| name | twitter-thread |
| description | Creates viral-format Twitter/X threads with numbered hooks, engagement bait, and a pinned summary tweet. Use when you need to break down ideas into a compelling multi-tweet thread. |
| allowed-tools | Read Write Glob |
| metadata | {"author":"matthewhitcham","version":"1.0"} |
Twitter Thread
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when you need to:
- Write a multi-tweet thread that breaks down a concept, story, or framework
- Create a thread designed for high engagement and retweets on X/Twitter
- Repurpose long-form content into a thread format
- Build authority on X/Twitter through educational or storytelling threads
DO NOT use this skill for single tweets, Twitter ad copy, or DM templates. This is for threads of 5-20 tweets.
Core Principle
EVERY TWEET IN A THREAD MUST DELIVER VALUE ON ITS OWN — IF A READER STOPS AT ANY TWEET, THEY SHOULD HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING.
Phase 1: Brief
Required Inputs
| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|---|
| Topic | "What is this thread about?" | No default — must be provided |
| Thread type | "Story, framework, listicle, myth-busting, or how-to?" | Framework |
| Target audience | "Who should share this?" | Entrepreneurs and business-minded professionals |
| Thread length | "How many tweets? (5-20)" | 10 tweets |
| CTA | "What should people do at the end? Follow, visit link, reply?" | Follow for more |
| Source material | "Do you have a blog post, notes, or outline to base this on?" | None — write from scratch |
GATE: Confirm brief before proceeding.
Phase 2: Outline
Thread Architecture
Every thread follows this structure:
- Hook tweet — the first tweet that stops the scroll
- Context tweet — why this matters (tweet 2)
- Body tweets — the meat of the thread (tweets 3 through N-2)
- Summary tweet — recap the key points (second-to-last)
- CTA tweet — tell them what to do (final tweet)
Outline Format
**Hook:** [First tweet — must stop the scroll]
**Context:** [Why this matters — tweet 2]
**Body tweets:**
- Tweet 3: [Point 1]
- Tweet 4: [Point 2]
- Tweet 5: [Point 3]
...
**Summary:** [Recap key points]
**CTA:** [Follow / link / reply prompt]
GATE: Wait for approval before writing full tweets.
Phase 3: Write
Tweet-by-Tweet Rules
Hook Tweet (Tweet 1)
- Must be under 280 characters — no exceptions
- Use one of these proven formats:
- "I [did X thing] in [time period]. Here's what I learned:"
- "[Bold claim or surprising stat]. A thread on [topic]:"
- "[Number] [things] about [topic] I wish I knew [time] ago:"
- End with a thread indicator: "(thread)" or "A thread:"
Context Tweet (Tweet 2)
- Explain why the reader should care
- Add credibility: personal experience, data, or stakes
- Keep under 280 characters
Body Tweets (Tweets 3 to N-2)
- One idea per tweet — never two
- Start each tweet with a number or bold opening
- Use line breaks for readability
- Include at least one tweet with a concrete example or mini-story
- Vary format: some tweets are lists, some are statements, some are questions
Summary Tweet (Second-to-Last)
- "TL;DR:" or "To recap:" followed by the key points
- Designed to be screenshotted and shared
CTA Tweet (Final)
- Single clear action
- If asking for a follow: "Follow @handle for more [topic] breakdowns"
- If linking: put the link here (not mid-thread — kills engagement)
- Ask for a retweet of the first tweet to boost reach
Formatting Rules
| Rule | Detail |
|---|
| Character limit | Every tweet must be under 280 characters |
| Numbering | Number body tweets: "3/ Point here" |
| Line breaks | Use blank lines between ideas within a tweet |
| Emojis | Use sparingly — 0-1 per tweet as visual markers, not decoration |
| Hashtags | Zero in the thread body. Add 1-2 to the final tweet only |
| Links | Only in the final tweet unless the thread is specifically about a resource |
Phase 4: Polish
1. Thread Quality Checklist
## Thread Checklist
- [ ] Hook tweet stops the scroll (would you click "show this thread"?)
- [ ] Every tweet is under 280 characters
- [ ] Each tweet delivers one clear idea
- [ ] Body tweets are numbered consistently
- [ ] At least one tweet contains a specific example or story
- [ ] Summary tweet works as a standalone screenshot
- [ ] CTA tweet has a single clear action
- [ ] No links mid-thread (only in final tweet if needed)
- [ ] Thread reads well as a continuous narrative
- [ ] No tweet requires reading the previous tweet to make sense
2. Pinned Tweet Suggestion
Write an alternative version of the hook tweet optimized as a pinned tweet on the author's profile.
3. Posting Notes
- Best times: 8-10 AM or 5-7 PM in target audience's timezone
- Post tweet 1, then remaining tweets 1-2 minutes apart
- Reply to the hook tweet with the thread to keep it connected
- Quote-tweet the hook 6-8 hours later with a single key insight to resurface
Example: "7 Pricing Mistakes That Cost Me $100K" (10-tweet thread)
1/ I've made every pricing mistake in the book.
Over 5 years, these 7 errors cost me at least $100K.
Here's what I'd do differently (thread):
2/ First, some context:
I run a service business. Started at $50/hr.
Now our minimum project is $10K.
Every mistake below happened because I didn't understand value.
3/ Mistake 1: Pricing by the hour
Hourly rates punish efficiency.
The faster you get, the less you earn.
Fix: Price by the outcome, not the clock.
4/ Mistake 2: Not raising prices annually
...
Anti-Patterns
- Tweet 1 is boring — if the hook does not create curiosity or tension, the thread dies immediately. Rewrite until it passes the "would I click?" test.
- Wall-of-text tweets — a 280-character block of text is unreadable. Use line breaks.
- Links in the middle — mid-thread links kill engagement. Twitter suppresses them and readers bounce.
- No numbering — unnumbered threads feel disorganized and are hard to reference.
- Repeating the same format — if every body tweet is "Lesson N: [statement]" it gets monotonous. Mix formats.
- Thread over 20 tweets — attention drops sharply after tweet 15. Cut or split into two threads.
Recovery
- No hook ideas: Generate 5 hook variants using different formats (story, stat, bold claim, question, list). Let the user pick.
- Thread too long: Cut body tweets that overlap or combine two related points into one tweet.
- Topic too broad: Narrow to a specific angle. "Marketing tips" becomes "7 email subject line formulas that doubled my open rate."
- No personal experience: Frame as curated wisdom: "I studied 50 viral threads. Here are the 7 patterns they all share."
- Character count issues: Rewrite long tweets by cutting filler words, using shorter synonyms, or splitting into two tweets.
