Content Research Writer

This skill acts as your writing partner, helping you research, outline, draft, and refine content while maintaining your unique voice and style.

When to Use This Skill

• Writing blog posts, articles, or newsletters
• Creating educational content or tutorials
• Drafting thought leadership pieces
• Researching and writing case studies
• Producing technical documentation with sources
• Writing with proper citations and references
• Improving hooks and introductions
• Getting section-by-section feedback while writing

What This Skill Does

1. Collaborative Outlining: Helps you structure ideas into coherent outlines
2. Research Assistance: Finds relevant information and adds citations
3. Hook Improvement: Strengthens your opening to capture attention
4. Section Feedback: Reviews each section as you write
5. Voice Preservation: Maintains your writing style and tone
6. Citation Management: Adds and formats references properly
7. Iterative Refinement: Helps you improve through multiple drafts

How to Use

Setup Your Writing Environment

Create a dedicated folder for your article:

mkdir ~/writing/my-article-title
cd ~/writing/my-article-title

Create your draft file:

touch article-draft.md

Open Claude Code from this directory and start writing.

Basic Workflow

1. Start with an outline:

Help me create an outline for an article about [topic]

2. Research and add citations:

Research [specific topic] and add citations to my outline

3. Improve the hook:

Here's my introduction. Help me make the hook more compelling.

4. Get section feedback:

I just finished the "Why This Matters" section. Review it and give feedback.

5. Refine and polish:

Review the full draft for flow, clarity, and consistency.

Instructions

When a user requests writing assistance:

1. Understand the Writing Project

   Ask clarifying questions:

   • What's the topic and main argument?
   • Who's the target audience?
   • What's the desired length/format?
   • What's your goal? (educate, persuade, entertain, explain)
   • Any existing research or sources to include?
   • What's your writing style? (formal, conversational, technical)

2. Collaborative Outlining

   Help structure the content:

   markdown
   1# Article Outline: [Title]
   2
   3## Hook
   4- [Opening line/story/statistic]
   5- [Why reader should care]
   6
   7## Introduction
   8- Context and background
   9- Problem statement
   10- What this article covers
   11
   12## Main Sections
   13
   14### Section 1: [Title]
   15- Key point A
   16- Key point B
   17- Example/evidence
   18- [Research needed: specific topic]
   19
   20### Section 2: [Title]
   21- Key point C
   22- Key point D
   23- Data/citation needed
   24
   25### Section 3: [Title]
   26- Key point E
   27- Counter-arguments
   28- Resolution
   29
   30## Conclusion
   31- Summary of main points
   32- Call to action
   33- Final thought
   34
   35## Research To-Do
   36- [ ] Find data on [topic]
   37- [ ] Get examples of [concept]
   38- [ ] Source citation for [claim]

   Iterate on outline:

   • Adjust based on feedback
   • Ensure logical flow
   • Identify research gaps
   • Mark sections for deep dives

3. Conduct Research

   When user requests research on a topic:

   • Search for relevant information
   • Find credible sources
   • Extract key facts, quotes, and data
   • Add citations in requested format

   Example output:

   markdown
   1## Research: AI Impact on Productivity
   2
   3Key Findings:
   4
   51. **Productivity Gains**: Studies show 40% time savings for 
   6   content creation tasks [1]
   7
   82. **Adoption Rates**: 67% of knowledge workers use AI tools 
   9   weekly [2]
   10
   113. **Expert Quote**: "AI augments rather than replaces human 
   12   creativity" - Dr. Jane Smith, MIT [3]
   13
   14Citations:
   15[1] McKinsey Global Institute. (2024). "The Economic Potential 
   16    of Generative AI"
   17[2] Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2024)
   18[3] Smith, J. (2024). MIT Technology Review interview
   19
   20Added to outline under Section 2.

4. Improve Hooks

   When user shares an introduction, analyze and strengthen:

   Current Hook Analysis:

   • What works: [positive elements]
   • What could be stronger: [areas for improvement]
   • Emotional impact: [current vs. potential]

   Suggested Alternatives:

   Option 1: [Bold statement]

   [Example] Why it works: [explanation]

   Option 2: [Personal story]

   [Example] Why it works: [explanation]

   Option 3: [Surprising data]

   [Example] Why it works: [explanation]

   Questions to hook:

   • Does it create curiosity?
   • Does it promise value?
   • Is it specific enough?
   • Does it match the audience?

