Blog Writing Specialist

Comprehensive blog writing combining technical depth, personal voice transformation, and AEO optimization.

Quick Decision Tree

Input Type	Use Section
Technical tutorial, deep dive, benchmark	Technical Blog Writing
Brain dump → polished post	Nick Nisi Voice
Personal voice (Jarad style)	Jarad's Voice
Company/product/technology category post	Lightfast Category System
Not sure	Start here, adapt as needed

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Part 1: Technical Blog Writing

Write developer-focused technical blog posts.

Post Types

1. Tutorial / How-To

Step-by-step instruction. Reader should build something.

Structure:
1. What we're building (with screenshot/demo)
2. Prerequisites
3. Step 1: Setup
4. Step 2: Core implementation
5. Step 3: ...
6. Complete code (GitHub link)
7. Next steps / extensions

Rule	Why
Show the end result first	Reader knows if worth continuing
List prerequisites explicitly	Don't waste wrong audience time
Every code block should be runnable	Copy-paste-run is the test
Explain the "why" not just the "how"	Tutorials that explain reasoning get shared
Include error handling	Real code has errors
Link to complete code repo	Reference after tutorial

2. Deep Dive / Explainer

Explains a concept, technology, or architecture decision in depth.

Structure:
1. What is [concept] and why should you care?
2. How it works (simplified mental model)
3. How it works (detailed mechanics)
4. Real-world example
5. Trade-offs and when NOT to use it
6. Further reading

3. Postmortem / Incident Report

Describes what went wrong, why, and what was fixed.

Structure:
1. Summary (what happened, impact, duration)
2. Timeline of events
3. Root cause analysis
4. Fix implemented
5. What we're doing to prevent recurrence
6. Lessons learned

4. Benchmark / Comparison

Data-driven comparison of tools, approaches, or architectures.

Structure:
1. What we compared and why
2. Methodology (so results are reproducible)
3. Results with charts/tables
4. Analysis (what the numbers mean)
5. Recommendation (with caveats)
6. Raw data / reproducibility instructions

5. Architecture / System Design

Explains how a system is built and why decisions were made.

Structure:
1. Problem we needed to solve
2. Constraints and requirements
3. Options considered
4. Architecture chosen (with diagram)
5. Trade-offs we accepted
6. Results and lessons

Writing Rules for Developers

Voice and Tone

Do	Don't
Be direct: "Use connection pooling"	"You might want to consider using..."
Admit trade-offs: "This adds complexity"	Pretend your solution is perfect
Use "we" for team decisions	"I single-handedly architected..."
Specific numbers: "reduced p99 from 800ms to 90ms"	"significantly improved performance"
Cite sources and benchmarks	Make unsourced claims
Acknowledge alternatives	Pretend yours is the only way

What Developers Hate

❌ "In today's fast-paced world of technology..." (filler)
❌ "As we all know..." (if we all know, why writing it?)
❌ "Simply do X" (nothing is simple if reading a tutorial)
❌ "It's easy to..." (dismissive of reader's experience)
❌ "Obviously..." (if obvious, don't write it)
❌ Marketing language in technical content
❌ Burying the lede under 3 paragraphs of context

Code Examples

Rule	Why
Every code block must be runnable	Broken examples destroy trust
Show complete, working examples	Snippets without context are useless
Include language identifier in fenced blocks	Syntax highlighting
Show output/result after code	Reader verifies understanding
Use realistic variable names	calculateTotalRevenue not foo
Include error handling in examples	Real code handles errors
Pin dependency versions	"Works with React 18.2" not "React"

Explanation Depth

Audience Signal	Depth
"Getting started with X"	Explain everything, assume no prior knowledge
"Advanced X patterns"	Skip basics, go deep on nuances
"X vs Y"	Assume familiarity with both, focus on differences
"How we built X"	Technical audience, can skip fundamentals

State your assumed audience level explicitly at the start.

Blog Post Structure

The Ideal Structure

# Title (contains primary keyword, states outcome)

[Hero image or diagram]

**TL;DR:** [2-3 sentence summary with key takeaway]

## The Problem / Why This Matters
[Set up why the reader should care — specific, not generic]

## The Solution / How We Did It
[Core content — code, architecture, explanation]

### Step 1: [First thing]
[Explanation + code + output]

### Step 2: [Second thing]
[Explanation + code + output]

## Results
[Numbers, benchmarks, outcomes — be specific]

## Trade-offs and Limitations
[Honest about downsides — builds trust]

## Conclusion
[Key takeaway + what to do next]

## Further Reading
[3-5 relevant links]

Word Count by Type

Type	Word Count	Why
Quick tip	500-800	One concept, one example
Tutorial	1,500-3,000	Step-by-step needs detail
Deep dive	2,000-4,000	Thorough exploration
Architecture post	2,000-3,500	Diagrams carry some load
Benchmark	1,500-2,500	Data and charts do heavy lifting

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Part 2: Brain Dump → Polished Post (Nick Nisi Voice)

Transform unstructured brain dumps into polished blog posts.

