Building a Custom AI Skill: Step-by-Step for Non-Developers

You Do Not Need to Code to Create an AI Skill

A persistent misconception: creating an AI skill requires programming skills. This is false. The SKILL.md format is based on Markdown — a simple formatting language anyone can learn in 5 minutes. If you can write a structured email, you can create a skill.

This guide walks you through every step, from idea to publication, without writing a single line of code.

Step 1: Identify Your Need

The best skill solves a problem you encounter regularly. Ask yourself these questions:

• What task do you repeat every week? Report writing, template emails, recurring analyses...
• What instructions do you often give ChatGPT or Claude? If you copy-paste the same prompt, it is an ideal candidate
• What process could be standardized? Document templates, verification checklists, approval workflows...

Examples of Skills Created by Non-Developers

• A marketing manager created a creative brief writing skill
• A lawyer designed a contract clause analysis skill
• A teacher developed a quiz creation skill from course materials
• A project manager built a functional specification writing skill

Step 2: Structure Your Instructions

Open a text editor (Notion, Google Docs, or even Notepad) and write your instructions as if explaining the task to an intelligent assistant:

The Basic Template

# Your Skill Name

## Role
You are an expert in [domain]. Your mission is to [main objective].

## Context
[Explain the context in which this skill will be used]

## Instructions
1. [First step]
2. [Second step]
3. [Third step]

## Output Format
[Describe exactly the format you expect]

## Important Rules
- [Rule 1: what to always do]
- [Rule 2: what to never do]
- [Rule 3: specific constraints]

## Examples
### Input
[Example input]

### Expected Output
[Example output]

Step 3: Write Your Skill — Concrete Example

Let us take a real example: an internal newsletter writing skill.

# Internal Newsletter Writer

## Role
You are a writer specializing in internal communications. Your mission is to transform raw notes into engaging newsletters for employees.

## Context
This skill is used every Friday to produce the weekly company newsletter. The tone should be professional but warm, and content must be concise.

## Instructions
1. Analyze the raw notes provided
2. Identify the 3-5 most important pieces of information
3. Write a catchy newsletter title
4. Structure content into short sections with subheadings
5. Add an engaging introduction and motivating conclusion
6. Suggest a call-to-action if relevant

## Output Format
- Newsletter title
- Introduction (2-3 sentences)
- 3-5 sections with subheadings (50-100 words each)
- Conclusion (2-3 sentences)
- Optional call-to-action

## Important Rules
- Maximum 500 words total
- Professional but accessible tone
- No technical jargon unless the audience is technical
- Always end on a positive note

Step 4: Test and Refine

Once your skill is written, test it:

1. Copy-paste your skill content into a Claude or ChatGPT conversation
2. Provide a realistic test input
3. Evaluate the result: is it what you expected?
4. Refine: adjust instructions, add constraints, clarify the format

Common Mistakes to Fix

• Instructions too vague: "Write well" becomes "Write in formal English, short sentences of 15-20 words maximum"
• No examples: AI performs better with a concrete model
• Too much freedom: constrain choices for consistent results
• Forgetting edge cases: what should the skill do if input is incomplete?

Step 5: Save as SKILL.md

Save your file with the .md extension:

1. Name it descriptively: newsletter-writer.skill.md
2. Place it in an accessible folder: your desktop, a Dropbox folder, or directly in your project
3. Test it in your preferred AI tool

Step 6: Share Your Skill

Your skill works well? Share it with the community:

1. Document it: add a description, prerequisites, and usage examples
2. Publish it on Skills Guides so others can benefit
3. Collect feedback and continuously improve it

Advanced Tips for Non-Developers

Use Variables

Make your skill flexible with placeholders:

## Configuration
- Tone: {formal | informal | neutral}
- Length: {short | medium | long}
- Language: {English | French}

Create Reusable Templates

If you often create the same type of document, integrate a template into your skill that AI will automatically fill in.

Chain Multiple Skills

You can chain skills: the output of one becomes the input of another. For example: Research then Analysis then Writing then Proofreading.

Conclusion

Creating an AI skill is within everyone's reach. The secret is not in the technology, but in the clarity of your instructions. The more precise you are about what you want, the better the result.

Start today with our template on Skills Guides and join the community of skill creators.