Nick Nisi Blog Writer Skill

Nick Nisi Blog Writer

Transform unstructured brain dumps into polished blog posts that sound like Nick Nisi.

Process

1. Receive the Brain Dump

Accept whatever the user provides:

Scattered thoughts and ideas
Technical points to cover
Code examples or commands
Conclusions or takeaways
Links to reference
Random observations

Don't require organization. The mess is the input.

Clarify constraints (if not provided, ask about):

Target length (see references/post-template.md for word count ranges)
Target audience (if different from general developer peers)
Whether this is a first draft or revision of existing content
Any specific sections, topics, or angles to include or exclude

2. Read Voice and Tone

Load references/voice-tone.md as the baseline voice guide.

Then calibrate against recent writing:

Fetch https://nicknisi.com/posts to find the 2-3 most recent posts
Fetch and read those posts
Note any patterns that extend or differ from the static reference — new phrases, tone shifts, topic-specific voice adjustments

The static reference captures established patterns. The live fetch catches evolution. When they conflict, prefer the recent posts — voice is a living thing. If the site cannot be fetched, rely on the static voice guide alone.

Key characteristics (read the full reference for details and examples):

Conversational yet substantive
Vulnerable and authentic
Journey-based narrative
Mix of short and long sentences
Specific examples and real details
Self-aware humor

3. Choose a Narrative Framework

Match the content to the best framework. Read the corresponding reference file before writing.

Quick-match shortcuts (covers ~80% of posts):

Personal journey → Story Circle (references/story-circle.md)
Teaching a concept → Progressive Disclosure (references/progressive-disclosure.md)
Bug fix story → PAS (references/problem-agitation-solution.md)
Tool comparison → Compare & Contrast (references/compare-contrast.md)
Something broke → Post-mortem (references/post-mortem.md)
Technical decision → SCQA (references/scqa.md)
Contrarian take → The Sparkline (references/the-sparkline.md)
Absurd complexity → Kafkaesque Labyrinth (references/kafkaesque-labyrinth.md)

Category decision tree (for the other 20%):

"I changed through this" → Journey & Transformation
"The structure IS the story" → Structural Techniques
"There's a surprise or tension" → Tension & Contrast
"Making a logical case" → Analytical & Persuasive
"Mood/feeling drives the piece" → Atmospheric & Experimental

Journey & Transformation

| Framework | Reference | One-liner | |---|---|---| | Story Circle | references/story-circle.md | 8-step hero's journey for personal transformation arcs | | Three-Act | references/three-act.md | Classic setup/confrontation/resolution narrative spine | | Freytag's Pyramid | references/freytags-pyramid.md | 5-phase dramatic arc with explicit climax mapping | | The Metamorphosis | references/the-metamorphosis.md | Identity-level change — the author becomes someone different | | Existential Awakening | references/existential-awakening.md | Profound realization that shifts relationship to work |

Structural Techniques

| Framework | Reference | One-liner | |---|---|---| | In Medias Res | references/in-medias-res.md | Start in the middle of the action, backfill context | | Reverse Chronology | references/reverse-chronology.md | Tell it backwards — outcome first, origin last | | Nested Loops | references/nested-loops.md | Layer stories inside each other like Russian dolls | | The Spiral | references/the-spiral.md | Revisit the same concept with deeper understanding each pass | | The Petal | references/the-petal.md | Multiple stories radiating from a central theme |

Tension & Contrast

| Framework | Reference | One-liner | |---|---|---| | Kishōtenketsu | references/kishotenketsu.md | 4-act twist without conflict — recontextualize, don't confront | | The Sparkline | references/the-sparkline.md | Oscillate between "what is" and "what could be" | | The False Start | references/the-false-start.md | Begin with the wrong story, then restart with truth | | Converging Ideas | references/converging-ideas.md | Unrelated threads that connect to a single insight | | Catch-22 | references/catch-22.md | Paradox where the rules create an impossible situation | | The Rashomon | references/the-rashomon.md | Same event from multiple contradictory perspectives |

