blog-post-writer

What this skill does

# Nick Nisi Blog Writer

Transform unstructured brain dumps into polished blog posts that sound like Nick Nisi.

## Process

### 1. Receive the Brain Dump

Accept whatever the user provides:

- Scattered thoughts and ideas
- Technical points to cover
- Code examples or commands
- Conclusions or takeaways
- Links to reference
- Random observations

Don't require organization. The mess is the input.

**Clarify constraints** (if not provided, ask about):

- Target length (see `references/post-template.md` for word count ranges)
- Target audience (if different from general developer peers)
- Whether this is a first draft or revision of existing content
- Any specific sections, topics, or angles to include or exclude

### 2. Read Voice and Tone

Load `references/voice-tone.md` as the baseline voice guide.

**Then calibrate against recent writing:**

1. Fetch `https://nicknisi.com/posts` to find the 2-3 most recent posts
2. Fetch and read those posts
3. Note any patterns that extend or differ from the static reference — new phrases, tone shifts, topic-specific voice adjustments

The static reference captures established patterns. The live fetch catches evolution. When they conflict, prefer the recent posts — voice is a living thing. If the site cannot be fetched, rely on the static voice guide alone.

Key characteristics (read the full reference for details and examples):

- Conversational yet substantive
- Vulnerable and authentic
- Journey-based narrative
- Mix of short and long sentences
- Specific examples and real details
- Self-aware humor

### 3. Choose a Narrative Framework

Match the content to the best framework. Read the corresponding reference file before writing.

**Quick-match shortcuts** (covers ~80% of posts):

- Personal journey → **Story Circle** (`references/story-circle.md`)
- Teaching a concept → **Progressive Disclosure** (`references/progressive-disclosure.md`)
- Bug fix story → **PAS** (`references/problem-agitation-solution.md`)
- Tool comparison → **Compare & Contrast** (`references/compare-contrast.md`)
- Something broke → **Post-mortem** (`references/post-mortem.md`)
- Technical decision → **SCQA** (`references/scqa.md`)
- Contrarian take → **The Sparkline** (`references/the-sparkline.md`)
- Absurd complexity → **Kafkaesque Labyrinth** (`references/kafkaesque-labyrinth.md`)

**Category decision tree** (for the other 20%):

- "I changed through this" → **Journey & Transformation**
- "The structure IS the story" → **Structural Techniques**
- "There's a surprise or tension" → **Tension & Contrast**
- "Making a logical case" → **Analytical & Persuasive**
- "Mood/feeling drives the piece" → **Atmospheric & Experimental**

#### Journey & Transformation

| Framework             | Reference                             | One-liner                                                    |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Story Circle          | `references/story-circle.md`          | 8-step hero's journey for personal transformation arcs       |
| Three-Act             | `references/three-act.md`             | Classic setup/confrontation/resolution narrative spine       |
| Freytag's Pyramid     | `references/freytags-pyramid.md`      | 5-phase dramatic arc with explicit climax mapping            |
| The Metamorphosis     | `references/the-metamorphosis.md`     | Identity-level change — the author becomes someone different |
| Existential Awakening | `references/existential-awakening.md` | Profound realization that shifts relationship to work        |

#### Structural Techniques

| Framework          | Reference                          | One-liner                                                    |
| ------------------ | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| In Medias Res      | `references/in-medias-res.md`      | Start in the middle of the action, backfill context          |
| Reverse Chronology | `references/reverse-chronology.md` | Tell it backwards — outcome first, origin last               |
| Nested Loops       | `references/nested-loops.md`       | Layer stories inside each other like Russian dolls           |
| The Spiral         | `references/the-spiral.md`         | Revisit the same concept with deeper understanding each pass |
| The Petal          | `references/the-petal.md`          | Multiple stories radiating from a central theme              |

#### Tension & Contrast

| Framework        | Reference                        | One-liner                                                      |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Kishōtenketsu    | `references/kishotenketsu.md`    | 4-act twist without conflict — recontextualize, don't confront |
| The Sparkline    | `references/the-sparkline.md`    | Oscillate between "what is" and "what could be"                |
| The False Start  | `references/the-false-start.md`  | Begin with the wrong story, then restart with truth            |
| Converging Ideas | `references/converging-ideas.md` | Unrelated threads that connect to a single insight             |
| Catch-22         | `references/catch-22.md`         | Paradox where the rules create an impossible situation         |
| The Rashomon     | `references/the-rashomon.md`     | Same event from multiple contradictory perspectives            |

#### Analytical & Persuasive

| Framework              | Reference                                  | One-liner                                                          |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| SCQA                   | `references/scqa.md`                       | Situation-Complication-Question-Answer for logical problem-solving |
| Progressive Disclosure | `references/progressive-disclosure.md`     | Simple-to-complex layering for teaching concepts                   |
| Compare & Contrast     | `references/compare-contrast.md`           | Structured evaluation of trade-offs between options                |
| PAS                    | `references/problem-agitation-solution.md` | Punchy problem→pain→fix for short optimization stories             |
| Post-mortem            | `references/post-mortem.md`                | Incident retrospective with timeline and lessons                   |
| Socratic Path          | `references/socratic-path.md`              | Chain of questions leading to self-discovered conclusions          |

#### Atmospheric & Experimental

| Framework            | Reference                            | One-liner                                                         |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Comedian's Set       | `references/comedians-set.md`        | Setup→punchline structure for myth-busting and reframes           |
| Kafkaesque Labyrinth | `references/kafkaesque-labyrinth.md` | Systemic absurdity where the villain is the system itself         |
| Sisyphean Arc        | `references/sisyphean-arc.md`        | Find meaning in repetitive work that never ends                   |
| Stranger's Report    | `references/strangers-report.md`     | Fresh-eyes outsider perspective on normalized strangeness         |
| The Waiting          | `references/the-waiting.md`          | Something promised that never arrives — meaning from anticipation |

Not every post maps cleanly to one framework. Hybrid approaches are fine — each framework's reference includes Combination Notes for pairing. Use a framework as a starting structure, not a straitjacket.

`voice-tone.md` and `post-template.md` are always loaded. Load only one framework reference in addition — do not preload all twenty-seven.

### 4. Outline the Post

Apply t