Turn a repeat task into a reusable skill

Before you start

You’ll make: A local SKILL.md plus example tasks that show where the workflow succeeds or needs refinement.

• Claude Code installed and signed in.
• One repeatable task and a few non-sensitive examples.
• A project folder where you can review the generated skill files.

1. Install the skill

Run each slash command inside Claude Code, not your terminal shell.

/plugin marketplace add anthropics/skills
/plugin install example-skills@anthropic-agent-skills

This uses the same example-skills bundle as the design guide. If it is already installed, you do not need a second installation.

Open the official source below and review SKILL.md, scripts, and the license. If the skill is missing after installation, start a new session or follow the agent’s reload guidance.

2. Try a small task

Copy this into a new Claude Code conversation. Replace example filenames with your own non-sensitive files where needed.

Use skill-creator to make an instruction-only skill that checks my tutorial drafts for a clear outcome, ordered steps, and source links. Start by asking what a good result looks like. Use three non-sensitive sample drafts to test it. Do not publish or upload anything.

3. Check the result

• The skill defines both when it should run and what is out of scope.
• You review the generated SKILL.md and any supporting files.
• Test examples include an incomplete draft, not only ideal inputs.

If something doesn’t work

The skill triggers on unrelated requests

Narrow its description and add an example it should not handle.

It sounds good but misses important checks

Add a failing sample and measurable expectations, then compare the next revision with the same samples.