skill-creator

Skill Creator

Interactive guide for creating high-quality Claude skills.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• User wants to create a new Claude skill
• User wants to update or improve an existing skill
• User needs guidance on skill structure and best practices
• User wants to extend Claude's capabilities for specific workflows

Skill Structure

Every skill consists of a required SKILL.md file and optional bundled resources:

skill-name/
├── SKILL.md (required)
│   ├── YAML frontmatter metadata (required)
│   │   ├── name: (required)
│   │   └── description: (required)
│   └── Markdown instructions (required)
└── Bundled Resources (optional)
    ├── scripts/ - Executable code (Python/Bash/etc.)
    ├── references/ - Documentation loaded into context as needed
    └── assets/ - Files used in output (templates, icons, fonts, etc.)

Required Components

Frontmatter (YAML)

---
name: my-skill-name
description: A clear, comprehensive description of what this skill does and when to use it
---

Critical: The description field is how Claude determines when to use the skill. Be specific and comprehensive about:

• What the skill does
• When it should be used
• What types of queries trigger it
• What output it produces

Body (Markdown)

The markdown content contains:

• Instructions: Step-by-step guidance for using the skill
• Examples: Concrete usage examples
• Guidelines: Best practices and rules
• Workflows: Detailed procedures

Optional Bundled Resources

1. scripts/

When to include: When the skill needs executable code

Examples:

• scripts/analyzer.py - Python data analysis script
• scripts/formatter.sh - Bash formatting utility
• scripts/validator.js - JavaScript validation tool

Rules:

• Must be tested before inclusion
• Should be well-documented
• Include error handling

2. references/

When to include: When the skill needs detailed reference material that shouldn't bloat SKILL.md

Examples:

• references/schema.md - Database schema documentation
• references/api-spec.md - API endpoint reference
• references/examples.md - Extended examples

Rules:

• Move detailed info here, keep SKILL.md lean
• Avoid duplication between SKILL.md and references/
• Use for schemas, specs, detailed examples

3. assets/

When to include: When the skill needs files used in output

Examples:

• assets/logo.png - Brand assets
• assets/template.pptx - PowerPoint templates
• assets/boilerplate/ - HTML/React starter code
• assets/fonts/ - Custom typography

Rules:

• Only for files used in final output
• Not for documentation (use references/ instead)
• Templates, images, icons, boilerplate code

Creation Workflow

Step 1: Analyze the Use Case

Ask clarifying questions:

1. What specific task will this skill handle?
2. What are 3-5 concrete examples of user queries?
3. What makes this task repetitive or specialized?
4. What context or knowledge is required?
5. Are there existing tools/APIs to integrate?

Step 2: Identify Reusable Resources

For each concrete example, identify:

• Scripts that would be helpful
• Reference documentation needed
• Assets/templates to include

Step 3: Create the Structure

1. Start with SKILL.md frontmatter
2. Write clear, comprehensive description
3. Add instruction sections
4. Create scripts/ if needed
5. Add references/ for detailed docs
6. Include assets/ for templates

Step 4: Test the Skill

1. Test all scripts to ensure they work
2. Verify references are complete
3. Check assets are properly formatted
4. Validate SKILL.md instructions are clear

Best Practices

Description Writing

✅ Good description: "Analyzes Brevard County foreclosure auctions using 12-stage pipeline. Searches AcclaimWeb for liens, calculates max bid using ARV formula, generates BID/REVIEW/SKIP recommendations. Use when analyzing foreclosure properties, calculating max bids, or generating auction reports."

❌ Bad description: "Helps with foreclosure analysis"

Instruction Writing

• Be specific and actionable
• Include concrete examples
• Define workflows step-by-step
• Explain when to use vs not use
• Provide success criteria

Resource Organization

• Keep SKILL.md focused on procedures
• Move detailed docs to references/
• Test all scripts before inclusion
• Organize assets logically

Common Skill Patterns

1. Domain Expert Skill

Focus: Specialized knowledge in a field Resources: references/ with domain docs, examples Example: foreclosure-analysis, medical-coding

2. Workflow Automation Skill

Focus: Repeatable multi-step processes Resources: scripts/ for automation, templates in assets/ Example: git-workflow, deployment-checklist

3. Integration Skill

Focus: Using external APIs/tools Resources: references/ with API docs, scripts/ for API calls Example: stripe-integration, supabase-setup

4. Template/Boilerplate Skill

Focus: Starting points for projects Resources: assets/ with templates, references/ with docs Example: react-boilerplate, brand-guidelines

Examples

See the following skills as references:

• frontend-design: Creative workflow with aesthetic guidelines
• mcp-builder: Technical integration with detailed specs
• docx: Complex file manipulation with scripts
• brand-guidelines: Assets and references combination