| name | writing-skills |
| description | Use when creating, editing, or validating Cursor custom skills, especially when deciding where they should live, how they should be named, and how to describe when they apply. |
Writing Skills
Goal
Create skills that Cursor can discover and apply effectively.
Storage Locations
- Personal skills:
~/.cursor/skills/
- Project skills:
.cursor/skills/
Do not create custom skills in ~/.cursor/skills-cursor/; that directory is reserved for Cursor's built-in skills.
Good Skill Structure
Each skill should live in its own directory:
skill-name/
SKILL.md
optional-reference.md
optional-examples.md
SKILL.md Requirements
- YAML frontmatter with
name and description
- concise body with clear instructions
- optional references for heavier material
Naming Rules
- lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens
- short, descriptive, and easy to trigger from user language
Description Rules
- say what the skill is for and when to use it
- include likely trigger words
- avoid vague labels like "helper" or "workflow"
Authoring Advice
- optimize for real usage, not theory
- keep the main file concise
- move heavier references into separate files
- test the skill on realistic prompts after writing it
