The hardest part was always starting - once the words are on the page, the dread is gone. Keep the prompt handy for the next one.
Common questions
Do I need to know how to code?
No. You answer a few questions in a normal chat and Claude writes the email. There is no terminal, no command line, and nothing to install beyond the free Claude app or claude.ai.
Will it sound like me, or like a robot?
It asks about your relationship and tone first, and you can paste in an example of how you normally write so it matches your voice. Then you tweak the draft until it sounds like you - it is a starting point, not a final word.
What kinds of emails does this work for?
The hard ones: saying no, chasing a payment, apologizing, delivering bad news, setting a boundary, following up after silence. Just describe the situation and the tone you want, and it drafts accordingly.
Can it give me different tones?
Yes. The prompt asks for a clear main version plus a softer and a firmer alternative, so you can pick the one that fits. You can also ask for more options or a different tone at any point.
Is it okay to share the details in a chat?
Share what you're comfortable with - you can keep names and specifics vague and still get a strong draft. You are typing into a chat, not connecting any of your accounts or email.
Does this cost anything?
No. You can write the email on a free Claude account. The Claude Code Club community is a separate, optional $9 a month for the advanced writing systems, but you do not need it for a single email.
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