5. Provide Section-by-Section Feedback

   As user writes each section, review for:

   markdown
   1# Feedback: [Section Name]
   2
   3## What Works Well ✓
   4- [Strength 1]
   5- [Strength 2]
   6- [Strength 3]
   7
   8## Suggestions for Improvement
   9
   10### Clarity
   11- [Specific issue] → [Suggested fix]
   12- [Complex sentence] → [Simpler alternative]
   13
   14### Flow
   15- [Transition issue] → [Better connection]
   16- [Paragraph order] → [Suggested reordering]
   17
   18### Evidence
   19- [Claim needing support] → [Add citation or example]
   20- [Generic statement] → [Make more specific]
   21
   22### Style
   23- [Tone inconsistency] → [Match your voice better]
   24- [Word choice] → [Stronger alternative]
   25
   26## Specific Line Edits
   27
   28Original:
   29> [Exact quote from draft]
   30
   31Suggested:
   32> [Improved version]
   33
   34Why: [Explanation]
   35
   36## Questions to Consider
   37- [Thought-provoking question 1]
   38- [Thought-provoking question 2]
   39
   40Ready to move to next section!

6. Preserve Writer's Voice

   Important principles:

   • Learn their style: Read existing writing samples
   • Suggest, don't replace: Offer options, not directives
   • Match tone: Formal, casual, technical, friendly
   • Respect choices: If they prefer their version, support it
   • Enhance, don't override: Make their writing better, not different

   Ask periodically:

   • "Does this sound like you?"
   • "Is this the right tone?"
   • "Should I be more/less [formal/casual/technical]?"

7. Citation Management

   Handle references based on user preference:

   Inline Citations:

   markdown
   1Studies show 40% productivity improvement (McKinsey, 2024).

   Numbered References:

   markdown
   1Studies show 40% productivity improvement [1].
   2
   3[1] McKinsey Global Institute. (2024)...

   Footnote Style:

   markdown
   1Studies show 40% productivity improvement^1
   2
   3^1: McKinsey Global Institute. (2024)...

   Maintain a running citations list:

   markdown
   1## References
   2
   31. Author. (Year). "Title". Publication.
   42. Author. (Year). "Title". Publication.
   5...

8. Final Review and Polish

   When draft is complete, provide comprehensive feedback:

   markdown
   1# Full Draft Review
   2
   3## Overall Assessment
   4
   5**Strengths**:
   6- [Major strength 1]
   7- [Major strength 2]
   8- [Major strength 3]
   9
   10**Impact**: [Overall effectiveness assessment]
   11
   12## Structure & Flow
   13- [Comments on organization]
   14- [Transition quality]
   15- [Pacing assessment]
   16
   17## Content Quality
   18- [Argument strength]
   19- [Evidence sufficiency]
   20- [Example effectiveness]
   21
   22## Technical Quality
   23- Grammar and mechanics: [assessment]
   24- Consistency: [assessment]
   25- Citations: [completeness check]
   26
   27## Readability
   28- Clarity score: [evaluation]
   29- Sentence variety: [evaluation]
   30- Paragraph length: [evaluation]
   31
   32## Final Polish Suggestions
   33
   341. **Introduction**: [Specific improvements]
   352. **Body**: [Specific improvements]
   363. **Conclusion**: [Specific improvements]
   374. **Title**: [Options if needed]
   38
   39## Pre-Publish Checklist
   40- [ ] All claims sourced
   41- [ ] Citations formatted
   42- [ ] Examples clear
   43- [ ] Transitions smooth
   44- [ ] Call to action present
   45- [ ] Proofread for typos
   46
   47Ready to publish! 🚀

Examples

Example 1: Teresa Torres's Workflow

User: "I'm writing an article about continuous discovery. Help me create an outline."

Process:

1. Collaborates on outline structure
2. Identifies research needs
3. User starts writing introduction
4. Reviews and improves the hook
5. User writes each section
6. Provides feedback after each section
7. Conducts research and adds citations
8. Final review of complete draft
9. Polish and prep for publishing

Result: Well-researched, properly cited article written in Teresa's voice with strong structure and flow.

Example 2: Research-Heavy Article

User: "I'm writing about AI's impact on product management. Help me find current data and examples."

