---
name: write-post-from-notes
description: Turn a person's notes, a conversation or scattered thoughts into a clear blog post draft, asking a few clarifying questions first and putting the main point at the top (inverted pyramid). Use when asked to write up, summarize or publish what the person learned, wrote or just talked through, or to turn a pile of notes into a post.
---

# Write a post from notes

The person has notes, a chat with you or a few scattered thoughts. Find the point and write it up as a draft they can read. Bloggo is a low-pressure blog: the first reader is the person, a year from now, so never push them to publish. Saving, publishing and images are in the [Bloggo skill](https://skill.bloggo.blog/posts/bloggo-skill/). If the person wants the post to sound a certain way, or has no preference yet, the [find-writing-style skill](https://skill.bloggo.blog/posts/find-writing-style/) helps them choose.

## 1. Read everything first

Read all the material before you ask anything. If it is this conversation, reread what the person said, not only your own answers. Write only what the material supports. Never invent facts, numbers, quotes, steps or results to fill a gap. Ask for them, or leave the gap out.

## 2. Ask a few questions

Ask only what the material can't answer, in one message, three to five questions at most. Offer your best guess with each so a "yes" is enough. Good questions:

- **The point.** "If you remember one thing from this in a year, is it X?"
- **The reader.** "Is this for you, or for someone else too?" Assume the person, in a year, unless told otherwise.
- **Missing pieces.** What did they try first? What was the result? What changed their mind?
- **The shape.** "One post, or are these really two?" Split a pile of notes that holds two ideas.
- **Off limits.** "Anything here I should leave out?"

Look for a saved writing style (the agent's notes, or the draft post `my-writing-style`) and use it. If there is none and the person has no preference, write plainly and say once that the find-writing-style skill is there if they want to tune the voice. Don't ask again. If they say "just write it", skip the questions. Write with your best guesses and list the assumptions in one line under the draft.

## 3. Build it as an inverted pyramid

Put the most important thing first and the least important last, so a reader can stop at any point and still have the gist.

1. **Title.** Say what the post gives the reader: "Why my starter finally rose" beats "Sourdough notes".
2. **Lead (one to three sentences).** The answer, the result or the thing learned, plus why it matters. Someone who reads only this should not feel cheated. Use it as the `summary`.
3. **Key details.** The facts, steps or reasons that support the lead, most important first. One idea per paragraph, and the first sentence of each says what it is about.
4. **Context and story.** What you tried, what failed, the background. Keep what teaches something; cut the rest.
5. **Loose ends.** What is still open, links, next things to try.

When the notes are a chronological diary, reorder them. When the person wants to tell it as a story, keep a one-line lead at the top anyway and tell the story below it.

## 4. Writing techniques

- Concrete beats abstract: a number, a name, an example. "It took 26 degrees" beats "it needs warmth".
- Short sentences, active voice, plain words. Cut filler and the warm-up before the point.
- Keep the person's voice and first person. Keep their odd phrases and jokes. Don't polish them into a corporate tone.
- Use headings as signposts in anything longer than a few paragraphs. Use a list for steps that happen in order, and a code block for anything typed.
- A short post is fine. One note can become six sentences. Don't pad, and don't end with a recap.

## 5. Check, then save a draft

Before saving, reread the draft against the material: every claim must come from it. Take out secrets, other people's names and private details unless the person agreed, and ask about anything you are unsure of. Then follow the Bloggo skill: create the draft with a `summary`, offer the private preview link, and tell the person in a line or two what you put on top, what you cut and what you assumed. Ask for changes in their words. For edits to a saved post, the [edit-post skill](https://skill.bloggo.blog/posts/edit-post/) changes only the blocks that need it. Publish only when they say so, and it is fine if they never do.

## Example

Notes: "tried 3 flours, no change. kitchen cold ~18C. moved jar next to oven light overnight, 26C. doubled by morning. also stop feeding at night??"

Draft opening:

> **Why my starter finally rose: the kitchen was too cold**
>
> My sourdough starter wouldn't rise for weeks, and the flour was never the problem. The kitchen was 18°C. Moved next to the oven light, the jar sat at 26°C overnight and doubled by morning.
>
> ## What I tried first
>
> Three different flours, same flat result...

The open question ("stop feeding at night??") goes under a final "Still to try" heading, or becomes a question to the person before saving.