PlugWiki

Writing Shape Skill (mattpocock): Notes Into an Article

Shapes a pile of raw notes into an article paragraph by paragraph, with you choosing the opening and each format.

Installs
507.1K
on skills.sh
Stars
309.2K
on GitHub
Files
1
besides SKILL.md
Updated
Nov 2026
last repo commit

writing-shape makes Claude read your whole markdown pile of raw material, then build a separate article with you. It drafts 2 or 3 candidate openings that imply different angles, you pick one or combine them, and it grows the article block by block, arguing with you whether each block should be prose, a list, a table, a callout, a quote or code.

You start it yourself by typing its name. The notes file is read-only to this skill. It asks once where to save the article, appends each agreed block right away, and re-reads the file before every write.

Good for

  • Writers turning a transcript or fragment pile into a structured article
  • Developers writing docs or posts who want to argue the structure
  • Editors who want a skill that pushes back on weak transitions

Install writing-shape

Claude Code

  1. 1

    Copy this prompt.

    Install the writing-shape skill in Claude Code. Run this command:

npx skills add https://github.com/mattpocock/skills --skill writing-shape

Then check that it loaded and tell me how to use it.
  2. 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, exploit: shape raw material into an article, paragraph by paragraph.

Sections in SKILL.md

  1. The loop
  2. Grounding
  3. Conversational feel
  4. Pulling from the pile
  5. Format arguments to actually have
  6. Writing rhythm
  7. Out of scope

Key facts

Author
Matt Pocock (mattpocock/skills)
Installs on skills.sh
507,112 (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
Starts
Only when you type it; the frontmatter sets disable-model-invocation: true
Input
A markdown file of raw material you pass in; it asks once where to save the article

What it includes

  • Reads the input file in full before doing anything

    The format does not matter: fragments, prose or a transcript.

    Read · Read the pile

  • Agrees what the reader knows walking in

    Anything else must be grounded by an earlier block.

    Establish prerequisites

  • Shows 2 or 3 openings, each implying a different thesis

    You pick one or compose a hybrid. The choice defines what the rest must do.

    Draft candidate openings

  • Asks what the reader needs next and pulls from the pile

    It argues the form of each block: paragraph, list, table, callout, quote or code.

    Grow block by block

  • Writes each agreed block to the article file at once

    It re-reads the file from disk first and never overwrites your edits.

    Files · Append as you go

  • Says so when the pile lacks what the article needs

    You give an example now or the section is cut.

    Name gaps

From the official docs

Questions

How do I install it?

Follow the install box at the top of the page.

What does writing-shape do?

It builds an article from your raw notes with you, paragraph by paragraph. You choose the opening, and it argues each format choice with you as the piece grows.

Does it change my notes file?

No. The raw material file is read-only to this skill. It writes to a separate article file.

How is it different from writing-beats?

writing-beats offers 2 or 3 next beats each round in a choose-your-own-adventure loop. writing-shape starts from candidate openings and pushes back on structure and format as it grows the article.

How is it different from writing-fragments?

writing-fragments collects raw fragments with no structure. writing-shape comes after: it takes a finished pile and commits to a structure.

Does it need an API key or other skills?

SKILL.md asks for neither. It describes its tone as a grilling session inverted, but names no other skill to install.

Is it safe?

SKILL.md has it read your notes file and append to an article file you choose. It bundles no scripts.

Information

updated Nov 2, 2026

Repository
mattpocock/skills
Folder
skills/in-progress/writing-shape

mattpocock/skillsskills.sh

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 2
  1. writing-shape SKILL.md · github.com
  2. skills.sh listing · skills.sh

Updated Nov 2, 2026.