| name | analysis-topic |
| description | Topic viability analysis skill for marvinzhang.dev. Evaluates whether a topic is worth writing about by assessing audience fit, depth potential, timing, angle options, and recommended article style. Use when deciding "Should I write about X?" before committing to an article. |
| metadata | {"author":"marvinzhang","version":"1.0","tier":"analysis"} |
Topic Analysis
Evaluate whether a topic is worth writing about and how to approach it.
When to Use
- "Should I write about X?" decisions
- Choosing between multiple potential topics
- Determining the right article style for a topic
- Assessing whether a topic has enough depth for a full article
Analysis Framework
1. Audience Assessment
| Question | Answer |
|---|
| Who is the primary audience? | [Specific role/level] |
| What do they already know? | [Assumed knowledge] |
| What problem does this solve for them? | [Pain point] |
| Where would they encounter this topic? | [Context] |
2. Depth Analysis
Evaluate whether the topic has enough substance:
- Surface level: Can be covered in a tweet or short post → Skip or combine with related topics
- Medium depth: One core insight with supporting points → Good for announcement or experiential
- Deep: Multiple interconnected concepts → Good for analytical or tutorial
- Expert: Requires specialized knowledge to appreciate → Narrow audience, ensure value justifies effort
3. Timing Evaluation
- Breaking: New release, announcement, or event → Write quickly, announcement style
- Trending: Growing interest, active discussion → Write soon, analytical or tutorial
- Evergreen: Always relevant → Write thoughtfully, any style
- Retrospective: Looking back at experience → Write reflectively, experiential style
4. Angle Exploration
Generate 2-3 possible angles:
Angle A: [Description] — Style: [analytical/tutorial/experiential/announcement]
Angle B: [Description] — Style: [...]
Angle C: [Description] — Style: [...]
Evaluate each on:
- Uniqueness (vs. existing content)
- Author expertise match
- Reader value
- Effort required
5. Style Recommendation
Based on the analysis, recommend:
| Factor | → Style |
|---|
| Data-heavy, multi-source analysis | analytical |
| "How to do X" with clear steps | tutorial |
| Personal story with lessons | experiential |
| New release or project update | announcement |
Deliverables
# Topic Analysis: [Topic]
## Viability Score: [1-10]
## Audience: [Who and why they care]
## Depth: [Surface / Medium / Deep / Expert]
## Timing: [Breaking / Trending / Evergreen / Retrospective]
## Recommended Angle
[Description of the best angle]
## Recommended Style: [analytical / tutorial / experiential / announcement]
## Required Research
- [ ] [What needs to be researched first]
## Decision: [Write / Skip / Defer / Combine with other topic]
Quality Gates
