name

content-refiner

description

This skill should be used when refining video scripts, articles, essays, or newsletters to align with Menfem's work principles, content guidelines, and signature voices. Use when the user provides rough drafts or examples and requests improvement, refinement, or principle-based review. Trigger phrases include "review this script," "improve this using my principles," "refine this content," "make this follow my guidelines," "write in my style," or "make it more personal/critical/analytical."

Content Refiner

Name: content-refiner
Author: menfem

ABOUTME: Thin behavioral wrapper that applies MenFem writing methodology to drafts. ABOUTME: All voice/structure/pattern guidance lives in docs/brand/.

Overview

Refine video scripts, articles, essays, and newsletters to match MenFem voice and quality standards. This skill orchestrates the refinement workflow; the actual methodology lives in docs/brand/.

Required Reading (Load Before Refining)

Document	What It Provides
`docs/brand/writing-methodology.md`	Voice calibration, story structure, banned patterns, pre-publishing checklist
`docs/brand/storytelling.md`	Timeless principles, named villains, article frameworks, signature phrases
`docs/brand/content-strategy.md`	Audience profile, content pillars

Read these files before applying refinements.

When to Use This Skill

Activate when:

User says "refine", "polish", "improve this draft"
Reviewing content for voice and structure
Removing LLM patterns or marketing fluff
Applying Financial Newsletter or Critical Stories voice
Auto-invoked by /work command

Refinement Workflow

Step 1: Read the Draft

Understand what content type it is and what voice applies.

Step 2: Select Voice

From docs/brand/writing-methodology.md:

Financial Newsletter — Business, markets, trend analysis
Critical Stories — Technology, culture, society, personal essays
Blend — Complex topics needing both data and power analysis

Step 3: Analyze Hook

Check first 10 seconds against hook components in writing-methodology.md.

Step 4: Map Structure

Identify Setup → Tension → Payoff segments. Fix any that start with payoff.

Step 5: Apply Voice Layer

Apply voice-specific calibration from writing-methodology.md.

Step 6: Remove Banned Patterns

Scan for and remove:

Banned words/phrases (see writing-methodology.md)
LLM patterns (em dashes, "furthermore", hedge stacking)
Filler words

Step 7: Apply Brand Elements

From docs/brand/storytelling.md:

Integrate at least one timeless principle
Consider villain contrast where appropriate
Verify audience fit (entrepreneurs, creators, builders)
Apply signature phrases naturally

Step 8: Run Pre-Publishing Checklist

Use checklist from writing-methodology.md before declaring done.

Output Format

When delivering refined content:

## REFINED CONTENT

[The improved content here]

---

## REFINEMENT NOTES

### Voice Applied: [Financial Newsletter / Critical Stories / Blend]
- [Voice elements applied]

### Hook Changes:
- [What was improved in the opening]

### Structure Changes:
- [Setup → Tension → Payoff adjustments]

### Brand Alignment:
- Principles used: [Which principles from storytelling.md]
- Villain contrast: [If used]
- Framework: [Which article framework]

### Patterns Removed:
- [Banned words, LLM patterns removed]

### Suggested Next Steps:
- [Further recommendations]

Quick Reference

Voice selection:

Business/markets → Financial Newsletter
Tech/culture/society → Critical Stories
Complex topics → Blend both

Key resources:

Voices, structure, patterns → docs/brand/writing-methodology.md
Principles, villains, phrases → docs/brand/storytelling.md
Audience, pillars → docs/brand/content-strategy.md

Auto-invocation patterns:

"refine this"
"polish the writing"
"improve this draft"
"make it follow my voice"