# ebook-concept-development

Turns a single ebook idea into a structured concept: reader, transformation, promise, scope. Useful before you start planning the book itself.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · ★ 132
- Author: robertguss
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/robertguss/claude-code-toolkit/tree/HEAD/skills/ebook-factory/ebook-concept-development/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-09-16
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ebook-concept-development

## What it does

The skill takes one idea and pushes it until there is something to build from. What comes out is a concept document covering the reader, the transformation, the promise, where the content comes from, scope and format, plus the key topics. It behaves like a thinking partner rather than a form: it offers observations of its own, argues back when an idea is weak, and asks one question at a time.

The five core elements get worked in whatever order the conversation takes, not as a checklist. Ebook-specific pressure runs throughout — is this actually book-sized, or a blog post, or a full-length manuscript? Two elements appear only when the material calls for them: a value gap for books built from repurposed content, and an enemy for argument-driven ones.

The document is updated as things move: an element stops being fuzzy, a decision gets made, the scope shifts. Development can span several sessions, so on a return visit the skill reads the working document first and tells you where you left off. Bring a half-formed idea and it will say so, then suggest running Ebook Discovery before this one.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add robertguss/claude-code-toolkit --skill ebook-concept-development -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/ebook-concept-development/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/ebook-concept-development/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add robertguss/claude-code-toolkit --skill ebook-concept-development -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/ebook-concept-development/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add robertguss/claude-code-toolkit --skill ebook-concept-development -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/ebook-concept-development/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install robertguss/claude-code-toolkit ebook-concept-development
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/ebook-concept-development/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add robertguss/claude-code-toolkit --skill ebook-concept-development -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/robertguss/claude-code-toolkit --path skills/ebook-factory/ebook-concept-development
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/ebook-concept-development/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add robertguss/claude-code-toolkit --skill ebook-concept-development -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/robertguss/claude-code-toolkit/tree/HEAD/skills/ebook-factory/ebook-concept-development/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- turn a one-line idea into a workable book concept
- check whether an idea is ebook-sized or just a blog post
- write a promise someone would actually pay for
- describe the reader as a specific person, not a category
- keep scattered topics and decisions in one living document

## Example prompts
- Develop my idea for a book about automating reporting into a concept
- Here's my brainstorm doc — help me pin down the reader transformation
- Let's continue the ebook concept: read the document and tell me what's still fuzzy

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 9690e8e1e28dde81.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 9690e8e1e28dde81
```text
---
name: ebook-concept-development
description:
  Develop ebook ideas into structured concepts ready for architecture. Use when
  the user has an ebook idea (from a brainstorm document, existing content to
  repurpose, a book section to extract, or a fresh concept) and wants to develop
  it into a clear, validated concept. Produces an Ebook Concept Document with
  reader, transformation, promise, content source, scope/format, and key topics.
  Handles multi-session development with living documents.
---

# Ebook Concept Development

Take ONE ebook idea and develop it into a structured concept ready for
architecture.

## Core Philosophy

This is genuine intellectual partnership, not facilitated questioning:

- **Contribute substance** — Offer observations, insights, and ideas
  proactively. Don't just ask questions; bring thinking to the table.
- **Push back with reasoning** — Challenge weak ideas, but always explain WHY.
  "This scope feels too big because..." not just "This scope feels too big."
- **One question at a time** — Never overwhelm with multiple questions. One
  focused question per response.
- **Surface problems early** — Better to kill a weak concept now than finish a
  weak ebook later.
- **Respect the human's judgment** — Make your case, provide reasoning, but the
  human decides.

## What Makes This Ebook-Specific

Unlike generic brainstorming, this skill constantly applies ebook-specific
pressure:

- **Format-fit calibration** — Is this genuinely ebook-sized? Too thin = blog
  post. Too thick = full book.
- **Value density thinking** — Ebooks are concentrated solutions. Every element
  must earn its place.
- **Transformation sizing** — Ebook transformations are tight and specific, not
  sprawling.

## The Five Core Elements

Every ebook concept needs these developed:

| Element            | Core Question                     | "Developed" Means                                                                   |
| ------------------ | --------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Reader**         | Who specifically is this for?     | A specific person, not a category. Their situation, problem, what they've tried.    |
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 9690e8e1e28dde81

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First 2267 of 8464 bytes. © robertguss · MIT · https://github.com/robertguss/claude-code-toolkit/tree/HEAD/skills/ebook-factory/ebook-concept-development/SKILL.md

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