Targy's Twigs Blog Post Creation Skill

Purpose

This skill defines the standardized format for creating blog posts about Targy's stick collection. When given a date, wood type, measurements, location, and story description, use this skill to generate consistent, high-quality blog posts.

File Structure

Location

All blog posts are stored in /src/content/posts/ with filenames in the format: [date-slug].md

• Example: march-21.md, feb-1.md

Required Frontmatter

---
title: "[Catchy title about the stick/adventure]"
description: "[One-line summary of the story]"
date: [YYYY-MM-DD]
image: "/images/[filename].jpg"
location: "[Location name]"
length: "[measurement with units]"
diameter: "[measurement with units]"
scientific_name: "[Latin scientific name]"
---

Guidelines:

• Title should be action-oriented or descriptive, not generic
• Description is the meta description for pages/previews (short and punchy)
• Date format: YYYY-MM-DD (use 2026 for current posts)
• Image path follows pattern: /images/[post-slug].jpg
• Scientific name must use proper Latin binomial nomenclature

Content Structure

1. Stick Stats Section

## Stick Stats

<div class="stick-stats">
  <div class="stat-item">
    <span class="stat-label">Length</span>
    <span class="stat-value">[measurement]</span>
  </div>
  <div class="stat-item">
    <span class="stat-label">Diameter</span>
    <span class="stat-value">[measurement]</span>
  </div>
  <div class="stat-item">
    <span class="stat-label">Type</span>
    <span class="stat-value">[wood type]</span>
  </div>
  <div class="stat-item">
    <span class="stat-label">Scientific Name</span>
    <span class="stat-value">[scientific name]</span>
  </div>
  <div class="stat-item">
    <span class="stat-label">Origin</span>
    <span class="stat-value">[where found]</span>
  </div>
  <div class="stat-item">
    <span class="stat-label">Found</span>
    <span class="stat-value">[month day, format: "March 21st"]</span>
  </div>
</div>

2. The Story Section

• Maximum length: 160 words (strict limit)

• Point of view: Third person about Targy (use "Targy" not "I")

• Content: Narrative that answers:

  • How/where did Targy find the stick?
  • What makes it special?
  • How was it used (fetch, zoomies, chewing, theft, etc.)?
  • What's the vibe/feeling of this stick?

• Images: Include 1-2 inline images using markdown syntax:

  ![Description of image](/images/filename.jpg)
  

  Place images naturally within the narrative flow, not at the beginning or end.

• Tone: Conversational, playful, from a dog's perspective but written as third-person narrative

• Structure: Single paragraph flow is okay; can have subtle breaks within the section but NOT multiple heading subdivisions

3. Stick Fact Section

## Stick Fact

[Wood type] ([Scientific Name]) [interesting fact about the wood type]. [Additional context about its properties, history, or uses]. [Final sentence about why it's great for sticks/chewing].

Guidelines:

• Information density: 2-3 sentences covering:
  1. Key characteristic or historical fact
  2. Specific properties (hardness, growth rate, uses, cultural significance)
  3. Why it's good for sticks/chewing
• Use factual information about the actual wood species
• Tone: Educational but friendly and relevant to stick collecting

Measurement Conventions

• Length: Use feet/inches format (e.g., "2 feet", "8 inches", "2x4 inches" for processed lumber)
• Diameter: Use inches format (e.g., "2 inches")
• For milled lumber: Use lumber dimensions (e.g., "2x4 inches")

Wood Type Guidelines

Common woods in Targy's collection:

• Cottonwood (Populus deltoides): Fast-growing, light, ideal for fetch
• Pine/Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa): Soft but durable, aromatic, good for chewing
• Hickory (Carya ovata): Very hard, dense, strong
• Oak: Very hard, tight grain
• Birch (Betula): Medium hardness, flexible

Always verify scientific names are accurate for the wood type.

Story Prompt Template

When given story description, follow this framework:

1. Opening: Where and when Targy found it + immediate reaction
2. Middle: Why it's special + specific details about size/quality + how it was used
3. Ending: The outcome/impact + memorable moment or feeling

Example prompt handling:

• "Stick from neighbor's yard, 8 inches, hickory, quick work, fresh vibes" → Story: Sneak mission to yard, surprise heist, premium hickory, fast chewing, success narrative

Image File Naming

• Format: /images/[post-slug][-optional-descriptor].jpg
• Examples:
  • /images/march-21.jpg (main/hero image)
  • /images/march-21-hero.jpeg
  • /images/march-22-chew.jpeg (specific moment)

Consistency Checklist

• [ ] Frontmatter complete with all required fields
• [ ] Date format: YYYY-MM-DD
• [ ] Author always "Targy"
• [ ] Scientific name in proper format
• [ ] Stick Stats HTML block formatted correctly
• [ ] Story section 160 words or less
• [ ] Story in third person narrative (Targy, he, his)
• [ ] 1-2 images embedded in story with markdown syntax
• [ ] Stick Fact section includes interesting wood information
• [ ] All measurements consistent with frontmatter

Quick Reference

Minimum input needed to create post:

1. Date (YYYY-MM-DD format)
2. Wood type (common name)
3. Measurements (length and diameter)
4. Location found
5. Story description (how found, vibe, use case)

Output: Complete .md file ready to display, just needs image assets added to /public/images/