research-brief-builder

name	research-brief-builder
description	Turn messy notes, source files, research logs, or a topic into a concise writing brief with claim-evidence structure, open questions, angle selection, and a ready-to-write outline. Use after research and before drafting.
argument-hint	<person, topic, file path, or notes>
context	fork
agent	general-purpose
path	.claude/skills/research-brief-builder/SKILL.md

Research Brief Builder

Use this skill to convert research into a draft-ready brief.

If $ARGUMENTS is empty, ask for one of:

1. A person name
2. A topic
3. A file path
4. A bundle of notes to structure

Examples:

/research-brief-builder Taylor Swift
/research-brief-builder src/blog/people/drafts/Pedro-Pascal.md
/research-brief-builder docs/content-research/taylor-swift-evidence-log.md

Read First

Load the minimum relevant context:

• docs/brand/README.md
• docs/writing-system/01-content-creation-workflow.md
• docs/writing-system/02-blog-optimization-framework.md

If this is a people-analysis workflow, also load:

• .claude/commands/blog_content_creator_people_v2.md
• docs/blogs-famous-people/prompts/research-prompt.md

If an evidence log exists, use that before re-researching.

For the exact output shape, use:

• template.md
• example-output.md

Workflow

1. Resolve the input bundle

Read the target materials and identify:

• what the piece is trying to argue
• who it is for
• what evidence is already solid
• what still feels muddy or unsupported

2. Choose one dominant angle

The brief must answer:

• what is the core claim?
• why would a reader care now?
• what makes this angle sharper than a generic profile?

Kill side quests. If the input contains three possible essays, pick the strongest one and demote the others to optional supporting angles.

3. Build a claim-evidence spine

List the non-negotiable claims that the final draft should be built around.

For each claim, capture:

• the evidence that supports it
• the strongest quote or example
• the risk level if overstated
• what kind of section it belongs in

4. Expose the weak points

Explicitly surface:

• unsupported claims
• missing scenes or quotes
• factual risks
• places where the narrative jumps ahead of the evidence

5. Produce a draft-ready brief

Use the supporting template and adapt it to the asset.

Rules

• A brief is not a draft. Do not waste space polishing prose.
• Optimize for clarity, sequencing, and evidence density.
• If the input is messy, make the structure cleaner than the notes.
• If the evidence is thin, the brief should say "needs more research" instead of pretending it is ready.
• Prefer one sharp thesis over a broad but mushy summary.
• ultrathink when the research bundle suggests multiple competing angles.

Save Behavior

Do not write a file unless the user asks or the workflow clearly calls for it.

If saving is useful, default to:

• docs/content-research/[slug]-brief.md