write-a-skill

Write a Skill

Help the user turn a recurring workflow into a reusable Claude Code skill.

Process

1. Understand the workflow: ask what task the user repeats. What triggers it? What does success look like?
2. Draft a SKILL.md:
   • YAML frontmatter: name, description, triggers (3-5 phrases that activate it)
   • Body: concise instructions Claude follows when the skill activates
   • Include steps, examples, and what NOT to do
3. Write the file: create ~/.claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md with the draft
4. Test it: ask the user to start a new session and trigger the skill by saying one of the trigger phrases
5. Iterate: refine based on what felt off in the test

Good skill anatomy

---
name: my-skill
description: One sentence. When to use it.
triggers: ["phrase 1", "phrase 2", "phrase 3"]
---

# My Skill

What Claude does when this skill activates. Be concrete.

## Steps
1. ...
2. ...

## Examples
**User:** [trigger phrase]
**Claude:** [response]

Tips

• Keep it under 200 lines — skills should be focused
• Triggers should be natural phrases the user actually says
• One skill = one workflow. Don't bundle unrelated things.
• If the skill needs reference data (e.g. API docs), add a separate file and reference it