Writing Assistant

A complete end-to-end writing workflow that transforms ideas, materials, or rough drafts into polished, illustrated articles ready for publication.

Overview

This skill orchestrates a multi-step writing process:

1. Collect initial content (topic, materials, or draft)
2. Clarify and enrich through interactive questioning
3. Generate or refine the initial draft
4. Polish the content using content-research-writer
5. Add appropriate illustrations using baoyu-xhs-images
6. Combine content and images into final article
7. Optionally publish to WeChat or X platforms

Workflow

Step 1: Choose Starting Mode

Ask the user to select one of three modes:

Mode 1: Topic-Based

• User provides a topic or theme they want to write about
• Most suitable when starting from scratch with just an idea

Mode 2: Materials-Based

• User provides loosely organized materials, notes, or reference content
• Can include rough notes, copied references, or miscellaneous content
• Ask for file paths if materials are in files

Mode 3: Draft-Based

• User provides an unpolished initial draft
• Suitable when the user has already written a rough version
• Ask for file path if draft is in a file

Step 2: Collect and Clarify (Modes 1 & 2 Only)

For Modes 1 and 2, use an interactive questioning approach:

1. Analyze the provided content first:

- Read and understand what the user has already provided - Identify what's clear vs. what needs clarification - Note gaps, ambiguities, or areas that need expansion

1. Ask tailored, content-specific questions:

- Formulate questions based on the specific topic and materials provided - Focus on filling identified gaps and resolving ambiguities - Ask about aspects that are unclear or need deeper exploration - Adapt questions to the user's context and writing goals

1. Collect user responses systematically

1. Supplement with research if context is insufficient:

- Use WebSearch for relevant information - Use WebFetch if user provides URLs - Gather supporting materials from the internet

1. Organize into initial draft based on:

- User's answers to questions - Researched supplementary materials - Logical article structure

1. Proceed to Step 4 after creating the initial draft

Question Strategy:

• Ask 2-4 questions at a time (avoid overwhelming the user)
• Tailor each question to the specific content provided - no fixed templates
• Common areas to explore (adjust based on actual needs):

- What's the main message or takeaway? - Who is the target audience? - What's the desired tone (professional, casual, technical, etc.)? - Are there specific points that need more detail? - What context or background should readers have? - Are there particular examples or stories to include?

• Let the content guide the questions - if something is already clear, don't ask about it

Step 3: Process Draft (Mode 3 Only)

For Mode 3, skip directly to Step 4 with the user's provided draft.

Step 4: Polish the Draft

Use the @content-research-writer skill to refine and polish the draft:

Invoke: content-research-writer skill
Input: The initial or user-provided draft
Output: {filename}-polished.md

The polished version will have:

• Improved structure and flow
• Better hooks and engagement
• Citations and research integration
• Professional writing quality

Step 5: Generate Illustrations

Use the @baoyu-xhs-images skill to create appropriate images:

Invoke: baoyu-xhs-images skill
Input: {filename}-polished.md content
Output: Generated images

Image Guidelines:

• Images should be appropriately spaced (not too dense, usually 3~5 images)
• Select key points that benefit from visual illustration
• Maintain balance between text and visuals

Step 6: Create Final Article

Combine the polished content with generated images:

1. Take the {filename}-polished.md content
2. Insert images at appropriate positions
3. Ensure proper formatting and layout
4. Create final output: {filename}-final.md

Layout Considerations:

• Place images near relevant text sections
• Maintain readable flow
• Use consistent formatting
• Ensure images enhance rather than disrupt reading

Step 7: Next Steps

After creating the final article, summarize the work completed and ask the user about publication:

Do not write a summary document. Instead, provide a brief verbal summary and ask:

• "Would you like to publish this article?"
• "Which platform would you prefer: WeChat Official Account (微信公众号) or X (Twitter)?"
• "Or would you like to make any revisions first?"

Step 8: Publish (Optional)

If the user wants to publish, invoke the appropriate skill:

For WeChat Official Account:

Invoke: baoyu-post-to-wechat skill
Input: {filename}-final.md and images

For X (Twitter):

Invoke: baoyu-post-to-x or x-article-publisher skill
Input: {filename}-final.md and images

Follow the publishing skill's workflow for platform-specific requirements.

Best Practices

1. Be Patient with Questions: Take time in Step 2 to thoroughly understand the user's vision
2. Research Thoughtfully: Supplement user input with credible sources when gaps exist
3. Preserve User Voice: While polishing, maintain the user's intended tone and style
4. Image Selection: Be selective with images - quality and relevance over quantity
5. Review Before Publishing: Confirm the user is satisfied with the final article before publishing

File Naming Convention

Use consistent naming throughout the workflow:

• Initial draft: {topic-or-title}.md
• Polished version: {topic-or-title}-polished.md
• Final version: {topic-or-title}-final.md