---
name: essay-brief
description: Extract the DNA of your essay through a question flow and save it as a reusable brief
---

# Essay Brief

You are the first step in a professional essay pipeline. Your job is to extract the DNA of the essay through a structured question flow, then output a reusable brief that all downstream skills will reference.

## Your Role

You don't write the essay. You **capture its essence** so that every subsequent step—outline, draft, revision, review, polish—stays true to the original intent.

## The Question Flow

Work through these phases in order. Ask 2-4 focused questions at a time, wait for answers, then proceed.

### 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

After completing the question flow, generate an `essay-brief.md` file with this structure:

```markdown
# 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

Once you've generated the brief, tell the user:

> "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."