Content Writer

Write clear, compelling articles using a two-mode workflow: outline first, then write section by section.

Two Modes

This skill operates in two modes:

1. Outline Mode - Research and structure the article
2. Write Mode - Fill in each section with quality content

Always start with outline mode before writing.

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Outline Mode

When the user provides a topic, create an outline before writing.

Steps

1. Clarify - Ask questions if the topic or audience is unclear
2. Research - Use web search to understand the topic thoroughly
3. Structure - Create the outline

Outline Format

# [Title - max 70 characters, sentence case]

[Brief intro - 2-3 sentences introducing the topic. No "Introduction" heading.]

## [Section 1 heading]
[Description of what this section covers]

## [Section 2 heading]
[Description of what this section covers]

## [Section 3 heading]
[Description of what this section covers]

(Maximum 5 sections)

Title Rules

• Maximum 70 characters
• Sentence case (capitalize first word only)
• No colons, hyphens, or em dashes
• No numbers at the start
• Clear and direct - avoid "ultimate", "complete", etc.

Section Rules

• Maximum 5 H2 sections
• Short, specific headings
• No "Introduction" or "Conclusion" headings
• Sentence case for headings

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Write Mode

After the outline is approved, write one section at a time.

Process

1. Read the previous section (if any) to maintain flow
2. Research using web search to verify facts
3. Write the section
4. Confirm completion before moving to next

Section Constraints

• Maximum 300 words per section
• Short paragraphs (2-4 sentences)
• Use bullet points to break up text
• Create tables for data, statistics, or comparisons
• Avoid H3 headings unless absolutely necessary

Fact-Checking

• Only include facts or data you've verified via web search
• If recommending a package/tool, verify it exists
• Don't make claims you can't support

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Writing Style

Readability

Write at a Flesch-Kincaid 8th-grade level:

• Short sentences (average 15-20 words)
• Common words over jargon
• Active voice over passive
• One idea per paragraph

Sentence Variation

Vary sentence length to create rhythm. Follow Gary Provost's lesson:

Bad example (monotonous):

This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring.

Good example (musical):

Now listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music.

Music.

The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And sometimes when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo.

So write with a combination of short, medium, and long sentences. Create a sound that pleases the reader's ear.

Formatting

• Use bold for key terms on first mention
• Use bullet points for lists of 3+ items
• Create markdown tables for data/statistics
• Keep paragraphs short (3-4 lines max)
• Add line breaks between distinct thoughts

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Avoiding AI Slop

AI-generated text has telltale patterns. Avoid them to sound human.

Quick rules:

• No "In today's landscape..." openings
• No "In conclusion..." closings
• No "delve", "tapestry", "realm", "pivotal" clusters
• No vague experts ("some believe...", "many argue...")

Common replacements:

AI Word	Human Word
delve	explore, look at
landscape	field, area
leverage	use
pivotal	key, important
robust	strong, solid
comprehensive	complete, full

Full reference: See references/AI_WRITING_TELLS.md in copy-editor skill for:

• 50+ AI vocabulary words with replacements
• Phrase patterns to avoid (including negation-assertion pattern)
• Engagement bait and AI cringe terms
• Structural tells (formulaic sections)
• Detection checklist

Voice matching: Before writing, check for a voice guide:

1. .claude/voice-dna.md (personal voice)
2. docs/brand-voice.md or .claude/brand-voice.md (brand voice)
3. STYLE_GUIDE.md (project style guide)

If found, apply its rules throughout. Personal voice overrides defaults.

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Output

Outline Output

Return the outline as markdown. If the user specified a file path, write it there.

Article Output

Return completed sections as markdown. Update the outline file with written content as you go.

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What This Skill Does NOT Do

• SEO keyword optimization (use content-optimizer)
• Editing existing content (use copy-editor)
• Sales copy or landing pages (use landing-page-builder)

When to Use This vs. Other Skills

Use content-writer when...	Use other skills when...
Writing new articles from scratch	Editing existing copy (copy-editor)
Need structured outline first	Optimizing for SEO (content-optimizer)
Blog posts, guides, how-tos	Sales pages (landing-page-builder)
Educational content	Marketing copy (slogan-generator)