Process

1. Receive the Brain Dump

Accept whatever provided:

• Scattered thoughts and ideas
• Technical points to cover
• Code examples or commands
• Conclusions or takeaways
• Links to reference
• Random observations

Don't require organization. The mess is the input.

2. Read Voice and Tone

Load references/voice-tone.md to understand Nick's writing style.

Key characteristics:

• Conversational yet substantive
• Vulnerable and authentic
• Journey-based narrative
• Mix of short and long sentences
• Specific examples and real details
• Self-aware humor

3. Check for Story Potential

Read references/story-circle.md to understand the narrative framework.

Determine if content fits a story structure:

• Is there a journey from one understanding to another?
• Can you identify a problem and resolution?
• Does it follow: comfort → disruption → return changed?

4. Organize Content

Structure material into sections:

Common structures:

• Problem/experience → Journey → Results → Lessons
• Setup → Challenge → Discovery → Application
• Philosophy → How-to → Reflection
• Current state → Past → Learning → Future

5. Write in Nick's Voice

Opening:

• Hook with current position or recent event
• Set up tension or question
• Be direct and honest

Body:

• Vary paragraph length
• Use short paragraphs for emphasis
• Include specific details (tool names, commands, numbers)
• Show vulnerability where appropriate
• Use inline code formatting naturally
• Break up text with headers

Technical content:

• Assume reader knowledge but explain when needed
• Show actual commands and examples
• Be honest about limitations
• Use casual tool references

Ending:

• Tie back to opening
• Forward-looking perspective
• Actionable advice
• Optimistic or thought-provoking

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Part 3: Jarad's Voice

Personal blog writing with distinctive voice.

Core Voice Patterns

Sentence Structure:

• Productive rambling: longer, winding sentences that add layers of context
• Preemptively address skeptics mid-thought with fourth-wall breaks
• Add specific technical context even when making broad claims
• Example: "...ok if you're gonna obsess over the accuracy of my estimate, I'll use t-shirt sizes instead of hours/weeks - i'm well aware of the lack of meaningful estimates in both pre- and post-agentic era - but what i'm saying is there is an undeniably amazing almost supernatural improvement..."

Concrete Over Abstract:

• Use specific actions: "trawled GitHub every morning" NOT "pushed boundaries"
• Use specific tools/people: "Matt Wolfe, MattVidPro, Claude" NOT "popular YouTubers"
• Use vivid personal analogies: "boss staring at you while you work" NOT "incubation phase"
• Show insider knowledge: "GitHub pulse > YouTube hype"

Tone Elements:

• Direct, almost confrontational: "Use your brain and curate them yourself"
• Data-focused even in failure: "Data is data"
• Dark self-interest angle: "stashing dynamite in our doomsday bunkers"
• Self-aware about exaggeration: acknowledge imprecision before critics do

NEVER Use:

• "This isn't X, it's Y" profound-sounding structures
• Cliché transitions: "here's the kicker", "here's where it gets interesting"
• Abstract action verbs without details: "experimented relentlessly", "pushed boundaries"
• Overly polished blog-speak
• Clean, explanatory metaphors like "incubation phase"

Header Style:

• Minimalistic: 2-4 words maximum
• When read in sequence, headers tell their own story
• No explanatory subtitles
• Example progression: "Flat Charts" → "The Lab" → "Spring 2024" → "The Numbers" → "The Window"

Content Strategy

Opening:

• Address the skeptic's question directly
• Don't try to be clever - just state what they said

Body:

• Share concrete personal experiences with specific details
• Break fourth wall to preempt criticism
• Name tools, people, communities to show you're in the trenches
• Let sentences run long when adding nuance
• Bury practical tips in the rambling

Addressing Critics:

• Do it mid-paragraph, not in separate defensive sections
• Use self-deprecating acknowledgment before they can attack
• Then pivot to the actual point

Closing:

• Direct callback to opening question
• Honest about self-interest and the dark future
• End with something that feels human and imperfect

Examples

Bad: "The shovelware isn't missing. It's incubating." Good: "I would say this is more accurately 'an incubation phase'. Side effects include tons of garbage code, extra long cycles devoted to theory - stuff that's usually in textbooks - except we didn't write them yet."

