Phase 1: Preparation and Analysis
1.1 Load Writing Guides (REQUIRED - Load First)
Before any other work, load the following:
- Growth Principles (
references/x-strategy.md) - Content selection criteria, what makes posts shareable, engagement patterns, and what to prioritize from notes. This guides WHAT to share.
- Writing Style Guide (from
WRITING_STYLE_GUIDE_PATH env var) - Voice, tone, structure, banned phrases, and signature patterns. This guides HOW to share it. Skip if the env var is not set.
- Anti-Patterns - Run
echo "$WRITING_ANTI_PATTERNS_PATH" to check the env var. If set, load that file. If not set, fall back to references/anti-patterns.md. AI writing patterns to avoid. Critical for ensuring posts sound human and authentic, not AI-generated. Avoid patterns like "It's not X, it's Y", formal transitions, hedging language, and AI-specific vocabulary.
PRIORITY RULE: When guides conflict, references/x-strategy.md wins. Content value and shareability take precedence over stylistic preferences. When the style guide and anti-patterns conflict, anti-patterns win.
1.2 Understand the Source Material
Get clarity on what notes to work with:
- Ask which notes, ideas, or updates they want to transform into posts
- Check for idea sources:
- Run echo "$X_SOURCE_FILE" β if set, a markdown ideas file is available
- Run echo "$X_NOTES_APP_SOURCE" β if set, a macOS Notes note is available (use scripts/fetch-notes.sh get to fetch)
- If both are configured and the user says "check my ideas" or similar without specifying, ask which source to use
- If one is configured, use it directly
- If neither is configured, work from whatever the user provides (pasted content, markdown files, etc.)
- Read the source material and identify the core insights, learnings, or updates
- Note any specific tools, projects, numbers, or details mentioned
Multiple ideas/notes workflow:
- When the user provides multiple distinct ideas or notes, work through them ONE AT A TIME
- Create post options for the first idea
- Wait for user approval/feedback before moving to the next idea
- This prevents overwhelming the user and allows for refinement as you go
1.3 Apply Selection Criteria
Evaluate notes using the Content Selection Framework in references/x-strategy.md. Prioritize shipped work with learnings, non-obvious insights, and specific tool recommendations. Skip engagement bait, vague hype, and complaints without solutions.
Phase 2: Content Creation
2.1 Select the Best Angle
Identify one clear idea, the specific details that prove it, and the hook (first line).
2.2 Choose the Format
Default to single tweets. Only thread (2-5 tweets) when the story requires steps, multiple related insights, or before/after context. See Thread Strategy in references/x-strategy.md.
2.3 Draft the Content
Apply all three guides loaded in Phase 1 during drafting, not just as a post-check:
- x-strategy.md β formatting rules, content strategy, High-Engagement Patterns, and Signature Patterns. Formatting is critical: one sentence per line, white space between lines, hook in first line, 180-250 chars, no italics.
- Writing style guide (
WRITING_STYLE_GUIDE_PATH) β voice, tone, banned phrases, language simplification. Apply casing preference from X_CASE_STYLE env var (standard by default). When set to "lowercase", use all lowercase including "i" as a pronoun β only capitalize personal names, WordPress, and product names. - Anti-patterns β actively avoid during drafting. If a draft uses any anti-pattern, rewrite before presenting. HARD RULE: NEVER use the "It's not X, it's Y" reframing pattern in any form. This includes: "isn't X, it's Y", "not because X, because Y", "isn't about X, it's about Y", "less about X, more about Y". Say the positive claim directly instead. Also avoid: em dashes, generic observations without specifics, and intensifiers.
2.4 Engagement Optimization
End ~70% of posts with engagement (specific question, teaser, or invitation). Let the rest land with a hard stop. See "What Makes Content Shareable" in references/x-strategy.md.
2.5 Quality Check
After drafting, re-read every post against the anti-patterns guide and fix any violations before presenting. Then verify:
- [ ] Did I get to the point in line 1?
- [ ] Is this specific? (names, numbers, examples)
- [ ] Would I actually say this out loud?
- [ ] Does it sound like ME, not ChatGPT?
- [ ] Did I use any banned phrases from the writing style guide?
- [ ] Did I avoid ALL anti-patterns? (reframing, em dashes, intensifiers, generic observations)
- [ ] If it's a reaction, did I add MY angle?
Phase 3: Output
3.1 Present the Content
For each post created:
- The Post(s) - Show the actual tweet(s) ready to copy/paste
- Format - Indicate if it's a single tweet or thread
- Character Count - Show length (target: 180-250 chars)
- Pattern Used - Which pattern from x-strategy.md was applied
- Key Elements - What specifics, tools, or projects were highlighted
3.2 Offer Options
When appropriate, provide 2-3 variations:
- Different angles on the same insight
- Single tweet vs thread format
- Different engagement endings
3.3 Explain Selections
Briefly note what was prioritized and why:
- Which insights from notes were selected
- Why certain details were emphasized
- What was intentionally left out
3.4 Save Approved Posts
When the user approves a post, save it to the drafts file (create if missing).
File location (resolve before saving):
- Run
echo "$X_DRAFTS_FILE" to check the env var - If set, append to that file path
- If not set, default to
.x/posts.md (top-level, create if missing)
Markdown format:
```markdown
---
Category: Learning
Date: 2026-01-01
WordPress.com AI adds conversation alongside block editing.
People who couldn't navigate the UI before are shipping sites now. Others still use blocks for fine-tuning.
Both work. The conversation path just removes the skill barrier.
---
```
For threads, use [Tweet N] markers:
```markdown
---
Category: Learning
Date: 2026-01-01
[Tweet 1]
WordPress.com AI changes how people build sites.
[Tweet 2]
People who couldn't navigate block editing are shipping now.
[Tweet 3]
The UI is still there for fine-tuning. But conversation removes the skill barrier.
[Tweet 4]
Ask or click. Both paths work.
---
```
Categories:
- Learning - Insights, shipped updates with learnings
- Update - Project progress
- Tool - Recommendations
- Observation - Industry takes
Workflow:
- Present the post(s) to the user
- When approved, append to
X_DRAFTS_FILE or .x/posts.md - User can copy-paste directly into X (text is ready with proper line breaks)
- User removes the section after posting, or asks you to remove it
|