About cw-promise
cw-promise is a Compound Writing skill for writers who need to frame a piece with an engaging, credible reader promise. It produces three options using distinct approaches and checks that each sets honest expectations.
Key features
- 01Generates three promise options
- 02Uses distinct framing approaches
- 03Builds anticipation and momentum
- 04Checks credibility and reader expectations
Use cases
- 01Developing an opening for an article
- 02Clarifying what readers can expect
- 03Finding a compelling angle for a piece
Install
Copy the command and run it in a terminal.
npx skills add https:/After installing, type/cw-promisein Claude Code to confirm it loaded.
Details
From the project READMEPromise
Purpose
Generate 3 promise options that create anticipation and launch the reader into the rest of the piece.
Read ../../references/context-contract.md and resolve available audience context, including optional AUDIENCE.md or a named shared guide. The explicit assignment audience takes precedence; missing audience context does not block the task.
Invocation
/cw-promise [context]— Generate promises for the specified topic/piece/cw-promise— System asks "What's the piece about?" then generates options
What Makes a Promise Work
A promise creates anticipation and momentum. It should achieve several of these:
Core Functions
- Creates appetite — Makes readers hungry for what you're about to reveal
- Establishes stakes — Shows what's at risk or what's possible
- Sets expectations — Helps readers know what kind of journey they're on
- Builds trust — Shows you have something worth their time
- Generates momentum — Propels them into the rest of the piece
Essential Ingredients (weave in several)
- Transformation potential — Not just information transfer but actual change
- Earned authority — Why you're the right guide for this journey
- Specific enough to trust — Concrete without being constraining
- Urgency without panic — Why now matters, but not manipulative
- Emotional resonance — Connect to what readers actually care about
- Practical value — What they'll be able to do/see/understand differently
Forms It Might Take
- A glimpse of the destination without giving away the path
- A confession of what it cost you to learn this
- A preview of the framework or lens you'll share
- A question that reframes everything
- A challenge to conventional thinking
- An invitation into discovery
- A map of the territory ahead
- A "what if" that opens possibility
Quality Checks
- Does it make you want to keep reading?
- Is it honest about what's coming?
- Does it feel like an invitation rather than a sales pitch?
- Would you feel satisfied if the piece delivered on this?
- Does it match the energy and tone of what follows?
How to Generate
-
Analyze the content — What's the payoff? What will the reader gain?
-
Select 3 approaches that fit. Consider:
- What would make the reader lean in?
- What's the honest value proposition of this piece?
- What transformation is possible?
-
Generate one promise per approach — Each should be 1-3 sentences.
-
Present all three with a brief note on the approach.
Output Format
## Promise Options
### Option 1: [Brief description of approach]
[1-3 sentence promise]
### Option 2: [Brief description of approach]
[1-3 sentence promise]
### Option 3: [Brief description of approach]
[1-3 sentence promise]
---
Which creates the right anticipation? Or want me to try something different?
What to Avoid
- Overpromising transformation you can't deliver
- Vague promises that could apply to any piece
- Manipulative urgency tactics
- Claims without credibility
- Pure information transfer without perspective shift
Lessons
[Skill-specific lessons will be added here as they're captured]