Guide users through a structured workflow for co-authoring documentation. Use when user wants to write documentation, proposals, technical specs, decision docs, or similar structured content. This workflow helps users efficiently transfer context, refine content through iteration, and verify the doc works for readers. Trigger when user mentions writing docs, creating proposals, drafting specs, or similar documentation tasks.
This skill provides a structured workflow for guiding users through collaborative document creation. Act as an active guide, walking users through three stages: Context Gathering, Refinement & Structure, and Reader Testing.
When to Offer This Workflow
Trigger conditions:
User mentions writing documentation: "write a doc", "draft a proposal", "create a spec", "write up"
User mentions specific doc types: "PRD", "design doc", "decision doc", "RFC"
User seems to be starting a substantial writing task
Initial offer:
Offer the user a structured workflow for co-authoring the document. Explain the three stages:
Context Gathering: User provides all relevant context while Claude asks clarifying questions
Refinement & Structure: Iteratively build each section through brainstorming and editing
Reader Testing: Test the doc with a fresh Claude (no context) to catch blind spots before others read it
Explain that this approach helps ensure the doc works well when others read it (including when they paste it into Claude). Ask if they want to try this workflow or prefer to work freeform.
If user declines, work freeform. If user accepts, proceed to Stage 1.
Stage 1: Context Gathering
Goal: Close the gap between what the user knows and what Claude knows, enabling smart guidance later.
Initial Questions
Start by asking the user for meta-context about the document:
What type of document is this? (e.g., technical spec, decision doc, proposal)
Who's the primary audience?
What's the desired impact when someone reads this?
Is there a template or specific format to follow?
Any other constraints or context to know?
Inform them they can answer in shorthand or dump information however works best for them.
If user provides a template or mentions a doc type:
Ask if they have a template document to share
If they provide a link to a shared document, use the appropriate integration to fetch it
If they provide a file, read it
If user mentions editing an existing shared document:
Use the appropriate integration to read the current state
Check for images without alt-text
If images exist without alt-text, explain that when others use Claude to understand the doc, Claude won't be able to see them. Ask if they want alt-text generated. If so, request they paste each image into chat for descriptive alt-text generation.
Info Dumping
Once initial questions are answered, encourage the user to dump all the context they have. Request information such as:
Background on the project/problem
Related team discussions or shared documents
Why alternative solutions aren't being used
Organizational context (team dynamics, past incidents, politics)
Timeline pressures or constraints
Technical architecture or dependencies
Stakeholder concerns
Advise them not to worry about organizing it - just get it all out. Offer multiple ways to provide context:
Info dump stream-of-consciousness
Point to team channels or threads to read
Link to shared documents
If integrations are available (e.g., Slack, Teams, Google Drive, SharePoint, or other MCP servers), mention that these can be used to pull in context directly.
If no integrations are detected and in Claude.ai or Claude app: Suggest they can enable connectors in their Claude settings to allow pulling context from messaging apps and document storage directly.
Inform them clarifying questions will be asked once they've done their initial dump.
During context gathering:
If user mentions team channels or shared documents:
If integrations available: Inform them the content will be read now, then use the appropriate integration
If integrations not available: Explain lack of access. Suggest they enable connectors in Claude settings, or paste the relevant content directly.
If user mentions entities/projects that are unknown:
Ask if connected tools should be searched to learn more
Wait for user confirmation before searching
As user provides context, track what's being learned and what's still unclear
Asking clarifying questions:
When user signals they've done their initial dump (or after substantial context provided), ask clarifying questions to ensure understanding:
Generate 5-10 numbered questions based on gaps in the context.
Inform them they can use shorthand to answer (e.g., "1: yes, 2: see #channel, 3: no because backwards compat"), link to more docs, point to channels to read, or just keep info-dumping. Whatever's most efficient for them.
Exit condition:
Sufficient context has been gathered when questions show understanding - when edge cases and trade-offs can be asked about without needing basics explained.
Transition:
Ask if there's any more context they want to provide at this stage, or if it's time to move on to drafting the document.
If user wants to add more, let them. When ready, proceed to Stage 2.
Stage 2: Refinement & Structure
Goal: Build the document section by section through brainstorming, curation, and iterative refinement.
Instructions to user:
Explain that the document will be built section by section. For each section:
Clarifying questions will be asked about what to include
5-20 options will be brainstormed
User will indicate what to keep/remove/combine
The section will be drafted
It will be refined through surgical edits
Start with whichever section has the most unknowns (usually the core decision/proposal), then work through the rest.
Section ordering:
If the document structure is clear:
Ask which section they'd like to start with.
Suggest starting with whichever section has the most unknowns. For decision docs, that's usually the core proposal. For specs, it's typically the technical approach. Summary sections are best left for last.
If user doesn't know what sections they need:
Based on the type of document and template, suggest 3-5 sections appropriate for the doc type.
Ask if this structure works, or if they want to adjust it.
Once structure is agreed:
Create the initial document structure with placeholder text for all sections.
