Writing Fragments Skill (mattpocock): Capture Raw Ideas
Interviews you about what you want to write and saves raw fragments to one markdown file, with no structure yet.
- Installs
- 506.4K
- on skills.sh
- Stars
- 309.2K
- on GitHub
- Files
- 1
- besides SKILL.md
- Updated
- Nov 2026
- last repo commit
writing-fragments makes Claude interview you about whatever you want to write, and save what comes out as fragments in one markdown file. A fragment is any piece that might survive into the article: a sharp sentence, a claim, a vignette, a half-thought, a quote, or a leading word that names the whole idea.
You start it yourself by typing its name. It captures fragments from your very first message, appends silently, and re-reads the file before every write so your edits stay. It does not outline or structure. Structuring is a separate step.
Good for
- Writers who want to get ideas out before choosing a structure
- Developers collecting material for a blog post or talk
- Anyone who thinks better when questioned than when staring at a blank page
Install writing-fragments
Claude Code
- 1
Copy this prompt.
Install the writing-fragments skill in Claude Code. Run this command: npx skills add https://github.com/mattpocock/skills --skill writing-fragments Then check that it loaded and tell me how to use it.
- 2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.
Requires Node.js.
From its listing on skills.sh. Source.
What's in the skill
When it loads
Writing, explore: mine raw fragments, no structure yet.
Sections in SKILL.md
- What is a fragment
- File format
- Writing rhythm
Key facts
- Installs on skills.sh
- 506,409 (Nov 2, 2026)
- GitHub stars
- 309,237 on mattpocock/skills (Nov 2, 2026)
- License
- MIT
- Last repo commit
- Nov 1, 2026
- What installs
- SKILL.md plus 1 bundled file: agents/openai.yaml
- skills.sh audits
- Gen Agent Trust Hub: pass, Socket: pass, Snyk: pass
What it includes
Interviews you relentlessly about your topic
This is the explore step. It widens what could be written without picking a structure.
Interview youAppends fragments to a single markdown file as they appear
Fragments from either side of the conversation count, starting with your first message.
Files ·
Capture fragmentsAsks once where to save, starts with one H1 working title
No metadata, table of contents or date.
Files ·
Set up the fileSplits fragments with a horizontal rule (---)
No headings inside the body, no tags, no order beyond when they were added.
Separate with rulesPushes you to name a recurring idea in one word
SKILL.md calls it the most valuable fragment to land.
Coin a leading word
From the official docs
Questions
How do I install it?
Follow the install box at the top of the page.
What does writing-fragments do?
It interviews you about a topic and saves raw fragments to one markdown file. It does no outlining; that is left to a later step.
What is a fragment?
Any piece of text that might make it into the final article: a sharp sentence, a claim, a vignette, a half-thought, a quote, a list of observations, or a leading word.
What do I do with the file afterwards?
SKILL.md leaves structure to a separate "exploit" skill. In the same repo, writing-shape and writing-beats are both labelled exploit and take a pile of raw material like this file.
Will it overwrite my edits?
No. It re-reads the file from disk before every write and only appends, unless you ask it to edit one fragment.
Does it need an API key or other skills?
SKILL.md asks for neither. It calls its interview a grilling session but names no other skill to install.
Is it safe?
SKILL.md has it append to one markdown file you choose. It bundles no scripts.
Information
updated Nov 2, 2026
- Repository
- mattpocock/skills
- Folder
skills/in-progress/writing-fragments
Sources
Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.
Show all 2Hide
- writing-fragments SKILL.md · github.com
- skills.sh listing · skills.sh