content-writing

The saved excerpt is a snapshot from when this skill was listed. The external source remains the complete and most current version.

---
name: content-writing
description: "Create ridiculously good content using Ann Handley's \"Everybody Writes\" methodology—practical, reader-focused writing that serves your audience and achieves your goals. Use when: **Write blog posts** that engage and convert readers; **Create email content** that gets opened and clicked; **Craft social media posts** that stop the scroll; **Develop website copy** that speaks to your audience; **Write thought leadership** that builds credibility"
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: ClawFu
  version: 1.0.0
  mcp-server: "@clawfu/mcp-skills"
---

# Content Writing

> Create ridiculously good content using Ann Handley's "Everybody Writes" methodology—practical, reader-focused writing that serves your audience and achieves your goals.

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:

- **Write blog posts** that engage and convert readers
- **Create email content** that gets opened and clicked
- **Craft social media posts** that stop the scroll
- **Develop website copy** that speaks to your audience
- **Write thought leadership** that builds credibility
- **Improve existing content** that's underperforming
- **Edit your own work** with a professional eye
- **Overcome writer's block** and produce content consistently
- **Train team members** on content writing best practices

This skill is particularly valuable for:
- Content marketers creating regular blog/newsletter content
- Marketers wearing multiple hats who need to write
- Subject matter experts translating expertise into content
- Teams wanting to elevate content quality
- Anyone who thinks "I'm not a writer" but has to write anyway

---

## Methodology Foundation

**Source:** Ann Handley - *Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content* (2014, 2nd edition 2022)

**Core Principle:** Writing isn't a gift—it's a skill. Writing well is part habit, part knowledge of fundamental rules, and part giving a damn about your reader.

> "No one will ever complain that you've made things too simple to understand."

---


## What Claude Does vs What You Decide

| Claude Does | You Decide |
|-------------|------------|
| Structures production workflow | Final creative direction |
| Suggests technical approaches | Equipment and tool choices |
| Creates templates and checklists | Quality standards |
| Identifies best practices | Brand/voice decisions |
| Generates script outlines | Final script approval |

## What This Skill Does

When invoked, I will guide you through the Everybody Writes methodology:

1. **Apply the Writing GPS** - 12-step framework from idea to published piece
2. **Write for the reader** - Develop "pathological empathy" for your audience
3. **Embrace the Ugly First Draft** - Separate creating from editing
4. **Edit ruthlessly** - Cut, clarify, and polish your work
5. **Adapt to specific formats** - Headlines, emails, social, long-form
6. **Build sustainable habits** - Consistent quality output

---

## How to Use

Provide information about your content writing challenge:

**Example prompts:**

- "Help me write a blog post about [topic]"
- "Improve this draft—make it clearer and more engaging"
- "Write email subject lines for our newsletter about [topic]"
- "Create social media posts promoting our new [product/content]"
- "I'm stuck on this piece—help me get unstuck"

**Information that helps:**

- Your target audience (who are you writing for?)
- The goal of the content (what action do you want?)
- The topic or subject matter
- Existing draft (if any) to improve
- Format/channel (blog, email, social, etc.)
- Tone/voice guidelines (if any)

---

## Instructions

### The Core Mindset: Writing for the Reader

Every piece of content must answer two questions:

1. **So what?** - Why does this matter?
2. **Who cares?** - Why should the reader care?

If you can't answer both, your content isn't ready.

**Develop "Pathological Empathy":**

| Ask Yourself | Why It Matters |
|--------------|----------------|