Outline First

outline-first

This skill enforces outline-first writing for the AI 实践记录 / Real World AI Log project.

It ensures the human reviews and selects a clear outline before any drafting begins.

When to Use

Use this skill when:

• A topic or idea has been selected
• You need to propose structure before writing
• The human wants options and tradeoffs

Do NOT use this skill for:

• Draft writing
• Style polishing
• Publishing tasks

Required Workflow

1. Context Intake (Mandatory)

Before proposing outlines, the agent MUST:

1. Read README.md
2. Read AGENTS.md
3. Read NAMING_CONVENTIONS.md
4. Scan the latest 2–3 files in content/published/ (if any)
5. Identify:
   • Target audience
   • Related column/series (if any)
   • Tone constraints and boundaries
   • File naming requirements (all English, lowercase, hyphen-separated)

Summarize understanding in 5–7 bullet points.

STOP and wait for confirmation if understanding is unclear.

2. Outline Proposal (Mandatory)

Propose 2–3 outline options, each with:

• Central question / problem statement
• Intended reader takeaway
• High-level section list
• Tradeoffs (why choose / not choose this outline)

The agent MUST ask the human to choose one option.

Do not proceed until a choice is confirmed.

3. Outline Creation & User Confirmation (Mandatory)

After an outline is selected, the agent MUST:

1. Propose an English filename following NAMING_CONVENTIONS.md:

   • Extract core keywords from the article topic
   • Translate to English if necessary
   • Use lowercase with hyphens
   • Explain the filename logic
   • Format: content/outlines/<english-slug>.md

2. Wait for filename confirmation before creating the file

3. Create the outline file in content/outlines/<english-slug>.md

4. Wait for the human to:

   • Confirm the outline is ready, OR
   • Manually edit/revise the outline

5. Only after explicit user confirmation/approval, proceed to next step

6. Clarify scope limits (what the article will NOT cover)

7. Confirm the next task (typically draft writing)

CRITICAL: The agent MUST NOT proceed to draft writing until the human explicitly confirms the outline is finalized (either original or after manual edits).

Writing Constraints

• Practice-first, not theory-first
• No authoritative tone
• Short to medium paragraphs
• No exaggerated AI claims
• Avoid tutorial-style imperatives

Guardrails (Hard Rules)

• ❌ Do not draft without an approved outline
• ❌ Do not invent facts or experiences
• ❌ Do not skip confirmation steps
• ❌ Do not create files with Chinese characters in filenames
• ❌ Do not create files without proposing and confirming English filenames first

Success Criteria

This skill is successful when:

• The human quickly selects an outline
• The scope is explicit and reviewable
• The workflow reduces decision fatigue before drafting