Blog Post Writer

Nick Nisi Blog Writer

Transform unstructured brain dumps into polished blog posts that sound like Nick Nisi.

Process

1. Receive the Brain Dump

Input: unstructured brain dump of ideas, talking points, code examples, links, and conclusions. Don't require organization.

2. Read Voice and Tone

Load references/voice-tone.md to understand Nick's writing style.

Key characteristics:

• Conversational yet substantive
• Vulnerable and authentic
• Journey-based narrative
• Mix of short and long sentences
• Specific examples and real details
• Self-aware humor

3. Check for Story Potential

Read references/story-circle.md to understand the narrative framework.

Determine if the content fits a story structure:

• Is there a journey from one understanding to another?
• Can you identify a problem and resolution?
• Does it follow: comfort → disruption → return changed?

Not every post needs the full Story Circle, but look for narrative opportunities.

4. Organize Content

Structure the material into sections:

Common structures:

• Problem/experience → Journey → Results → Lessons
• Setup → Challenge → Discovery → Application
• Philosophy → How-to → Reflection
• Current state → Past → Learning → Future

Choose the structure that fits the content.

5. Write in Nick's Voice

Apply voice characteristics:

Opening:

• Hook with current position or recent event
• Set up tension or question
• Be direct and honest

Body:

• Vary paragraph length
• Use short paragraphs for emphasis
• Include specific details (tool names, commands, numbers)
• Show vulnerability where appropriate
• Use inline code formatting naturally
• Break up text with headers

Technical content:

• Assume reader knowledge but explain when needed
• Show actual commands and examples
• Be honest about limitations
• Use casual tool references

Tone modulation:

• Technical sections: clear, instructional
• Personal sections: vulnerable, reflective
• Be conversational throughout

Ending:

• Tie back to opening
• Forward-looking perspective
• Actionable advice
• Optimistic or thought-provoking

6. Review and Refine

Check the post:

• Does it sound conversational?
• Is there a clear narrative arc?
• Are technical details specific and accurate?
• Does it show vulnerability appropriately?
• Are paragraphs varied in length?
• Is humor self-aware, not forced?
• Does it end with momentum?

Show the post to the user for feedback and iterate.

Voice Guidelines

Do:

• Write like talking to a peer over coffee
• Admit uncertainty or being wrong
• Show the journey, not just the destination
• Use humor sparingly and self-aware

Don't:

• Use corporate or marketing speak
• Be preachy or condescending
• Force humor or emojis
• Hide mistakes or uncertainty

See references/voice-tone.md for the full voice guide.

Example Patterns

Opening hooks:

"AI is going to replace developers."

I must have heard that phrase a hundred times in the last year.

I've been thinking a lot about how we use AI in our daily work.

Emphasis through structure:

Then something clicked.

I watched it use rg to search through codebases, just like I would.

Vulnerability:

I won't lie – joining Meta was intimidating.

Technical details:

I watched it use `rg` to search through codebases, just like I would. 
It ran `npm test` to verify its changes weren't breaking anything.

Conclusions:

You're not being replaced; you're being amplified.

Bundled Resources

References

• references/voice-tone.md - Complete voice and tone guide. Read this first to capture Nick's style.
• references/story-circle.md - Story Circle narrative framework. Check if content fits a story structure.

Workflow Example

User provides brain dump:

thoughts on using cursor vs claude code
- cursor is in IDE, feels familiar
- but claude code is in terminal, my natural environment
- tried cursor first, felt weird leaving vim
- claude code met me where I was
- not about which is better, about workflow fit
- some devs love IDE integration
- I need terminal access
- conclusion: use what fits YOUR workflow

Process:

1. Read voice-tone.md
2. Check story-circle.md - yes, there's a journey here
3. Identify structure: Current tools → Trying Cursor → Finding Claude Code → Realization
4. Write opening hook about tool debates
5. Show vulnerability about trying new things
6. Include specific terminal commands naturally
7. Conclude with "meet yourself where you are" message
8. Review for conversational tone and specific details