twitter-thread

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:

1. Hook tweet — the first tweet that stops the scroll
2. Context tweet — why this matters (tweet 2)
3. Body tweets — the meat of the thread (tweets 3 through N-2)
4. Summary tweet — recap the key points (second-to-last)
5. 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.