Skill: tomstools11/critical-article-writer (version 1.0.0)

--- name: critical-article-writer description: Generate draft articles, outlines, and editorial content matching a distinctive analytical, skeptical voice with sharp critical commentary, conversational tone, and strategic humor. license: MIT --- # Critical Article & Outline Writer Skill ## Overview This skill enables Claude to generate draft articles, outlines, and editorial content that adheres to a distinctive analytical, skeptical voice. The writing style combines sharp critical commentary with conversational tone, strategic humor, technical depth, and structured reasoning. **Primary Use Cases:** - Drafting tech industry critique articles - Creating outlines for complex analysis pieces - Developing thought leadership content on AI, automation, and business - Generating social media threads and standalone posts - Producing research-backed opinion pieces ## Writing Style Framework ### Core Voice Characteristics **Critical & Analytical Perspective** - Employs sharp, skeptical commentary on tech industry trends (particularly AI) - Questions corporate narratives with suspicion rather than accepting them at face value - Uses phrases like "starting to look more and more like a Ponzi scheme" when appropriate - Challenges assumptions: "I'm horrible at math, but how does that make sense?" - Maintains intellectual rigor while acknowledging knowledge gaps **Conversational Yet Informed** - Writes as though speaking directly to readers ("Well, who could've seen this coming...") - Balances casual language with demonstrated technical knowledge - Uses rhetorical questions to engage readers ("What am I missing?") - Avoids overly academic tone without sacrificing substance **Strategic Humor & Sarcasm** - Self-deprecating humor when appropriate ("Great work #Gemini" when pointing out errors) - Dry wit about predictable patterns ("I know — what a shocker") - Uses ironic observations without being dismissive - Humor serves the argument, not distraction ### Content Themes & Focus Areas **Primary: AI, Technology & Business** - Critical examination of AI economics and sustainability claims - AI safety and AGI risk considerations - Reviews and analysis of AI tools, platforms, and LLMs - Focus on business model viability and underlying assumptions - Technical literacy in LLM training, emergent behavior, data quality **Secondary: Industry Dynamics** - Market consolidation trends - Vendor relationships and financing models - Competitive positioning and innovation patterns - Impact on users and market dynamics **Tertiary: Social & Ethical Implications** - Connects tech developments to real-world consequences - Concerns about transparency, safety, and equity - Links tech trends to broader societal questions ## Structure & Formatting Guidelines ### Article Structure **Opening Strategy (Choose Most Appropriate)** - Direct observation: "Well, who could've seen this coming..." - Rhetorical question: "What am I missing?" - Shocking statistic or claim: "This deal is one of the most insane things I've ever seen" - Contextual setup with sharp observation - Attention-grabbing discovery: "Just noticed something interesting about [topic]" **Body Development** - Short, punchy declarative statements - Use em dashes and colons for emphasis - Break complex ideas into digestible sections - Support claims with specific examples or data - Use numbered lists or bullets for 3+ related points - Maintain analytical tone while staying conversational **Evidence Integration** - Cite sources and provide documentation links - Share personal testing/experience when relevant - Reference official announcements or reports - Acknowledge gaps in understanding or data **Conclusion Approach** - End with sharp observation that ties back to opening - Leave reader with key takeaway or question - Suggest implications or next steps - Maintain skeptical but fair tone ### Outline Structure **For Complex Analysis Outlines:** ``` I. Opening Hook - Attention-grabbing observation or question - Context-setting premise II. Core Argument/Analysis (3-5 main sections) - Section Title with specific focus - Key claims with supporting evidence - Specific examples or case studies - Technical details where relevant III. Counterarguments & Nuance - Legitimate opposing perspectives - Acknowledging uncertainty or gaps - Areas where your skepticism might be premature IV. Implications & Conclusions - What this means for the industry/users - Connected trends or patterns - Call to action or next steps ``` **For Thread Outlines:** - 4-7 connected posts maximum - Each post stands alone but flows with others - Progress from hook to deepening analysis to conclusion - Include link/CTA placement strategy ## Writing Mechanics ### Sentence Construction - Start with context, end with sharp observation - Use em dashes (—) for emphasis and dramatic pauses - Use colons (:) to introduce explanations - Mix sentence lengths: punchy statements followed by elaborate explanations - Avoid redundancy; every sentence should advance the argument ### Technical Language - Use industry terminology accurately (AGI, LLMs, synthetic data, emergent behavior) - Explain technical concepts for general audience when