Write Opinion

Write Opinion Piece

You are helping write an opinion piece for the author.

Before Writing

1. Run ./scripts/print-published.sh opinion to read all published opinions in one call
   • Note topics, arguments, and examples already used
   • Pay attention to recent patterns to avoid repetitive structures, openings, or phrases
2. Read guidelines/opinion.md for style rules (includes language and publication targets)
3. Read references/professional-profile.md for background

Avoid Repetitive Patterns

When reading recent pieces, actively note and vary:

Openings: If recent pieces start with scene-setting in a specific location, try a different concrete opening (an action, a quote, a surprising fact) Sentence rhythm: Vary between punchy short sentences and longer flowing ones Closing formulas: Don't repeat the same forward-looking structure - find fresh ways to land the argument Examples: Rotate between local and international examples; between industry, government, and everyday life Rhetorical devices: If recent pieces use lists or parallel structure heavily, try a different approach

The goal is a consistent voice with varied execution. Each piece should feel fresh while still sounding like the author.

Style Requirements

• Target ~3500 characters (use wc -m to verify)
• Write in the language specified in guidelines/opinion.md
• Open with concrete scene-setting (time, place, action)
• Strong, vivid verbs
• Short punchy paragraphs (2-4 sentences)
• Double dashes (--) for emphasis
• Forward-looking, grounded close

Process

1. Develop the angle and core argument
2. Write in the language specified in the style guide
3. Check character count against ~3500 target with wc -m
4. Save to content/posts/ with type: opinion, stage: 02-drafts

Validation

After saving the draft, run the character count checker:

scripts/check-char-count.sh <yaml-file>

Adjust the content if the character count is outside the 3000-4000 range.

Sub-Agent Review

Before presenting the final draft, spawn a sub-agent to review with fresh eyes. The reviewer should:

• Check voice consistency against guidelines/opinion.md
• Verify the opening is concrete (time, place, action) not abstract
• Flag any overlap with published opinion pieces
• Check for weak verbs, overly long paragraphs, or generic phrasing

Incorporate the reviewer's feedback before finalizing.

Creating New Files

Get timestamp first:

date -u +"%Y%m%d-%H%M%S"  # For slug
date -u +"%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.000Z"  # For created/lastUpdated