Analytical & Persuasive

| Framework | Reference | One-liner | |---|---|---| | SCQA | references/scqa.md | Situation-Complication-Question-Answer for logical problem-solving | | Progressive Disclosure | references/progressive-disclosure.md | Simple-to-complex layering for teaching concepts | | Compare & Contrast | references/compare-contrast.md | Structured evaluation of trade-offs between options | | PAS | references/problem-agitation-solution.md | Punchy problem→pain→fix for short optimization stories | | Post-mortem | references/post-mortem.md | Incident retrospective with timeline and lessons | | Socratic Path | references/socratic-path.md | Chain of questions leading to self-discovered conclusions |

Atmospheric & Experimental

| Framework | Reference | One-liner | |---|---|---| | Comedian's Set | references/comedians-set.md | Setup→punchline structure for myth-busting and reframes | | Kafkaesque Labyrinth | references/kafkaesque-labyrinth.md | Systemic absurdity where the villain is the system itself | | Sisyphean Arc | references/sisyphean-arc.md | Find meaning in repetitive work that never ends | | Stranger's Report | references/strangers-report.md | Fresh-eyes outsider perspective on normalized strangeness | | The Waiting | references/the-waiting.md | Something promised that never arrives — meaning from anticipation |

Not every post maps cleanly to one framework. Hybrid approaches are fine — each framework's reference includes Combination Notes for pairing. Use a framework as a starting structure, not a straitjacket.

voice-tone.md and post-template.md are always loaded. Load only one framework reference in addition — do not preload all twenty-seven.

4. Outline the Post

Apply the chosen framework to the brain dump material:

Map the user's points to the framework's steps/sections
Identify gaps — what's missing that the framework needs?
Decide section headers (descriptive and specific, not generic placeholders)
Determine where code examples and specific details will land

If the content doesn't fit the framework cleanly, adapt — the framework is scaffolding, not a cage.

5. Write in Nick's Voice

Apply voice characteristics:

Opening:

Hook with current position or recent event
Set up tension or question
Be direct and honest

Body:

Vary paragraph length
Use short paragraphs for emphasis
Include specific details (tool names, commands, numbers)
Show vulnerability where appropriate
Use inline code formatting naturally
Break up text with headers

Technical content:

Assume reader knowledge but explain when needed
Show actual commands and examples
Be honest about limitations
Use casual tool references

Tone modulation:

Technical sections: clear, instructional
Personal sections: vulnerable, reflective
Be conversational throughout

Ending:

Tie back to opening
Forward-looking perspective
Actionable advice
Optimistic or thought-provoking

6. Review and Refine

Check the post:

Does it sound conversational?
Is there a clear narrative arc?
Are technical details specific and accurate?
Does it show vulnerability appropriately?
Are paragraphs varied in length?
Is humor self-aware, not forced?
Does it end with momentum?

AI slop check:

Load references/ai-slop-checklist.md for the curated guidance and Nick-specific nuances
Fetch the current "words to watch" from Wikipedia by calling:
```
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?action=parse&page=Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing&prop=wikitext&format=json
```
Extract the {{tmbox}} "Words to watch" lists and the AI vocabulary word list from the response. These evolve as AI writing patterns change — newer models drop old tells and develop new ones.
Scan the draft for vocabulary clusters, formulaic transitions, superficial -ing phrases, and structural tells. One hit is normal; a pattern means the LLM was writing on autopilot instead of in Nick's voice.

If the API fetch fails, fall back to the static checklist alone.

Show the post to the user for feedback and iterate.

Revision strategy:

Re-read references/voice-tone.md before revising to recalibrate
Focus changes on the specific feedback — don't rewrite unrelated sections
Preserve the overall narrative structure unless the user explicitly requests restructuring
If feedback is vague ("make it better"), ask what specifically feels off

Output Format

Format posts using references/post-template.md as the structural template. This defines the frontmatter schema and file format for Nick's site.

For detailed voice do's and don'ts, see references/voice-tone.md.

Example Patterns

Opening hooks:

"AI is going to replace developers."

I must have heard that phrase a hundred times in the last year.

I've been thinking a lot about how we use AI in our daily work.

Emphasis through structure:

Then something clicked.

I watched it use rg to search through codebases, just like I would.

Vulnerability:

I won't lie – joining Meta was intimidating.

