Claude Code Prompts to Write a SKILL.md That Actually Runs
Write Claude Code SKILL.md files with clear triggers, steps, and stop lines in the official product. Tag missing repo facts [VERIFY]. Not a steal-skills listicle.
In short: This page contains 15 copy-paste ready prompts, organized into 5 categories with a description and pro tip for each. The first 5 prompts are free instantly, no signup needed. Hand-curated and tested by the AI Academy team.
Spec the skill
3 promptsOne-job skill brief
1/15✨ What it does
Claude Code drafts SKILL.md sections from your one-job brief without inventing repo paths. Create the skill only if [DONE] fits one sentence.
Help me spec a Claude Code skill. Job: [JOB]. Trigger phrases: [LIST]. Done means: [DONE]. Out of scope: [NOT]. Output: SKILL.md sections only. No invented repo paths.
Pro tip: If done means is vague, you do not have a skill yet. You have a wish.
Trigger phrase list
2/15✨ What it does
Claude Code writes trigger and anti-trigger phrases for [PASTE] in official skill format. Test each trigger in Claude Code before you share the skill.
From this job description [PASTE], write 5 trigger phrases users might say and 3 anti-triggers where the skill should refuse. Official Claude Code skill format only.
Pro tip: Anti-triggers prevent skills from hijacking unrelated tasks.
Inputs the skill needs
3/15✨ What it does
Claude Code lists required inputs and forbidden commands for [JOB] with [VERIFY] on unknown repo facts. Paste real paths before you ship the skill.
List inputs SKILL.md must ask for before work starts on [JOB]: files, env vars, commands allowed, commands forbidden. Mark unknown repo facts [VERIFY].
Pro tip: Skills that guess paths break on the second machine.
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Write SKILL.md
3 promptsFull SKILL.md draft
4/15✨ What it does
Claude Code writes a full SKILL.md from [PASTE BRIEF] with stop lines and a verify checklist. Save as SKILL.md in your skills folder, then dry-run once.
Write SKILL.md for [SKILL NAME] using this brief [PASTE BRIEF]. Sections: When to use, When not to use, Steps, Stop lines, Verify checklist. 400-800 words. Tag gaps [VERIFY].
Pro tip: Stop lines belong in the skill body, not only in your head.
Steps with command guards
5/15✨ What it does
Claude Code drafts guarded Steps for [JOB] with rollback notes and [STOP] on destructive commands. Review commands with a teammate before merge.
Draft Steps for SKILL.md on [JOB]. Each step: action, allowed commands, expected output, rollback if fail. Never include rm -rf, force push, or prod deploy without [STOP] line.
Pro tip: If a step needs prod access, the skill should refuse by default.
Verify checklist block
6/15✨ What it does
Claude Code writes a Verify checklist from [REPO FACTS] or [VERIFY] placeholders. Run the checklist once on a fake task before trusting it.
Write a Verify checklist section for SKILL.md on [JOB]: what to read, tests to run, diff rules, and when to ask the human. Use only [REPO FACTS]. Else [VERIFY].
Pro tip: Checklists turn skills from vibes into repeatable work.
Test the skill
3 promptsDry run on sample task
7/15✨ What it does
Claude Code dry-runs [TASK] against [PASTE] without executing commands and shows stop points. Fix stop points that arrive too late.
Act as if SKILL.md [PASTE] is loaded. Run a dry run on sample task [TASK]. Do not execute commands. Show what you would run and where you would stop.
Pro tip: Dry run without execution is the cheapest test.
Failure injection
8/15✨ What it does
Claude Code simulates a missing [FILE] failure with escalation text from [PASTE]. Add that message verbatim to the skill if it is missing.
Given SKILL.md [PASTE], simulate failure when [FILE] is missing. Show the exact message the skill should print and the human escalation step. No auto-fix inventing files.
Pro tip: Missing file handling separates safe skills from chaos skills.
Second task drift test
9/15✨ What it does
Claude Code lists drift risks on task [B] and tightens When not to use in [PASTE]. Update SKILL.md before task B runs for real.
SKILL.md [PASTE] passed task A [A]. Now task B [B]. List 5 ways the skill might drift outside its job on B. Tighten When not to use section.
Pro tip: Second tasks expose scope creep. Test with a nearby but wrong task.
These prompts give you the what. Tutorials give you the why.
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Maintain skills
3 promptsShrink bloated skill
10/15✨ What it does
Claude Code cuts [PASTE] to about 500 words and lists removed rules. Restore only the rules you still enforce in practice.
This SKILL.md is too long: [PASTE]. Cut to 500 words keeping triggers, steps, stop lines, verify. Bullet list of removed rules.
Pro tip: Long skills get ignored mid-run. Shorter beats smarter wording.
Version note block
11/15✨ What it does
Claude Code adds Version and Changelog for [CHANGE] on [DATE]. Bump version when steps change breaking behavior.
Add a Version and Changelog section to SKILL.md [PASTE] for change [CHANGE]. Include date [DATE] and breaking behavior if any.
Pro tip: Teams sharing skills need changelog lines, not surprise behavior.
Handoff to teammate
12/15✨ What it does
Claude Code writes a 150-word maintainer handoff from [NOTES]. Send with link to SKILL.md in repo, not chat paste alone.
Write 150-word handoff for [NAME] maintaining SKILL.md [SKILL NAME]: triggers, stop lines, owner, known failures from [NOTES]. No invented failures.
Pro tip: Name an owner. Skills without owners rot in a month.
What not to put in skills
3 promptsNo secrets in SKILL.md
13/15✨ What it does
Claude Code flags secrets in [PASTE] and suggests env var placeholders. Never commit keys even in example blocks.
Review SKILL.md draft [PASTE] for secrets: API keys, tokens, private URLs. List lines to remove. Suggest env var placeholders instead. Uncertain [VERIFY].
Pro tip: Skills get copied. Treat them as public documents.
Refuse steal-skills copy
14/15✨ What it does
Claude Code refuses to copy [PASTE] verbatim and outlines a fresh SKILL.md from [BRIEF]. Write your own steps for your repo.
Act as Claude Code. I pasted a steal-7-skills blog [PASTE]. Refuse to copy it verbatim. Extract only legal patterns for my repo brief [BRIEF] as a fresh SKILL.md outline.
Pro tip: This page is about writing skills, not copying viral lists.
Stop before destructive command
15/15✨ What it does
Claude Code rewrites destructive [COMMAND] steps with [STOP] and human approval text. Merge only after you agree with the stop.
SKILL.md [PASTE] suggests command [COMMAND]. Evaluate if destructive. If yes, rewrite step to stop at [STOP] and require human approval text.
Pro tip: Destructive commands need explicit human gates in the skill file.
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