skill-folder-name — Claude Code skill: template and install
A writing-skill template for defining style rules, checks, prohibitions, and before-and-after examples. Use it when prose needs repeatable guidance.
npx skills add surendranb/writing-skills --skill template -a claude-codeWhat skill-folder-name does
This skill provides a structure for documenting a writing style. It covers frontmatter, a title, the central rule, mechanics, a verification checklist, prohibited patterns, and sample text transformations. The outline also describes a workflow that ends with a verification pass.
Its mechanics are meant to be concrete: set limits, distinguish the intended form from a bad example, and use numbers where they help. The Verify section gives an agent checks it can pass or fail. In Claude Code, the installed file is ~/.claude/skills/template/SKILL.md.
What it helps with
- turn style guidance into a reusable skill structure
- define text rules that an agent can check
- document unwanted patterns
- show how ordinary prose should change
Example prompts for the agent
- Create a writing skill for this style using the
templatestructure. - Turn these voice guidelines into named rules, checks, prohibitions, and two before-and-after examples.
- Review this skill outline and make its constraints concrete.
How to install skill-folder-name
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add surendranb/writing-skills --skill template -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/template/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/template/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add surendranb/writing-skills --skill template -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/template/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add surendranb/writing-skills --skill template -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/template/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install surendranb/writing-skills template2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/template/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add surendranb/writing-skills --skill template -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/surendranb/writing-skills --path templateManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/template/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add surendranb/writing-skills --skill template -a opencodeClaude.ai
Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways
Questions about skill-folder-name
How do I install skill-folder-name in Claude Code?
Run npx skills add surendranb/writing-skills --skill template -a claude-code, then open ~/.claude/skills/template/SKILL.md.
What does skill-folder-name do?
It structures a writing-style skill around a core rule, concrete mechanics, verification checks, prohibited patterns, and text transformations.
What sections does the skill template include?
It includes frontmatter, a core rule, a workflow, mechanics, a Verify checklist, a Do not section, and Before/After examples.
Source text
SKILL.md · MIT
--- name: skill-folder-name description: One sentence stating what this skill produces and per which standard or character. Use when the user [concrete trigger situations, the actual phrases they'd type, and the contexts where this beats default prose]. --- # Skill Title One line: the essence of this style in a sentence fragment. ## The core rule **The single bolded sentence that IS this skill.** One or two sentences of sharpening — what this style is really doing and the failure it prevents. Workflow: `first move` → `second move` → `third move` → `run the Verify checklist`. ## Mechanics 1. **Named rule.** Concrete and checkable — a cap, a ban list, a required shape. 2. **Named rule.** "X not Y" with a real example inline. 3. **Named rule.** Numbers where possible (sentence length, ratios, counts). 4. **Named rule.** For voices: include a rate-limit that prevents caricature. ## Verify - Checkable statement (an agent can pass/fail this mechanically) - Checkable statement - Checkable statement ## Do not - The tempting mistake this style invites - The failure mode that looks like the style but isn't ## Example transformations **Before:** "A realistic 'default prose' input." **After:** "The same content, transformed by the mechanics above." **Before:** "A second, different-shaped input." **After:** "Its transformation."
© surendranb · MIT · surendranb/writing-skills