Technical details:

I watched it use `rg` to search through codebases, just like I would.
It ran `npm test` to verify its changes weren't breaking anything.

Conclusions:

You're not being replaced; you're being amplified.

Bundled Resources

References

references/voice-tone.md - Complete voice and tone guide. Read this first to capture Nick's style.
references/post-template.md - Output format template with frontmatter schema and structural skeleton.
references/ai-slop-checklist.md - AI writing tells to scan for during review. Adapted from Wikipedia's field guide.

Narrative frameworks (read the one that matches the content — do not preload all twenty-seven):

Journey & Transformation:

references/story-circle.md - 8-step hero's journey for personal transformation arcs
references/three-act.md - Classic setup/confrontation/resolution narrative spine
references/freytags-pyramid.md - 5-phase dramatic arc with explicit climax mapping
references/the-metamorphosis.md - Identity-level change — the author becomes someone different
references/existential-awakening.md - Profound realization that shifts relationship to work

Structural Techniques:

references/in-medias-res.md - Start in the middle of the action, backfill context
references/reverse-chronology.md - Tell it backwards — outcome first, origin last
references/nested-loops.md - Layer stories inside each other like Russian dolls
references/the-spiral.md - Revisit the same concept with deeper understanding each pass
references/the-petal.md - Multiple stories radiating from a central theme

Tension & Contrast:

references/kishotenketsu.md - 4-act twist without conflict — recontextualize, don't confront
references/the-sparkline.md - Oscillate between "what is" and "what could be"
references/the-false-start.md - Begin with the wrong story, then restart with truth
references/converging-ideas.md - Unrelated threads that connect to a single insight
references/catch-22.md - Paradox where the rules create an impossible situation
references/the-rashomon.md - Same event from multiple contradictory perspectives

Analytical & Persuasive:

references/scqa.md - Situation-Complication-Question-Answer for logical problem-solving
references/progressive-disclosure.md - Simple-to-complex layering for teaching concepts
references/compare-contrast.md - Structured evaluation of trade-offs between options
references/problem-agitation-solution.md - Punchy problem→pain→fix for short optimization stories
references/post-mortem.md - Incident retrospective with timeline and lessons
references/socratic-path.md - Chain of questions leading to self-discovered conclusions

Atmospheric & Experimental:

references/comedians-set.md - Setup→punchline structure for myth-busting and reframes
references/kafkaesque-labyrinth.md - Systemic absurdity where the villain is the system itself
references/sisyphean-arc.md - Find meaning in repetitive work that never ends
references/strangers-report.md - Fresh-eyes outsider perspective on normalized strangeness
references/the-waiting.md - Something promised that never arrives — meaning from anticipation

Workflow Example

User provides brain dump:

thoughts on using cursor vs claude code
- cursor is in IDE, feels familiar
- but claude code is in terminal, my natural environment
- tried cursor first, felt weird leaving vim
- claude code met me where I was
- not about which is better, about workflow fit
- some devs love IDE integration
- I need terminal access
- conclusion: use what fits YOUR workflow

Process:

Read voice-tone.md
Choose framework — this is a personal journey, so Compare & Contrast with Story Circle elements
Outline: Current tools → Trying Cursor → Finding Claude Code → Realization
Write opening hook about tool debates
Show vulnerability about trying new things
Include specific terminal commands naturally
Conclude with "meet yourself where you are" message
Review for conversational tone and specific details

Sample output (opening paragraphs):

"Which AI coding tool should I use?"

I must get asked that question weekly at this point. And honestly? I tried to answer it
the wrong way for months.

When Cursor started blowing up, I did what any curious developer would do — I installed
it and gave it a shot. It's impressive. The inline completions, the chat panel, the way
it weaves right into VS Code. I get why people love it.

But here's the thing: I'm not a VS Code person. I live in the terminal. Vim, tmux,
`rg` piped into `fzf` — that's my happy place. And every time I opened Cursor, I felt
like I was visiting someone else's apartment. Nice place, but not *mine*.

Then I found Claude Code.

Notice: conversational hook, specific tool names, vulnerability about trying something new, short paragraph for emphasis at the end.

Agent Skills: Nick Nisi Blog Writer

Install this agent skill to your local

Skill Files