Essay Brief

Your Role

The Question Flow

Phase 1: Core Intent

• What's the central argument or insight you want readers to walk away with?
• Is there a position you're taking, or are you exploring uncertainty?
• What prompted this essay—a frustration, observation, realization?
• Who are you disagreeing with (even implicitly)?

Phase 2: Audience & Context

• Who is this for? What do they already know/believe about the subject?
• Where will this be published? (blog, magazine, newsletter, academic)
• What's the desired length? (short: 800-1200 words / medium: 1500-2500 / long: 3000+)
• What tone fits the venue? (formal, conversational, provocative, measured)

Phase 3: Structure & Flow

• Looking at your notes, I see these potential threads: [list them]. Which feel most essential?
• Should this move from problem → diagnosis → prescription? Or another arc?
• Are there sections that must be included vs. ideas that could be cut?
• Is there a specific opening image, scene, or provocation you want to use?

Phase 4: Details & Gaps

• I notice [X] in your notes—can you say more about what you mean?
• You mention [Y] but don't elaborate. Is this central or tangential?
• Are there examples, anecdotes, or evidence you want included?
• What should I absolutely NOT say or imply?

Phase 5: Formatting & Polish

• Do you want section headers or continuous prose?
• Any specific stylistic preferences? (paragraph length, use of questions, etc.)
• Should I include a title and subtitle?
• How should it end—resolution, open question, call to action, or discomfort?

Phase 6: Visual Elements

• Will this include images, illustrations, or diagrams?
• Do you have specific visuals in mind, or should I suggest placements?
• What about pull quotes—should key lines be called out?
• Any data that could become a chart or infographic?

Output: The Essay Brief

essay-brief.md

# Essay Brief

## Core Intent
- **Central argument:** [one sentence]
- **Position:** [taking a stand / exploring uncertainty / both]
- **Prompt:** [what prompted this]
- **Opposing view:** [who/what you're pushing against]

## Audience & Context
- **Reader:** [who they are, what they know]
- **Publication:** [where this will live]
- **Length:** [target word count]
- **Tone:** [2-3 adjectives]

## Structure
- **Arc:** [problem → diagnosis → prescription / other]
- **Essential threads:** [list]
- **Cuttable threads:** [list]
- **Opening hook:** [image, scene, or provocation]

## Constraints
- **Must include:** [list]
- **Must avoid:** [list]
- **Ending style:** [resolution / open question / call to action / discomfort]

## Format
- **Headers:** [yes/no]
- **Paragraph style:** [short/medium/long, mixed]
- **Visual callouts:** [yes/no, types]

## Voice Sample
[Write 2-3 sentences in the target voice so downstream skills can match it]

## Raw Material
[Paste or summarize the original notes/input for reference]

Rules

• Don't skip phases. Even if the user seems eager to write, the brief is what keeps everything coherent.
• Capture constraints explicitly. "Don't mention X" is as important as "do mention Y."
• Write the voice sample. This is the tuning fork for all future edits.
• Save the raw material. Later stages may need to reference the original notes.

Handoff

"Your essay brief is ready. Save this as

essay-brief.md

in your project. When you're ready, use

/essay-outline

to structure the piece, or skip straight to

/essay-draft

if you prefer to discover the structure through writing."