Style Skill Creator

Create style skills that teach Claude your writing style.

Critical: Audience is AI

This creates AI instructions (for Claude to read), NOT human documentation (for authors to read).

AI Instructions Human Documentation

"When writing X, do Y" "The story uses X because Y"

Directive commands Explanatory descriptions

Pattern + examples Analysis + reasoning

Step 1: Ask About Format

Always ask first:

Would you like me to create:

1. Simple markdown file (.md)

   • Quick, lightweight
   • Single file with style instructions

2. Full skill package (.skill)

   • Properly structured and validated
   • Can include reference files with examples
   • Better for complex styles

Which format would you prefer?

Simple Markdown Format

description: [What this style covers] alwaysApply: false

[Style Name]

[Brief intro]

[Category]

[Directive instructions with examples]

Location: .cursor/rules/styles/[name].md or user-specified

Full Skill Package Format

Initialize

python /mnt/skills/examples/skill-creator/scripts/init_skill.py [skill-name] --path [output-dir]

Creates directory structure with SKILL.md, references/, scripts/, assets/

Customize

SKILL.md structure:

name: [skill-name] description: Style skill for [specific writing type]

[Style Name]

Purpose

Teaches Claude to write [X] in the author's style.

[Style Instructions]

[Directive instructions organized by category]

Add reference files if helpful:

• references/examples.md

• Good/bad examples

• references/patterns.md

• Detailed pattern library

Delete unused directories (scripts/, assets/ if not needed)

Package

python /mnt/skills/examples/skill-creator/scripts/package_skill.py [path-to-skill] [output-dir]

Creates validated .skill file ready to distribute.

Writing Style: Directive and Technical

Use imperative/command form:

✅ "Use short sentences during action"

✅ "Avoid dialogue tags"

✅ "Show emotion through action"

❌ "The author tends to use short sentences" (that's analysis, not instruction)

Always include examples:

Emotional beats:

• Use action instead of emotional labels
• Example: "Her hands trembled" not "She felt nervous"

Pattern + Example format:

[Pattern name]:

• [Instruction about the pattern]
• Example: [Concrete example]
• Avoid: [What NOT to do]

Common Style Skill Types

Master Prose: Overall writing voice, sentence structure, tone

Dialogue: Tag usage, action beats, subtext, character voice

Action: Sentence length, detail level, pacing

Description: Sensory detail, metaphors, level of detail

Character Voice: Per-character speech patterns and vocabulary

Formatting: Em dashes, ellipsis, scene breaks, thought formatting

Creation Process

1. Gather Input

From user description:

• "Describe your style to me"

• "What patterns should this cover?"

From existing prose:

• "Can I read some chapters to identify patterns?"

• Read 2-3 chapters if provided

2. Ask About Format

Simple .md or full .skill package?

3A. Simple Path

• Create markdown with sections

• Add directive instructions + examples

• Save to .cursor/rules/styles/ or specified location

3B. Full Skill Path

• Run init_skill.py

• Edit SKILL.md with style instructions

• Add reference files if helpful

• Delete unused directories

• Run package_skill.py

• Provide download link

Examples

Dialogue Style (Simple .md)

description: Dialogue writing conventions alwaysApply: false

Dialogue Style

Dialogue Tags

Minimize "said":

• Use action beats instead
• Example: She crossed her arms. "Fine."
• When using tags, prefer "said" to fancy verbs

Interruptions

Use em dashes:

• For interrupted speech: "I thought we could—"
• Example: "Wait, I—" He grabbed her arm.

Subtext

Characters avoid directness:

• Show tension through what's NOT said
• Example: "That's nice." (flat, clearly upset)
• Avoid: "I'm angry!" (too direct)

Character Voice

name: character-amber-voice description: Amber's voice and speech patterns

Character Voice: Amber

Speech Patterns

Careful word choice:

• Adult consciousness = measured speech
• Avoids contractions when stressed
• Example: "I do not want to go" not "I don't wanna go"

Politeness as defense:

• Overly formal when uncomfortable
• Uses "please" and "thank you" excessively

Internal Monologue

Analytical:

• Observes and categorizes
• Example: "Dr. Fuji's hands trembled—stress response, possibly guilt."

Integration

The workflow:

• User writes chapters naturally

• This skill converts patterns into style skills

• cw-prose-writing loads and follows those skills

• Result: Consistent AI-written prose in user's style