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: Outline Mode - Research and structure the article Write Mode - Fill in each section with quality content Always start with outline mode before writing. Outline Mode When the user provides a topic, create an outline before writing. Steps Clarify - Ask questions if the topic or audience is unclear Research - Use web search to understand the topic thoroughly 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 Write Mode After the outline is approved, write one section at a time. Process Read the previous section (if any) to maintain flow Research using web search to verify facts Write the section 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 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 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: .claude/voice-dna.md (personal voice) docs/brand-voice.md or .claude/brand-voice.md (brand voice) STYLE_GUIDE.md (project style guide) If found, apply its rules throughout. Personal voice overrides defaults. 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. 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 )