Doc Coauthoring

Doc Co-Authoring

Structured workflow for co-authoring documentation including proposals, technical specs, decision docs, and similar content. Three stages: Context Gathering, Refinement & Structure, and Reader Testing.

Prerequisites

• Clear understanding of document purpose
• Access to relevant context (channels, docs, stakeholders)
• Time for iterative refinement

Instructions

Stage 1: Context Gathering

1. Ask Initial Questions

   • What type of document? (technical spec, decision doc, proposal)
   • Who's the primary audience?
   • What's the desired impact?
   • Any template or format to follow?

2. Encourage Info Dumping

   • Background on project/problem
   • Related team discussions
   • Why alternatives aren't being used
   • Timeline pressures or constraints

3. Ask Clarifying Questions

   • Generate 5-10 questions based on gaps
   • Allow shorthand answers

Stage 2: Refinement & Structure

1. For Each Section:

   • Ask clarifying questions about content
   • Brainstorm 5-20 options
   • User curates (keep/remove/combine)
   • Draft the section
   • Iterate with surgical edits

2. Use str_replace for edits - never reprint whole doc

3. Quality Check - After 3 iterations, ask if anything can be removed

Stage 3: Reader Testing

1. Predict Reader Questions (5-10 questions)
2. Test with Fresh Context - no context bleed
3. Check for:
   • Ambiguity or unclear sections
   • Assumed knowledge
   • Internal contradictions
4. Fix gaps found during testing

Error Handling

• If user wants to skip a stage, allow freeform work
• If context is missing, proactively ask
• Address gaps as they come up, don't accumulate

Notes

• Quality over speed
• Each iteration should make meaningful improvements
• Goal: document that actually works for readers

Source: anthropics/skills