How do I install the Creating Skills skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/creating-skills-9 in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Creating Skills safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: WARNING, Skill Scanner: PASS. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Creating Skills?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Creating Skills free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Creating Skills?

tomevault-io (@tomevault-io) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Creating Skills by tomevault-io — Agent Skill

Name: Creating Skills
Author: tomevault-io

Creating Skills

Create new Agent Skills following the official specification and best practices. Use when the user wants to create a skill, write a SKILL.md file, or package instructions/workflows for reuse across conversations. Use when this capability is needed.

tomevault-io Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

Creating Agent Skills

Quick Start

Determine skill location:
- Personal: ~/.claude/skills/<skill-name>/
- Project: .claude/skills/<skill-name>/
Create directory matching the skill name
Create SKILL.md with YAML frontmatter + markdown body
Add supporting files as needed

SKILL.md Template

---
name: skill-name-here
description: What this skill does. When to use it. Include keywords for discovery.
---

# Skill Title

## Instructions
[Step-by-step guidance]

## Examples
[Input/output examples if helpful]

Field Requirements

See SPECIFICATION.md for complete validation rules.

name (required):

1-64 characters
Lowercase alphanumeric + hyphens only
Must match parent directory name
Cannot start/end with hyphen or have consecutive hyphens

description (required):

1-1024 characters
Write in third person (injected into system prompt)
Include WHAT it does AND WHEN to use it
Include keywords for discovery

Naming Convention

Use gerund form (verb + -ing):

processing-pdfs
analyzing-data
generating-reports

Content Guidelines

Be concise - Claude is smart; only add context it doesn't have
Keep SKILL.md under 500 lines - Split into separate files if needed
One level deep references - Don't nest file references
No time-sensitive info - Avoid dates that will become stale

Progressive Disclosure Pattern

For larger skills, use this structure:

my-skill/
├── SKILL.md           # Overview + navigation (<500 lines)
├── WORKFLOWS.md       # Detailed procedures
├── REFERENCE.md       # API/technical details
└── scripts/
    └── utility.py     # Executable helpers

Reference files from SKILL.md:

**Detailed workflows**: See [WORKFLOWS.md](WORKFLOWS.md)
**API reference**: See [REFERENCE.md](REFERENCE.md)

Workflow Pattern

For complex multi-step tasks, include checklists:

## Task Workflow

Copy this checklist:
```
- [ ] Step 1: Description
- [ ] Step 2: Description
- [ ] Step 3: Description
```

**Step 1: Description**
[Detailed instructions]

Validation

After creating, validate the skill:

# Check structure
ls -la ~/.claude/skills/skill-name/

# Verify SKILL.md exists and has frontmatter
head -20 ~/.claude/skills/skill-name/SKILL.md

Examples

See EXAMPLES.md for complete skill examples.

Converted and distributed by TomeVault — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.

---name: creating-skills-9description: Create new Agent Skills following the official specification and best practices. Use when the user wants to create a skill, write a SKILL.md file, or package instructions/workflows for reuse across conversations. Use when this capability is needed.---# Creating Agent Skills## Quick Start1. Determine skill location: - Personal: `~/.claude/skills/<skill-name>/` - Project: `.claude/skills/<skill-name>/`2. Create directory matching the skill name3. Create `SKILL.md` with YAML frontmatter + markdown body4. Add supporting files as needed## SKILL.md Template```yaml---name: skill-name-heredescription: What this skill does. When to use it. Include keywords for discovery.---# Skill Title## Instructions[Step-by-step guidance]## Examples[Input/output examples if helpful]```## Field RequirementsSee [SPECIFICATION.md](SPECIFICATION.md) for complete validation rules.**name** (required):- 1-64 characters- Lowercase alphanumeric + hyphens only- Must match parent directory name- Cannot start/end with hyphen or have consecutive hyphens**description** (required):- 1-1024 characters- Write in third person (injected into system prompt)- Include WHAT it does AND WHEN to use it- Include keywords for discovery## Naming ConventionUse gerund form (verb + -ing):- `processing-pdfs`- `analyzing-data`- `generating-reports`## Content Guidelines1. **Be concise** - Claude is smart; only add context it doesn't have2. **Keep SKILL.md under 500 lines** - Split into separate files if needed3. **One level deep references** - Don't nest file references4. **No time-sensitive info** - Avoid dates that will become stale## Progressive Disclosure PatternFor larger skills, use this structure:```my-skill/├── SKILL.md # Overview + navigation (<500 lines)├── WORKFLOWS.md # Detailed procedures├── REFERENCE.md # API/technical details└── scripts/ └── utility.py # Executable helpers```Reference files from SKILL.md:```markdown**Detailed workflows**: See [WORKFLOWS.md](WORKFLOWS.md)**API reference**: See [REFERENCE.md](REFERENCE.md)```## Workflow PatternFor complex multi-step tasks, include checklists:````markdown## Task WorkflowCopy this checklist:```- [ ] Step 1: Description- [ ] Step 2: Description- [ ] Step 3: Description```**Step 1: Description**[Detailed instructions]````## ValidationAfter creating, validate the skill:```bash# Check structurels -la ~/.claude/skills/skill-name/# Verify SKILL.md exists and has frontmatterhead -20 ~/.claude/skills/skill-name/SKILL.md```## ExamplesSee [EXAMPLES.md](EXAMPLES.md) for complete skill examples.---> Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/leocavalcante) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.

Frequently asked questions