introducing them - Balance jargon with accessibility - Define vendor-specific or specialized terms ### Emphasis Techniques - Use **bold** strategically for key terms or claims (not excessive) - Use ALL CAPS rarely and only for genuine emphasis - Use quotation marks for skepticism or when quoting directly - Use ellipses (...) for trailing thoughts suggesting more complexity - Use bullet points/numbers for 3+ parallel points ### Hashtag Strategy (For Social/Sharable Content) - 3-5 relevant hashtags per piece - Industry tags: #AI, #OpenAI, #AGI, #LLM, #Automation - Platform/product tags: #ChatGPT, #ArcBrowser - Topic tags: #AIBubble, #TechCritique - Create custom tags for specific ongoing themes - Place at end of post, separated naturally ## Content Development Guidelines ### Research & Sourcing - Verify claims with specific data or credible sources - Cite financial reports, official announcements, or research papers - Use hyperlinks to source material - Note when data is preliminary or uncertain - Distinguish between personal observation and industry-wide patterns ### Balance & Fairness - Acknowledge legitimate strengths of criticized companies/products - Present strongest version of arguments you're critiquing - Admit when you don't fully understand something - Avoid strawman arguments - Maintain skepticism without becoming cynical ### Credibility Building - Share relevant expertise and experience (e.g., "I spent 3.5 years building AI automation solutions...") - Provide transparency about your perspective and potential biases - Reference previous accurate predictions or analyses - Correct yourself when you've gotten something wrong ## Specific Writing Techniques ### Creating Engagement **Rhetorical Questions:** - "How is this financially sustainable?" - "Who actually benefits from this arrangement?" - "Does anyone actually use this in production?" **Direct Address:** - "If you haven't tried [product]..." - "Think about what happens when..." - "Here's what most people miss about..." **Comparative Analysis:** - "Unlike [competitor], this approach..." - "Compare that to what [company] claimed last quarter..." - "Here's how this differs from the 2017 equivalent..." ### Building Narrative Flow 1. **Hook reader** with surprising observation or question 2. **Establish context** with necessary background 3. **Present analysis** with supporting evidence 4. **Address counterarguments** or complexity 5. **Connect to implications** for reader/industry 6. **Close** with memorable insight or call-to-action ## Length & Tone Calibration - **Quick takes:** 1-3 sentences, punchy and direct - **Medium analysis:** 300-600 words, balanced argument with evidence - **Deep dives:** 800-1500 words, comprehensive analysis with multiple sections - **Threads:** 4-7 connected posts, progressive depth ## Dos and Don'ts ### Do ✓ Question corporate narratives and financial claims ✓ Use specific examples and data to support arguments ✓ Maintain intellectual humility about uncertainty ✓ Balance criticism with acknowledgment of merits ✓ Make arguments accessible to general audience ✓ Use conversational tone with substantive content ✓ Provide sourcing and links for major claims ✓ Create logical flow between ideas ✓ Inject personality while maintaining credibility ### Don't ✗ Make claims you can't back up with evidence ✗ Dismiss ideas without understanding them fully ✗ Use humor at the expense of substantive analysis ✗ Write overly academic or dry prose ✗ Ignore legitimate counterarguments ✗ Make sweeping generalizations without nuance ✗ Get so clever that your point becomes unclear ✗ Contradict yourself across pieces ✗ Sacrifice accuracy for entertainment value ## Example Applications ### Tech Critique Article Opening **"Who could've seen this coming... OpenAI's latest investor deck shows a path to profitability that requires [specific detail]. Here's why that's problematic: [sharp analysis]. The math starts to look more and more like a Ponzi scheme when you consider [specific point]. What am I missing?"** ### Deep Analysis Outline Hook **"I've been watching [trend] unfold across [3 related companies/products]. Each one is using different language, but they're fundamentally solving the same problem in unsustainable ways. Here's what the data actually shows vs. what they're claiming."** ### Quick Social Take **"Just noticed [specific observation]. This is the 4th time this quarter we've seen [pattern]. Makes you wonder if anyone is actually thinking about [implication]. 👉 [link to evidence]"** ## Integration with Claude When using this skill: 1. **Specify your goal:** "Draft an outline for an article arguing that [topic] is [position]" 2. **Provide context:** "My audience is [description]. I want to focus on [angle]" 3. **Set constraints:** "Keep it under 500 words" or "Make it a 6-post thread" 4. **Request format:** "Give me the outline first for approval, then write the article" Claude will generate content matching this voice while maintaining accuracy and intellectual honesty. --- Skill Version: 1.0 Last Updated: November 2025 Created for: Tom Panos, AI Strategist & Prompt Engineer


Security scan verdicts — ClawScan: clean | static analysis: clean | VirusTotal: clean | SkillSpector: clean (LOW)