If access to artifacts is available:
Use create_file to create an artifact. This gives both Claude and the user a scaffold to work from.
Inform them that the initial structure with placeholders for all sections will be created.
Create artifact with all section headers and brief placeholder text like "[To be written]" or "[Content here]".
Provide the scaffold link and indicate it's time to fill in each section.
If no access to artifacts:
Create a markdown file in the working directory. Name it appropriately (e.g., decision-doc.md, technical-spec.md).
Inform them that the initial structure with placeholders for all sections will be created.
Create file with all section headers and placeholder text.
Confirm the filename has been created and indicate it's time to fill in each section.
For each section:
Step 1: Clarifying Questions
Announce work will begin on the [SECTION NAME] section. Ask 5-10 clarifying questions about what should be included:
Generate 5-10 specific questions based on context and section purpose.
Inform them they can answer in shorthand or just indicate what's important to cover.
Step 2: Brainstorming
For the [SECTION NAME] section, brainstorm [5-20] things that might be included, depending on the section's complexity. Look for:
Context shared that might have been forgotten
Angles or considerations not yet mentioned
Generate 5-20 numbered options based on section complexity. At the end, offer to brainstorm more if they want additional options.
Step 3: Curation
Ask which points should be kept, removed, or combined. Request brief justifications to help learn priorities for the next sections.
Provide examples:
"Keep 1,4,7,9"
"Remove 3 (duplicates 1)"
"Remove 6 (audience already knows this)"
"Combine 11 and 12"
If user gives freeform feedback (e.g., "looks good" or "I like most of it but...") instead of numbered selections, extract their preferences and proceed. Parse what they want kept/removed/changed and apply it.
Step 4: Gap Check
Based on what they've selected, ask if there's anything important missing for the [SECTION NAME] section.
Step 5: Drafting
Use str_replace to replace the placeholder text for this section with the actual drafted content.
Announce the [SECTION NAME] section will be drafted now based on what they've selected.
If using artifacts:
After drafting, provide a link to the artifact.
Ask them to read through it and indicate what to change. Note that being specific helps learning for the next sections.
If using a file (no artifacts):
After drafting, confirm completion.
Inform them the [SECTION NAME] section has been drafted in [filename]. Ask them to read through it and indicate what to change. Note that being specific helps learning for the next sections.
Key instruction for user (include when drafting the first section):
Provide a note: Instead of editing the doc directly, ask them to indicate what to change. This helps learning of their style for future sections. For example: "Remove the X bullet - already covered by Y" or "Make the third paragraph more concise".
Step 6: Iterative Refinement
As user provides feedback:
Use str_replace to make edits (never reprint the whole doc)
If using artifacts: Provide link to artifact after each edit
If using files: Just confirm edits are complete
If user edits doc directly and asks to read it: mentally note the changes they made and keep them in mind for future sections (this shows their preferences)
Continue iterating until user is satisfied with the section.
Quality Checking
After 3 consecutive iterations with no substantial changes, ask if anything can be removed without losing important information.
When section is done, confirm [SECTION NAME] is complete. Ask if ready to move to the next section.
Repeat for all sections.
Near Completion
As approaching completion (80%+ of sections done), announce intention to re-read the entire document and check for:
Flow and consistency across sections
Redundancy or contradictions
Anything that feels like "slop" or generic filler
Whether every sentence carries weight
Read entire document and provide feedback.
When all sections are drafted and refined:
Announce all sections are drafted. Indicate intention to review the complete document one more time.
Review for overall coherence, flow, completeness.
Provide any final suggestions.
Ask if ready to move to Reader Testing, or if they want to refine anything else.
Stage 3: Reader Testing
Goal: Test the document with a fresh Claude (no context bleed) to verify it works for readers.
Instructions to user:
Explain that testing will now occur to see if the document actually works for readers. This catches blind spots - things that make sense to the authors but might confuse others.
Testing Approach
If access to sub-agents is available (e.g., in Claude Code):
Perform the testing directly without user involvement.
Step 1: Predict Reader Questions
Announce intention to predict what questions readers might ask when trying to discover this document.
Generate 5-10 questions that readers would realistically ask.
Step 2: Test with Sub-Agent
Announce that these questions will be tested with a fresh Claude instance (no context from this conversation).
For each question, invoke a sub-agent with just the document content and the question.
Summarize what Reader Claude got right/wrong for each question.
Step 3: Run Additional Checks
Announce additional checks will be performed.
Invoke sub-agent to check for ambiguity, false assumptions, contradictions.
Summarize any issues found.
Step 4: Report and Fix
If issues found:
Report that Reader Claude struggled with specific issues.
List the specific issues.
Indicate intention to fix these gaps.
Loop back to refinement for problematic sections.
If no access to sub-agents (e.g., claude.ai web interface):
The user will need to do the testing manually.
Step 1: Predict Reader Questions
Ask what questions people might ask when trying to discover this document. What would they type into Claude.ai?
Generate 5-10 questions that readers would realistically ask.