Bad: "I was hitting these incredible 'a-ha' moments weekly." Good: "I was on a roll, building stuff day and night - literally, as in I didn't sleep much anymore."

Bad: "Experimented relentlessly. Pushed boundaries. Tried to break things." Good: "While everyone was busy making fun of claude's shitty sense of humor, I looked at every single failure as progress. Data is data. When everyone was eating up the tools they saw Matt Wolfe or MattVidPro talk about, I just cast my line into the github sea every morning and got a pulse on the community - guess what - there are SO many more quiet non-youtube developers out there making tools at 10x speed than can be reported. Use your brain and curate them yourself."

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Part 4: Category-Aware AEO System (Lightfast)

Create category-aware, AEO-optimized blog posts.

Critical: Accuracy Over Marketing

Before writing anything:

1. Verify every claim:

   • If you cite a number, confirm the source
   • If you mention a feature, confirm it exists in production
   • When uncertain, ask for clarification

2. Never oversell:

   • Disclose limitations: "Currently supports X; Y coming in vZ"
   • Be honest about beta status and rollout timelines

3. Match category voice:

   • Technology: Technical authority, data-driven
   • Company: Visionary, category-defining
   • Product: Problem-solver, benefit-oriented

Category Selection

Category	Use When	Audience
Technology	Technical deep-dives, architecture, research	Developers, engineers
Company	Funding, partnerships, events, hiring	Executives, investors
Product	Feature launches, updates, tutorials	Customers, prospects

Writing Guidelines

1. Concise & scannable: Match category word counts
2. Lead with value: Start with what readers gain
3. Be transparent: Mention beta status, limitations
4. Active voice: "You can now..." not "Users are able to..."
5. No emoji: Professional tone
6. Include TL;DR: 80-100 words for AI citation
7. FAQ section: 3-5 questions matching search queries
8. Code examples: Required for Technology posts

Required Frontmatter

Every draft MUST include:

• title, slug, publishedAt, category (core)
• excerpt, tldr (AEO)
• seo.metaDescription, seo.focusKeyword (SEO)
• _internal.status, _internal.generated (traceability)

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Part 5: Diagram Generation

When to Use Diagrams

Scenario	Diagram Type
Request flow	Sequence diagram
System architecture	Box-and-arrow diagram
Decision logic	Flowchart
Data model	ER diagram
Performance comparison	Bar/line chart
Before/after	Side-by-side

For architecture diagrams and benchmark visualizations:

Use diagramming tools (Mermaid, Excalidraw, draw.io) for architecture diagrams and charting libraries (matplotlib, Chart.js) for benchmark visualizations. These tools provide better control, are self-hosted, and avoid third-party execution risks.

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Part 6: Distribution

Where Developers Read

Platform	Format	How to Post
Your blog	Full article	Primary — own your content
Dev.to	Cross-post (canonical URL back to yours)	Markdown import
Hashnode	Cross-post (canonical URL)	Markdown import
Hacker News	Link submission	Show HN for projects, tell HN for stories
Reddit (r/programming, r/webdev, etc.)	Link or discussion	Follow subreddit rules
Twitter/X	Thread summary + link	See twitter-thread-creation skill
LinkedIn	Adapted version + link	See linkedin-content skill

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Common Mistakes

Mistake	Problem	Fix
No TL;DR	Busy devs leave before getting the point	2-3 sentence summary at the top
Broken code examples	Destroys all credibility	Test every code block before publishing
No version pinning	Code breaks in 6 months	"Works with Node 20, React 18.2"
"Simply do X"	Dismissive, condescending	Remove "simply", "just", "easily"
No diagrams for architecture	Walls of text describing systems	One diagram > 500 words
Marketing tone	Developers instantly disengage	Direct, technical, honest
No trade-offs section	Reads as biased marketing	Always discuss downsides
Giant introduction before content	Readers bounce	Get to the point in 2-3 paragraphs
Unpinned dependencies	Tutorial breaks for future readers	Pin versions, note date written
No "Further Reading"	Dead end, no context	3-5 links to deepen understanding

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Bundled Resources

References

• references/voice-tone.md - Complete Nick Nisi voice and tone guide
• references/story-circle.md - Story Circle narrative framework

Usage

Load reference files when writing in specific voices:

• Nick Nisi voice → read references/voice-tone.md + references/story-circle.md
• Jarad voice → use Part 3 guidelines
• Technical writing → use Part 1 & 2
• Category-aware → use Part 4