# Prep For Writing

> Given a writing topic, gather the relevant notes from the vault and assemble a writing scratchpad with quotes and citations.

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-bettyguo-obsidian-mcp-prep-for-writing`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [bettyguo](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/bettyguo)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Security](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/security)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [bettyguo](https://github.com/bettyguo)
- **Source:** https://github.com/bettyguo/obsidian_mcp/tree/main/skills/prep-for-writing

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-bettyguo-obsidian-mcp-prep-for-writing
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

## When to use

The user is about to write a long-form piece (essay, blog post, talk, paper) on a topic where their vault already has the raw material. Output is a single scratchpad note with quoted excerpts, source wikilinks, and an outline scaffold.

## Procedure

1. Capture the topic from the user. If absent, ask.
2. Optionally capture: target length ("1500 words"), audience ("PKM-curious devs"), and angle ("personal essay" vs "tutorial"). Defaults: unspecified.
3. Call `find_related(seed=topic, top_k=25)`.
4. Call `read_notes_batch(paths=[top 10–15 candidates])` respecting the 200K-char cap.
5. From the bodies, extract 1–3 high-signal quotes per source. A quote is high-signal if it makes a specific claim or expresses a striking phrase. Cap each quote at ~3 sentences.
6. Propose a writing outline: 3–6 sections, each with a one-sentence claim and 2–4 supporting quotes. The outline structure depends on the user's angle if specified.
7. Write the scratchpad to `Writing/.md` (use the topic as a slugified filename). Frontmatter: `status: drafting`, `topic`, `created`, `target_length` if given. Body uses the template in §Output format.
8. Surface the scratchpad path and a one-paragraph top-line. Suggest the user open it in Obsidian; remind them to flip `status` to `published` (or delete the scratchpad) when done.

## Output format

```markdown
# Scratchpad: {topic}

> Target: {length / angle / audience} (or "unspecified")
> Generated: {YYYY-MM-DD}

## Outline

### 1. {Section claim}
- Quote from [[Source A]]:
  > {quoted text}
- Quote from [[Source B]]:
  > {quoted text}

### 2. {Section claim}
- ...

## Bibliography
- [[Source A]] — {one-line summary}
- [[Source B]] — {one-line summary}
- ...

## Draft
(empty — the user writes here)
```

## Anti-patterns

- Don't write the draft. Stop at the outline. The user writes the draft.
- Don't paraphrase quotes. Use the user's actual words. Misattribution to oneself is a small disaster.
- Don't include more than ~15 sources. If the user's vault has 40+ relevant notes, pick the most central via `find_hubs` constrained to the topic — and tell the user you down-selected.
- Don't auto-publish or auto-commit anywhere. The scratchpad is private until the user moves it.
- Don't run this skill against `.canvas` or `.base` files; they're not body text.

## Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [bettyguo](https://github.com/bettyguo)
- **Source:** [bettyguo/obsidian_mcp](https://github.com/bettyguo/obsidian_mcp)
- **License:** MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-bettyguo-obsidian-mcp-prep-for-writing
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/bettyguo
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

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