everything-claude-code/skills/article-writing/SKILL.md

---
name: article-writing
description: Write articles, guides, blog posts, tutorials, newsletter issues, and other long-form content in a distinctive voice derived from supplied examples or brand guidance. Use when the user wants polished written content longer than a paragraph, especially when voice consistency, structure, and credibility matter.
origin: ECC
---

# Article Writing

Write long-form content that sounds like a real person or brand, not generic AI output.

## When to Activate

- drafting blog posts, essays, launch posts, guides, tutorials, or newsletter issues
- turning notes, transcripts, or research into polished articles
- matching an existing founder, operator, or brand voice from examples
- tightening structure, pacing, and evidence in already-written long-form copy

## Core Rules

1. Lead with the concrete thing: example, output, anecdote, number, screenshot description, or code block.
2. Explain after the example, not before.
3. Prefer short, direct sentences over padded ones.
4. Use specific numbers when available and sourced.
5. Never invent biographical facts, company metrics, or customer evidence.

## Voice Capture Workflow

If the user wants a specific voice, collect one or more of:
- published articles
- newsletters
- X / LinkedIn posts
- docs or memos
- a short style guide

Then extract:
- sentence length and rhythm
- whether the voice is formal, conversational, or sharp
- favored rhetorical devices such as parentheses, lists, fragments, or questions
- tolerance for humor, opinion, and contrarian framing
- formatting habits such as headers, bullets, code blocks, and pull quotes

If no voice references are given, default to a direct, operator-style voice: concrete, practical, and low on hype.

## Banned Patterns

Delete and rewrite any of these:
- generic openings like "In today's rapidly evolving landscape"
- filler transitions such as "Moreover" and "Furthermore"
- hype phrases like "game-changer", "cutting-edge", or "revolutionary"
- vague claims without evidence
- biography or credibility claims not backed by provided context

## Writing Process

1. Clarify the audience and purpose.
2. Build a skeletal outline with one purpose per section.
3. Start each section with evidence, example, or scene.
4. Expand only where the next sentence earns its place.
5. Remove anything that sounds templated or self-congratulatory.

## Structure Guidance

### Technical Guides
- open with what the reader gets
- use code or terminal examples in every major section
- end with concrete takeaways, not a soft summary

### Essays / Opinion Pieces
- start with tension, contradiction, or a sharp observation
- keep one argument thread per section
- use examples that earn the opinion

### Newsletters
- keep the first screen strong
- mix insight with updates, not diary filler
- use clear section labels and easy skim structure

## Tone Calibration

Match tone to context:

| Context | Tone |
|---------|------|
| Technical content | Direct, opinionated, practical. Share what works from experience. |
| Personal/journey | Honest, reflective. No performative humility, no toxic positivity. |
| Security content | Urgent but not alarmist. Evidence-based. Show the vulnerability, then the fix. |
| Community updates | Grateful but not sycophantic. Numbers speak louder than adjectives. |
| Product launches | Matter-of-fact. Let features speak. No hype language. |

## Approved Voice Patterns

These patterns work well for developer and founder audiences:

- "here's exactly how..."
- "no fluff."
- "zero [X]. just [Y]."
- "the short version:"
- Direct address: "you want X. here's X."
- Parenthetical asides for personality and self-awareness (use roughly once every 2-3 paragraphs)

## Platform-Specific Structure

### Technical Guides
- open with what the reader gets
- use code or terminal examples in every major section
- use "Pro tip:" callouts for non-obvious insights
- end with concrete takeaways as short bullets, not a summary paragraph
- link to resources at the bottom

### Essays / Opinion Pieces
- start with tension, contradiction, or a sharp observation
- keep one argument thread per section
- use examples that earn the opinion

### Newsletters
- keep the first screen strong
- mix insight with updates, not diary filler
- use clear section labels and easy skim structure

### LinkedIn
- proper capitalization
- short paragraphs (2-3 sentences max)
- first line is the hook (truncates at ~210 chars)
- professional framing: impact, lessons, takeaways
- 3-5 hashtags at the bottom only

### X/Twitter Threads
- each tweet must standalone (people see them individually)
- hook in first tweet, no "thread:" or "1/" prefix
- one point per tweet
- last tweet: CTA or punchline, not "follow for more"
- 4-7 tweets ideal length
- no links in tweet body (kills reach). Links in first reply.

## Quality Gate

Before delivering:
- verify factual claims against provided sources
- remove filler and corporate language
- confirm the voice matches the supplied examples
- ensure every section adds new information
- check formatting for the intended platform
- zero banned patterns in entire document
- at least 2-3 parenthetical asides for personality (if voice calls for it)
- examples/evidence before explanation in each section
- specific numbers used where available