# Short Form Listicle

> Short-form numbered list post for X / LinkedIn / Threads. "X things I learned doing Y", "X mistakes that cost me Z", "X principles for Z". Use when the user has a small set (3–10) of crisp, parallel points worth shipping as a standalone short-form piece — or when distilling a how-to / launch-retro long-form into a list.

- Skill: `r-bart/short-form-listicle` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add r-bart/short-form-listicle`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/r-bart/short-form-listicle/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: r-bart (https://skillmd.com/u/r-bart)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/r-bart/short-form-listicle

---


## Metadata

- **inherits**: `../short-form-voice-adjustments/SKILL.md`
- **formats**: X thread, LinkedIn, Threads

# short-form-listicle

Numbered list with a strong hook. Each item must earn its place — no padding.

## Structure (LinkedIn)

```
[Hook: number + outcome + qualifier.
  Examples:
  - "5 things I'd tell my 2024 self about launching solo."
  - "7 mistakes that cost me my first €10k."
  - "3 tools that replaced 9 SaaS subscriptions."]

[Optional 1-line context: "After [X experience], here's what I learned."]

1. [Item — one declarative line]
   [1-2 lines of explanation, with a specific example or number where possible.]

2. [Item]
   [Explanation.]

...

[Closer: the meta-lesson connecting them, or a CTA tied to the topic.]
```

## Structure (X thread)

Each item is its own tweet. Hook tweet + N items + closer tweet.

```
1/ [Hook tweet — number + promise]

2/ [Item 1 — declarative line]
[Optional: 1 short example.]

3/ [Item 2 — same]

...

N/ [Closer — meta-lesson + soft CTA to long-form if it's a derivative]
```

## Rules

- **Numbers in the hook are non-negotiable.** "Some things I learned" doesn't earn the scroll.
- **Items must be parallel in shape.** All verbs, or all nouns, or all "Stop X / Start Y" — pick one.
- **Each item must be specific.** "Start before you're ready" — banned. Replace with: "Stop reading launch guides and ship a landing page in 48h."
- **3-7 items.** Below 3 = not a list. Above 7 = nobody finishes.
- **Order matters.** Strongest item first OR last. Put the weakest in the middle, never at the edges.

## Anti-patterns

- Listicle of clichés. If 4 of 5 items are common knowledge in your niche, kill the post.
- "These will blow your mind" / "You won't believe #4" — banned.
- Items that overlap (#3 is just #1 reworded). Cut.
- Inconsistent grammar (mix of imperatives and nouns).

## Example shapes

The goal is a hook of the form `<number> + <outcome> + <qualifier>`. Two illustrative shapes (replace with examples in your own niche):

- `"5 things I do every Sunday to set up the week."`
- `"3 habits that grew my [audience metric] to [number]."`

If your `writing-style/SKILL.md` lists author/post references for listicle hooks you admire, those override these defaults.