Your Official Story: From Fragments to Canon (20/5/1 for the AI Era)

"If you don’t write it, AI will."
-AI

Your Official Story with a thread of light over a violet–silver 2D field

I'm old enough to remember when books were the verified source of information, and I was in my twenties when schools and universities were fighting online sources for being valid sources for essays in school.

Professors fought the good fight, but here we are a few decades later where nearly everyone seeks information on the internet first and books are more for topical deep dives.

And the world is now changing again.

Usually, I'm one to drag my feet, but fate forced my hand a little bit this time and I find myself on the front lines of some very dynamic changes. There's really no room for imposter syndrome on the front lines of AI -- a place where even diehard programmers are learning as they go.

The interesting thing about AI is that it's actually a tool best used by masters.

Low skills return poor-to-mid results that can seem amazing if you don't know enough to critically assess what you are looking at.

AI is a Mirror

What I can do with AI is the same thing you can do with AI, which is: Amplify what I do well and systematize it.

And I tell stories well, which is why I can see that AI doesn't really tell stories well ... yet. But it's learning fast in both the realms of fiction and biographies. 

What I can also see is that many people's stories are being written for them, using AI, and some people are being written out entirely.

This is why I've created the Official Stories Playbook for you.

If You Don't Write your Official Story, AI Will

“AI doesn’t forget. It synthesizes. If you don’t define your signal, it will assemble one from whatever fragments it finds.” — ChatGPT

I didn't say that. AI did, which is why I built Your Official Story and the 20/5/1 method. It’s a simple, powerful way to turn your scattered data into a story that both humans and AI can recognize, repeat, and route.

What is an Official Story?

Your Official Story is your public canon—the story you want repeated every time your name comes up, plus the receipts that prove you’re the right person in the room.

  • Human-readable: a one-page snapshot people can understand and share.
  • Machine-readable: Machine Ink (JSON-LD) that helps AI cite you instead of guessing.

This is not about secrets. It’s about clarity.

The 20/5/1 Method 

  • 20 Questions → the raw material AI will use to recognize you.
  • 5 Sentences → the signal humans and AI alike will repeat.
  • 1 Signature Claim → the stake in the ground that makes you unforgettable.

That’s it. Recognition, repeatability, resonance.

“Machine Ink”: Publish Your Canon

When you finish 20/5/1, you’ll export a small JSON-LD file—your Machine Ink—and (optionally) commit it to GitHub for proof of origin (timestamp, version tag, and content hash).
Result: a clear, public, verifiable signal that AI can latch onto.

Safety First: What This Is Not

We’re not asking for your mother’s maiden name, first pet, or private data.
We’re asking for public canon and verifiable receipts—the same things you’d put on a press page or professional profile. This reduces impersonation risk by giving AI a source of truth to compare against.

How It Works

  1. Answer the 20 (high-value, brand-safe questions).
  2. Distill to 5 sentences anyone (and any AI) can repeat.
  3. Declare your Signature Claim (≤12 words).
  4. Publish your human one-pager + Machine Ink (JSON-LD).
  5. Run the Canon Test: ask three AIs a few prompts and see if they pick, cite, and route you correctly. Update as needed.

Who It’s For

  • Individuals who want career clarity and discoverability.
  • Solopreneurs who need their offers understood at a glance.
  • Small businesses that want sales, support, and search to route to the right place—on brand.

Why Now

AI is quickly becoming the first read of your reputation. If you don’t define your signal, the internet’s fragments will. The time is now to write your Official Story before someone else does.

Start Here

  1. Download Your Official Story to learn how to get started.
  2. Draft your 20/5/1.
  3. Export your Machine Ink (JSON-LD).
  4. Run the Canon Test and tune.

Visit Sheralyn.LIVE to begin your Official Story. The window of opportunity won’t stay open forever.

© 2025 Sheralyn Pratt. “Your Official Story,” “20/5/1,” and “Machine Ink” are components of the Official Stories framework. All rights reserved.

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