claude-howto/03-skills/blog-draft/SKILL.md

name, description

name	description
blog-draft	Draft a blog post from ideas and resources. Use when users want to write a blog post, create content from research, or draft articles. Guides through research, brainstorming, outlining, and iterative drafting with version control.

User Input

$ARGUMENTS

You MUST consider the user input before proceeding. User should provide:

• Idea/Topic: The main concept or theme for the blog post
• Resources: URLs, files, or references to research (optional but recommended)
• Target audience: Who the blog post is for (optional)
• Tone/Style: Formal, casual, technical, etc. (optional)

Execution Flow

Follow these steps sequentially. Do not skip steps or proceed without user approval where indicated.

Step 0: Create Project Folder

1. Generate a folder name using format: YYYY-MM-DD-short-topic-name

   • Use today's date
   • Create a short, URL-friendly slug from the topic (lowercase, hyphens, max 5 words)

2. Create the folder structure:

   blog-posts/
   └── YYYY-MM-DD-short-topic-name/
       └── resources/
   

3. Confirm folder creation with user before proceeding.

Step 1: Research & Resource Collection

1. Create resources/ subfolder in the blog post directory

2. For each provided resource:

   • URLs: Fetch and save key information to resources/ as markdown files
   • Files: Read and summarize in resources/
   • Topics: Use web search to gather up-to-date information

3. For each resource, create a summary file in resources/:

   • resources/source-1-[short-name].md
   • resources/source-2-[short-name].md
   • etc.

4. Each summary should include:

   # Source: [Title/URL]
   
   ## Key Points
   - Point 1
   - Point 2
   
   ## Relevant Quotes/Data
   - Quote or statistic 1
   - Quote or statistic 2
   
   ## How This Relates to Topic
   Brief explanation of relevance
   

5. Present research summary to user.

Step 2: Brainstorm & Clarify

1. Based on the idea and researched resources, present:

   • Main themes identified from research
   • Potential angles for the blog post
   • Key points that should be covered
   • Gaps in information that need clarification

2. Ask clarifying questions:

   • What is the main takeaway you want readers to have?
   • Are there specific points from the research you want to emphasize?
   • What's the target length? (short: 500-800 words, medium: 1000-1500, long: 2000+)
   • Any points you want to exclude?

3. Wait for user responses before proceeding.

Step 3: Propose Outline

1. Create a structured outline including:

   # Blog Post Outline: [Title]
   
   ## Meta Information
   - **Target Audience**: [who]
   - **Tone**: [style]
   - **Target Length**: [word count]
   - **Main Takeaway**: [key message]
   
   ## Proposed Structure
   
   ### Hook/Introduction
   - Opening hook idea
   - Context setting
   - Thesis statement
   
   ### Section 1: [Title]
   - Key point A
   - Key point B
   - Supporting evidence from [source]
   
   ### Section 2: [Title]
   - Key point A
   - Key point B
   
   [Continue for all sections...]
   
   ### Conclusion
   - Summary of key points
   - Call to action or final thought
   
   ## Sources to Cite
   - Source 1
   - Source 2
   

2. Present outline to user and ask for approval or modifications.

Step 4: Save Approved Outline

1. Once user approves the outline, save it to OUTLINE.md in the blog post folder.

2. Confirm the outline has been saved.

Step 5: Commit Outline (if in git repo)

1. Check if current directory is a git repository.

2. If yes:

   • Stage the new files: blog post folder, resources, and OUTLINE.md
   • Create commit with message: docs: Add outline for blog post - [topic-name]
   • Push to remote

3. If not a git repo, skip this step and inform user.

Step 6: Write Draft

1. Based on the approved outline, write the full blog post draft.

2. Follow the structure from OUTLINE.md exactly.

3. Include:

   • Engaging introduction with hook
   • Clear section headers
   • Supporting evidence and examples from research
   • Smooth transitions between sections
   • Strong conclusion with takeaway
   • Citations: All comparisons, statistics, data points, and factual claims MUST cite the original source

4. Save the draft as draft-v0.1.md in the blog post folder.

5. Format:

   # [Blog Post Title]
   
   *[Optional: subtitle or tagline]*
   
   [Full content with inline citations...]
   
   ---
   
   ## References
   - [1] Source 1 Title - URL or Citation
   - [2] Source 2 Title - URL or Citation
   - [3] Source 3 Title - URL or Citation
   

6. Citation Requirements:

   • Every data point, statistic, or comparison MUST have an inline citation
   • Use numbered references [1], [2], etc., or named citations [Source Name]
   • Link citations to the References section at the end
   • Example: "Studies show that 65% of developers prefer TypeScript [1]"
   • Example: "React outperforms Vue in rendering speed by 20% [React Benchmarks 2024]"

Step 7: Commit Draft (if in git repo)

1. Check if in git repository.

2. If yes:

   • Stage the draft file
   • Create commit with message: docs: Add draft v0.1 for blog post - [topic-name]
   • Push to remote

3. If not a git repo, skip and inform user.

Step 8: Present Draft for Review

1. Present the draft content to user.

2. Ask for feedback:

   • Overall impression?
   • Sections that need expansion or reduction?
   • Tone adjustments needed?
   • Missing information?
   • Specific edits or rewrites?

3. Wait for user response.

Step 9: Iterate or Finalize

If user requests changes:

1. Note all requested modifications
2. Return to Step 6 with the following adjustments:
   • Increment version number (v0.2, v0.3, etc.)
   • Incorporate all feedback
   • Save as draft-v[X.Y].md
   • Repeat Steps 7-8

If user approves:

1. Confirm the final draft version
2. Optionally rename to final.md if user requests
3. Summarize the blog post creation process:
   • Total versions created
   • Key changes between versions
   • Final word count
   • Files created

Version Tracking

All drafts are preserved with incremental versioning:

• draft-v0.1.md - Initial draft
• draft-v0.2.md - After first round of feedback
• draft-v0.3.md - After second round of feedback
• etc.

This allows tracking the evolution of the blog post and reverting if needed.

Output Files Structure

blog-posts/
└── YYYY-MM-DD-topic-name/
    ├── resources/
    │   ├── source-1-name.md
    │   ├── source-2-name.md
    │   └── ...
    ├── OUTLINE.md
    ├── draft-v0.1.md
    ├── draft-v0.2.md (if iterations)
    └── draft-v0.3.md (if more iterations)

Tips for Quality

• Hook: Start with a question, surprising fact, or relatable scenario
• Flow: Each paragraph should connect to the next
• Evidence: Support claims with data from research
• Citations: ALWAYS cite sources for:
  • All statistics and data points (e.g., "According to [Source], 75% of...")
  • Comparisons between products, services, or approaches (e.g., "X performs 2x faster than Y [Source]")
  • Factual claims about market trends, research findings, or benchmarks
  • Use inline citations with format: [Source Name] or [Author, Year]
• Voice: Maintain consistent tone throughout
• Length: Respect the target word count
• Readability: Use short paragraphs, bullet points where appropriate
• CTA: End with a clear call-to-action or thought-provoking question

Notes

• Always wait for user approval at outlined checkpoints
• Preserve all draft versions for history
• Use web search for up-to-date information when URLs are provided
• If resources are insufficient, ask user for more or suggest additional research
• Adapt tone based on target audience (technical, general, business, etc.)