Output:

markdown
1## Research Compiled
2
3### Recent Data
4- Gartner: 80% of PMs will use AI tools by 2025 [1]
5- Survey: 45% report faster feature shipping [2]
6- Case study: Airbnb's AI-assisted prioritization [3]
7
8### Expert Quotes
9- "AI amplifies PM judgment, not replaces it" - Marty Cagan
10- [Additional quotes with citations]
11
12### Real Examples
131. **Company A**: Used AI for user research synthesis
14   - Result: 60% time savings
15   - Source: [citation]
16
172. **Company B**: AI-powered roadmap analysis
18   - Result: Better stakeholder alignment
19   - Source: [citation]
20
21All added to your outline with proper citations.

Example 3: Hook Improvement

User's Original Hook:

"Product management is changing because of AI. In this article, I'll discuss some ways AI affects product managers."

Improved Options:

Option 1 (Data-driven):

"Last month, I asked AI to analyze 500 customer interviews. It took 30 minutes instead of 3 weeks. Product management will never be the same."

Option 2 (Question):

"What if you could talk to every customer, read every review, and analyze every support ticket—all before your morning coffee?"

Option 3 (Story):

"Sarah spent two weeks building the wrong feature. Not because she didn't understand her users, but because she couldn't process the hundreds of interviews fast enough to spot the pattern."

Example 4: Section Feedback

User: "Just finished my 'Common Mistakes' section. Thoughts?"

Response:

markdown
1# Feedback: Common Mistakes Section
2
3## What Works Well ✓
4- Strong examples (the Slack notification story)
5- Clear structure (3 mistakes, clean layout)
6- Practical advice for each mistake
7
8## Suggestions
9
10### Make It More Specific
11Your second point says "Bad prioritization" but could be stronger:
12
13Current:
14> "Many teams prioritize badly by focusing on features instead of outcomes."
15
16Suggested:
17> "I've watched teams ship 14 features in a quarter yet move none of their key metrics. They prioritized activity over progress."
18
19### Add Data
20The third mistake would benefit from evidence:
21> "[Add citation]: Studies show teams without regular user contact are 3x more likely to build unused features [needs source]"
22
23### Flow Improvement
24Consider reordering: Mistake 3 → Mistake 2 → Mistake 1
25This builds from small to big impact.
26
27Ready for the next section!

Writing Workflows

Blog Post Workflow

1. Outline together
2. Research key points
3. Write introduction → get feedback
4. Write body sections → feedback each
5. Write conclusion → final review
6. Polish and edit

Newsletter Workflow

1. Discuss hook ideas
2. Quick outline (shorter format)
3. Draft in one session
4. Review for clarity and links
5. Quick polish

Technical Tutorial Workflow

1. Outline steps
2. Write code examples
3. Add explanations
4. Test instructions
5. Add troubleshooting section
6. Final review for accuracy

Thought Leadership Workflow

1. Brainstorm unique angle
2. Research existing perspectives
3. Develop your thesis
4. Write with strong POV
5. Add supporting evidence
6. Craft compelling conclusion

Pro Tips

1. Work in VS Code: Better than web Claude for long-form writing
2. One section at a time: Get feedback incrementally
3. Save research separately: Keep a research.md file
4. Version your drafts: article-v1.md, article-v2.md, etc.
5. Read aloud: Use feedback to identify clunky sentences
6. Set deadlines: "I want to finish the draft today"
7. Take breaks: Write, get feedback, pause, revise

File Organization

Recommended structure for writing projects:

~/writing/article-name/
├── outline.md          # Your outline
├── research.md         # All research and citations
├── draft-v1.md         # First draft
├── draft-v2.md         # Revised draft
├── final.md            # Publication-ready
├── feedback.md         # Collected feedback
└── sources/            # Reference materials
    ├── study1.pdf
    └── article2.md

Best Practices

For Research

• Verify sources before citing
• Use recent data when possible
• Balance different perspectives
• Link to original sources

For Feedback

• Be specific about what you want: "Is this too technical?"
• Share your concerns: "I'm worried this section drags"
• Ask questions: "Does this flow logically?"
• Request alternatives: "What's another way to explain this?"

For Voice

• Share examples of your writing
• Specify tone preferences
• Point out good matches: "That sounds like me!"
• Flag mismatches: "Too formal for my style"

Related Use Cases

• Creating social media posts from articles
• Adapting content for different audiences
• Writing email newsletters
• Drafting technical documentation
• Creating presentation content
• Writing case studies
• Developing course outlines