Create Substack Note

Overview

This orchestrator creates Substack Notes by sequencing creator-stack:research for strategic context and creator-stack:write for content generation. It handles newsletter context awareness, note type selection, and output management -- all actual content generation and strategy are delegated to the foundation skills and their references.

Core Principle: This is a thin orchestrator. Strategy lives in creator-stack:research via references/substack-notes-strategy.md. Templates and formatting live in creator-stack:write via references/substack-notes.md. This skill manages the workflow sequence, newsletter context, and user decisions only.

When to Use

Use this skill when:

• Writing a standalone Substack Note for audience engagement
• Promoting a newsletter issue through Notes
• Building engagement between newsletter issues
• Sharing insights, hot takes, or behind-the-scenes content
• Creating any short-form Substack content

Prerequisites

Optional: A recent newsletter issue directory at ./newsletter/issues/[issue_name]/ with a plan.md file. This is only needed for issue-linked notes. Standalone notes do not require an issue directory.

Workflow

Execute all steps below in order.

Step 0: Newsletter Context Check

Check if the user has specified a newsletter issue or if an issue directory exists at ./newsletter/issues/[issue_name]/.

If issue directory exists:

• Read plan.md for issue topic, title, and context
• Suggest a lifecycle phase based on context:
  • Issue not yet published -> pre-newsletter
  • Issue just published -> issue day
  • Issue published 3-7 days ago -> post-newsletter
• Use this context to inform the research invocation in Step 1

If no issue directory:

• Default to between issues mode
• Notes will focus on engagement, authority-building, or value delivery
• Any note type is available

Content Bank Check:

Also check if ./substack/notes/ideas.md (the content bank) exists:

• If it exists and the user did NOT specify a topic, read the bank and present pending ideas organized by type as topic options
• If it exists and the user DID specify a topic, check if the topic matches a pending idea in the bank — if so, note the match for status update in Step 5
• If the bank does not exist, proceed normally — the user provides a topic directly

Step 1: Invoke creator-stack:research

MANDATORY: Invoke creator-stack:research with references/substack-notes-strategy.md to determine the strategic context for this note.

Provide:

• The lifecycle phase (from Step 0 or user input)
• The topic
• The user's stated goal (engagement, promotion, authority, connection, quick value, transparency, positioning)

The research skill will apply the strategy framework to determine:

• Optimal note type ranking for the context
• Cadence awareness
• Strategic rationale for the approach

NOTE: This is a lighter research invocation -- the orchestrator is asking research to apply the strategy framework to the user's context, not to do full competitor analysis.

Step 2: Present Note Type Options

Based on the research output, present the ranked note type options to the user:

1. Single-Punch Wisdom -- one sharp insight
2. Income Proof Story -- results-driven credibility
3. Pattern Observation -- trend or pattern spotted
4. Contrarian Statement -- against-the-grain take
5. Problem -> Solution -- actionable fix
6. Build-in-Public Update -- transparency and progress
7. List-Based Tactical -- quick-hit value list
8. Vulnerable Personal Story -- authentic connection
9. Newsletter Teaser -- drive issue reads
10. Direct Advice -- straight recommendation

Include the research skill's recommendation for which type best fits the context. User selects their preferred type.

Default to Short (3-5 sentences) unless the message demands more.

Step 3: Invoke creator-stack:write

MANDATORY: Invoke creator-stack:write with references/substack-notes.md to draft the note.

Provide:

• The selected note type from Step 2
• The strategic context from Step 1
• The newsletter context from Step 0 (if applicable)
• The lifecycle phase and user's stated goal

The creator-stack:write skill will automatically invoke creator-stack:voice for voice consistency. The reference file contains all templates, formatting rules, and structural formulas.

Step 4: Quality Checklist

Verify the drafted note against all eight criteria before presenting to the user:

• Follows structural formula for chosen note type
• Opens with strong hook (first line grabs attention)
• Length matches type guideline
• Ends with engagement hook (not formulaic)
• Specific, not vague (numbers, examples, concrete details)
• Standalone value (interesting without clicking any link)
• NOT a generic link dump
• Note type matches the stated goal

If any criterion fails, request a revision from creator-stack:write before presenting to the user.

Step 5: Save Output

Present the final note to the user for approval.

If issue directory exists:

• After user approval, append to ./newsletter/issues/[issue_name]/notes.md

If no issue directory:

• Present the final note inline to the user

Content Bank Update:

If the note was based on a content bank idea:

• Update the idea's status from pending to drafted in ./substack/notes/ideas.md
• Recalculate the Quick Stats header (pending/drafted/published counts, types needing ideas)

Output Format

When saving to notes.md, use this structure:

## [Type] Note - [Date]

**Type:** [Note type name]
**Context:** [Standalone / Pre-newsletter / Issue Day / Post-newsletter / Between Issues]
**Goal:** [Engagement / Authority / Connection / Promotion / Quick Value / Transparency / Positioning]

### Note Content

[Final note text]

### Notes

- Suggested timing: [from research]
- Engagement hook type: [question / agree-disagree / share / reply]

Multiple notes are appended to the same file with a horizontal rule separator (---) between entries.

Quality Checklist

Verify completion before finalizing:

• Newsletter context checked (Step 0)
• creator-stack:research invoked with references/substack-notes-strategy.md -- strategic context determined
• Note type options presented and user selection received
• creator-stack:write invoked with references/substack-notes.md -- note drafted
• Voice consistency maintained (handled by writing skill's creator-stack:voice invocation)
• All 8 quality criteria passed (Step 4)
• Note presented to user for approval
• Output saved to issue directory or presented inline

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Writing templates inline: All templates live in references/substack-notes.md -- do not duplicate them in this orchestrator
2. Embedding strategy logic: All strategy lives in references/substack-notes-strategy.md -- do not hardcode timing, cadence, or algorithm advice here
3. Skipping foundation skill invocations: Both creator-stack:research and creator-stack:write must be invoked -- do not generate notes directly
4. Ignoring newsletter context: Always check for an issue directory first -- it changes the entire strategic approach
5. Defaulting to "new issue out" link dumps: The research and writing skills are specifically designed to avoid generic link dumps -- trust the foundation skills
6. Skipping the quality checklist: Every note must pass all 8 criteria before presenting to the user