Writeup
Core Purpose
Transform work sessions into publishable content. Reduce friction between "did something worth sharing" and "actually shared it."
Invocation
/writeup — Skill assesses work and recommends format
/writeup as a tweet — Hints toward quick capture format
/writeup as a thread — Hints toward Twitter thread format
/writeup for the blog — Hints toward full write-up format
/writeup to [existing file] — Adds to specified document instead of creating new
Natural language after /writeup is interpreted as guidance, not rigid commands.
Essential Context
Style Guide: [YOUR_WRITING_PATH]/Context/style-guide.md
Writing CLAUDE.md: [YOUR_WRITING_PATH]/CLAUDE.md
Draft Location: [YOUR_WRITING_PATH]/draft writing/
Published Examples: [YOUR_WRITING_PATH]/published/
Read the style guide before drafting. It defines voice, tone, structure patterns, and channel-specific guidelines.
Format Tiers
| Tier | Format | When It Fits | Length | Polish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick capture | Tweet / observation | Single insight, small learning, punchy take | 1-2 tweets | Low |
| Thread | Twitter thread | One idea worth unpacking, 3-5 connected points | 3-5 tweets | Low-medium |
| Week notes | Brief blog entry | Work worth documenting, not deep-diving | 300-500 words | Medium |
| Full write-up | Blog post | Significant build, multiple learnings, artifacts to show | 800-1500 words | Medium-high |
LinkedIn is an adaptation of tier 3 or 4, not a separate tier.
Activation Protocol
When invoked:
Step 1: Understand the Work
Scan the current session (or recent sessions if specified) to understand:
- What was built, decided, or learned?
- What's the core insight or "so what"?
- Are there artifacts worth showing? (code, configs, outputs, structures)
- How significant is this? (quick fix vs. major build)
If unclear, ask briefly:
- "What's the main thing worth capturing from this session?"
- "Is there a specific insight that landed for you?"
Step 1.5: Check Purpose Alignment
Ground the writeup in your brand purpose (from style guide):
Ask yourself:
- Does this work connect to your core themes?
- Is there a real experiment or honest reflection to share?
- Will this help readers understand something useful?
- What's the insight that positions you as a trusted voice?
If the work doesn't obviously connect, look harder—most technical or process work has an angle. If it genuinely doesn't fit, flag it: "This might be better as internal documentation than external content."
Step 2: Assess Format Fit
Consider:
- Complexity of work: Simple insight → tweet. Multi-part build → write-up.
- Number of learnings: One thing → thread or less. Several things → write-up.
- Artifact density: Lots to show → write-up. Nothing visual → can be shorter.
- User hint: If they said "as a thread," weight heavily toward that.
Present recommendation:
"This looks like a [format]. [One sentence on why.] Sound right, or different direction?"
Wait for confirmation before drafting. User might say:
- "Yes, go ahead"
- "Actually make it shorter / longer"
- "Just a tweet"
- "Full write-up, this is important"
Step 3: Extract the Core
Before drafting, identify:
- The hook: What's the most interesting/surprising thing? Lead with this.
- The insight: What's the one thing this piece says?
- The stakes: Why should readers care?
- The artifacts: What can be shown, not just described?
- The open question: What's still being figured out? (for blog posts)
Step 4: Draft
Draft according to format tier and style guide principles.
For Tweets / Quick Capture
- Boldest claim first
- One idea per tweet
- Can be observation ("I'm noticing..."), question ("Has anyone else found..."), or hot take
- No need for complete thoughts—working in public is fine
For Threads
- Hook tweet that stands alone
- Each subsequent tweet adds one point
- Can end with question or invitation
- 3-5 tweets max; link to blog for depth
For Week Notes
- Hook that establishes why this matters
- Brief personal context
- Core insight with one supporting example or artifact
- Open question or "what I'm trying next"
- 300-500 words
For Full Write-up
- Hook + personal context + core insight + open question
- Show artifacts (code blocks, file structures, actual outputs)
- Claim → support pattern throughout
- Section headers for scannability
- 800-1500 words
- Include Claude's Notes section with:
- Possible Twitter angles
- Things that might need editing
- Missing context to potentially add
Step 5: Write to File
Default location: [YOUR_WRITING_PATH]/draft writing/[Title].md
If existing file specified: Append or integrate as appropriate.
File structure for full write-ups:
# [Title]
---
## Current Draft
[Content here]
---
## Claude's Notes
[Editorial notes, Twitter hooks, things to verify]
Voice Principles (From Style Guide)
- Authoritative & principled: Confident from expertise, never condescending
- Conversational & inclusive: Write as if speaking to intelligent peer
- Thoughtful & analytical: Explore multiple angles
- Optimistic yet nuanced: Forward-looking but realistic about challenges
- Emotionally resonant: Weave in personal anecdotes, use vivid metaphors
Key Patterns
- Show the artifact: Real diary entries > "the diary captured learnings"
- Claim → support: Make a claim, then back it with example or citation
- Strong openings: Hook with anecdote, bold statement, or provocative question
- Memorable closes: Clear takeaway or thoughtful open question
Things to Avoid
- Burying the lede
- Abstract without concrete
- Generic voice (could anyone have written this?)
- Over-explaining
- Weak closes that fizzle
Scope: Current vs. Multiple Sessions
Default: Current session only.
When user requests broader scope (e.g., "write up what I learned about X this week"):
- Search episodic memory for relevant recent sessions
- Synthesize key themes, but don't force connections
- Lead with the strongest insights; synthesis can be added in editing
- Note which sessions contributed in Claude's Notes
Don't over-synthesize: It's better to capture key notes cleanly than to force artificial connections. The user can add synthesis in their editing pass.
Integration with Handoff
The /handoff skill should consider suggesting /writeup when:
- Session involved significant building or learning
- There are clear insights worth sharing
- Artifacts were created that could be shown
Suggested handoff prompt:
"This session had some learnings that might be worth documenting. Want to run
/writeupbefore closing?"
Quick Reference
| User Says | Likely Format | Key Action |
|---|---|---|
/writeup | Assess and recommend | Scan session, propose format |
/writeup as a tweet | Quick capture | Draft 1-2 punchy tweets |
/writeup thread on [topic] | Thread | 3-5 tweets unpacking one idea |
/writeup for the blog | Full write-up | 800-1500 words with artifacts |
/writeup brief notes | Week notes | 300-500 words, medium polish |
/writeup to [file] | Match existing | Append to specified document |
Final Check Before Delivering
- Does it lead with the most interesting thing?
- Is there a clear "so what"?
- Are artifacts shown, not just described?
- Does it sound like you, not generic AI?
- Is the format right for the weight of the work?
- Are editorial notes included (for longer formats)?
