# Skill Creator

> Transforms documents containing theoretical knowledge or frameworks (PDFs, markdown, book notes, research papers, methodology guides) into actionable, reusable Claude Code skills using systematic reading methodology. Use when user mentions "create a skill from this document", "turn this into a skill", "extract a skill from this file", or when analyzing documents with methodologies, frameworks, or processes that could be made actionable.

- Skill: `lyndonkl/skill-creator` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 7 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add lyndonkl/skill-creator`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/lyndonkl/skill-creator/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Docs & Writing
- Author: lyndonkl (https://skillmd.com/u/lyndonkl)
- Updated: 2026-09-09
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/lyndonkl/skill-creator

---


# Skill Creator

## Table of Contents

- [Workflow](#workflow)
  - [Step 1: Inspectional Reading](#step-1-inspectional-reading)
  - [Step 2: Structural Analysis](#step-2-structural-analysis)
  - [Step 3: Component Extraction](#step-3-component-extraction)
  - [Step 4: Synthesis and Application](#step-4-synthesis-and-application)
  - [Step 5: Skill Construction](#step-5-skill-construction)
  - [Step 6: Validation and Refinement](#step-6-validation-and-refinement)

---

This skill applies Mortimer Adler's systematic reading methodology ("How to Read a Book") through a six-step progressive approach: inspectional reading, structural analysis, component extraction, synthesis, skill construction, and validation. The process is collaborative -- at decision points, options and trade-offs are presented for the user to choose.

**Methodology composition.** All five extractable steps are now backed by domain-neutral standalone skills, reusable beyond skill creation. The orchestration is owned by the [`skill-creator` agent](../../agents/skill-creator.md); this skill-file remains as documentation of the methodology and as a way to apply the methodology without the agent's session-workspace overhead.

| Step | Standalone skill | `purpose_context` to pass | Local resource still useful for |
| ---- | ---------------- | ------------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| 1 | [`inspectional-reading`](../inspectional-reading/SKILL.md) | `skill_extraction_from_methodology` | session init mechanics (`$SESSION_DIR`, `global-context.md`) |
| 2 | [`structural-analysis`](../structural-analysis/SKILL.md) | `skill_extraction_from_methodology` | unity-formula examples specific to skill creation |
| 3 | [`component-extraction`](../component-extraction/SKILL.md) | `skill_extraction_from_methodology` | section-based reading patterns specific to long-form skill sources |
| 4 | [`synthesis-application`](../synthesis-application/SKILL.md) | `skill_construction` | completeness inventory specific to skills (terms / propositions / arguments / solutions / decision-criteria / triggers) |
| 5 | [`skill-construction`](../skill-construction/SKILL.md) | `skill_construction` | rubric template + complexity-level decision aid |
| 6 | [`evaluation-rubrics`](../evaluation-rubrics/SKILL.md) | (existing skill, no purpose_context needed) | n/a |

---

## Workflow

**COPY THIS CHECKLIST** and work through each step:

```
Skill Creation Workflow
- [ ] Step 0: Initialize session workspace
- [ ] Step 1: Inspectional Reading
- [ ] Step 2: Structural Analysis
- [ ] Step 3: Component Extraction
- [ ] Step 4: Synthesis and Application
- [ ] Step 5: Skill Construction
- [ ] Step 6: Validation and Refinement
```

**Step 0: Initialize Session Workspace**

Create working directory and global context file. See [resources/inspectional-reading.md#session-initialization](resources/inspectional-reading.md#session-initialization) for setup commands.

**Step 1: Inspectional Reading**

Skim document systematically, classify type, assess skill-worthiness. Writes to `step-1-output.md`. See [resources/inspectional-reading.md#why-systematic-skimming](resources/inspectional-reading.md#why-systematic-skimming) for skim approach, [resources/inspectional-reading.md#why-document-type-matters](resources/inspectional-reading.md#why-document-type-matters) for classification, [resources/inspectional-reading.md#why-skill-worthiness-check](resources/inspectional-reading.md#why-skill-worthiness-check) for assessment criteria.

**Step 2: Structural Analysis**

Reads `global-context.md` + `step-1-output.md`. Classify content, state unity, enumerate parts, define problems. Writes to `step-2-output.md`. See [resources/structural-analysis.md#why-classify-content](resources/structural-analysis.md#why-classify-content), [resources/structural-analysis.md#why-state-unity](resources/structural-analysis.md#why-state-unity), [resources/structural-analysis.md#why-enumerate-parts](resources/structural-analysis.md#why-enumerate-parts), [resources/structural-analysis.md#why-define-problems](resources/structural-analysis.md#why-define-problems).

**Step 3: Component Extraction**

Reads `global-context.md` + `step-2-output.md`. Choose reading strategy, extract terms/propositions/arguments/solutions section-by-section. Writes to `step-3-output.md`. See [resources/component-extraction.md#why-reading-strategy](resources/component-extraction.md#why-reading-strategy) for strategy selection, [resources/component-extraction.md#section-based-extraction](resources/component-extraction.md#section-based-extraction) for programmatic approach, [resources/component-extraction.md#why-extract-terms](resources/component-extraction.md#why-extract-terms) through [resources/component-extraction.md#why-extract-solutions](resources/component-extraction.md#why-extract-solutions) for what to extract.

**Step 4: Synthesis and Application**

Reads `global-context.md` + `step-3-output.md`. Evaluate completeness, identify applications, transform to actionable steps, define triggers. Writes to `step-4-output.md`. See [resources/synthesis-application.md#why-evaluate-completeness](resources/synthesis-application.md#why-evaluate-completeness), [resources/synthesis-application.md#why-identify-applications](resources/synthesis-application.md#why-identify-applications), [resources/synthesis-application.md#why-transform-to-actions](resources/synthesis-application.md#why-transform-to-actions), [resources/synthesis-application.md#why-define-triggers](resources/synthesis-application.md#why-define-triggers).

**Step 5: Skill Construction**

Reads `global-context.md` + `step-4-output.md`. Determine complexity, plan resources, create SKILL.md and resource files, create rubric. Writes to `step-5-output.md`. See [resources/skill-construction.md#why-complexity-level](resources/skill-construction.md#why-complexity-level), [resources/skill-construction.md#why-plan-resources](resources/skill-construction.md#why-plan-resources), [resources/skill-construction.md#why-skill-md-structure](resources/skill-construction.md#why-skill-md-structure), [resources/skill-construction.md#why-resource-structure](resources/skill-construction.md#why-resource-structure), [resources/skill-construction.md#why-evaluation-rubric](resources/skill-construction.md#why-evaluation-rubric).

**Step 6: Validation and Refinement**

Reads `global-context.md` + `step-5-output.md` + actual skill files. Score using rubric, present analysis, refine based on user decision. Writes to `step-6-output.md`. See [resources/evaluation-rubric.json](resources/evaluation-rubric.json) for criteria.

---

## Notes

- **File-Based Context:** Each step writes output files to avoid context overflow
- **Global Context:** All steps read `global-context.md` for continuity
- **Sequential Dependencies:** Each step reads previous step's output
- **User Collaboration:** Always present findings and get approval at decision points
- **Quality Standards:** Use evaluation rubric (threshold ≥ 3.5) before delivery