---
name: twitter-thread
description: "Creates viral-format Twitter/X threads with numbered hooks, engagement bait, and a pinned summary tweet. Use when you need to break down ideas into a compelling multi-tweet thread."
allowed-tools: Read Write Glob
metadata:
  author: matthewhitcham
  version: "1.0"
---

# Twitter Thread

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:
- Write a multi-tweet thread that breaks down a concept, story, or framework
- Create a thread designed for high engagement and retweets on X/Twitter
- Repurpose long-form content into a thread format
- Build authority on X/Twitter through educational or storytelling threads

**DO NOT** use this skill for single tweets, Twitter ad copy, or DM templates. This is for threads of 5-20 tweets.

---

## Core Principle

EVERY TWEET IN A THREAD MUST DELIVER VALUE ON ITS OWN — IF A READER STOPS AT ANY TWEET, THEY SHOULD HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING.

---

## Phase 1: Brief

### Required Inputs

| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|-------|------------|---------|
| **Topic** | "What is this thread about?" | No default — must be provided |
| **Thread type** | "Story, framework, listicle, myth-busting, or how-to?" | Framework |
| **Target audience** | "Who should share this?" | Entrepreneurs and business-minded professionals |
| **Thread length** | "How many tweets? (5-20)" | 10 tweets |
| **CTA** | "What should people do at the end? Follow, visit link, reply?" | Follow for more |
| **Source material** | "Do you have a blog post, notes, or outline to base this on?" | None — write from scratch |

**GATE: Confirm brief before proceeding.**

---

## Phase 2: Outline

### Thread Architecture

Every thread follows this structure:

1. **Hook tweet** — the first tweet that stops the scroll
2. **Context tweet** — why this matters (tweet 2)
3. **Body tweets** — the meat of the thread (tweets 3 through N-2)
4. **Summary tweet** — recap the key points (second-to-last)
5. **CTA tweet** — tell them what to do (final tweet)

### Outline Format

```
**Hook:** [First tweet — must stop the scroll]
**Context:** [Why this matters — tweet 2]
**Body tweets:**
- Tweet 3: [Point 1]
- Tweet 4: [Point 2]
- Tweet 5: [Point 3]
...
**Summary:** [Recap key points]
**CTA:** [Follow / link / reply prompt]
```

**GATE: Wait for approval before writing full tweets.**

---

## Phase 3: Write

### Tweet-by-Tweet Rules

**Hook Tweet (Tweet 1)**
- Must be under 280 characters — no exceptions
- Use one of these proven formats:
  - "I [did X thing] in [time period]. Here's what I learned:"
  - "[Bold claim or surprising stat]. A thread on [topic]:"
  - "[Number] [things] about [topic] I wish I knew [time] ago:"
- End with a thread indicator: "(thread)" or "A thread:"

**Context Tweet (Tweet 2)**
- Explain why the reader should care
- Add credibility: personal experience, data, or stakes
- Keep under 280 characters

**Body Tweets (Tweets 3 to N-2)**
- One idea per tweet — never two
- Start each tweet with a number or bold opening
- Use line breaks for readability
- Include at least one tweet with a concrete example or mini-story
- Vary format: some tweets are lists, some are statements, some are questions

**Summary Tweet (Second-to-Last)**
- "TL;DR:" or "To recap:" followed by the key points
- Designed to be screenshotted and shared

**CTA Tweet (Final)**
- Single clear action
- If asking for a follow: "Follow @handle for more [topic] breakdowns"
- If linking: put the link here (not mid-thread — kills engagement)
- Ask for a retweet of the first tweet to boost reach

### Formatting Rules

| Rule | Detail |
|------|--------|
| **Character limit** | Every tweet must be under 280 characters |
| **Numbering** | Number body tweets: "3/ Point here" |
| **Line breaks** | Use blank lines between ideas within a tweet |
| **Emojis** | Use sparingly — 0-1 per tweet as visual markers, not decoration |
| **Hashtags** | Zero in the thread body. Add 1-2 to the final tweet only |
| **Links** | Only in the final tweet unless the thread is specifically about a resource |

---

## Phase 4: Polish

### 1. Thread Quality Checklist

```
## Thread Checklist

- [ ] Hook tweet stops the scroll (would you click "show this thread"?)
- [ ] Every tweet is under 280 characters
- [ ] Each tweet delivers one clear idea
- [ ] Body tweets are numbered consistently
- [ ] At least one tweet contains a specific example or story
- [ ] Summary tweet works as a standalone screenshot
- [ ] CTA tweet has a single clear action
- [ ] No links mid-thread (only in final tweet if needed)
- [ ] Thread reads well as a continuous narrative
- [ ] No tweet requires reading the previous tweet to make sense
```

### 2. Pinned Tweet Suggestion

Write an alternative version of the hook tweet optimized as a pinned tweet on the author's profile.

### 3. Posting Notes

- Best times: 8-10 AM or 5-7 PM in target audience's timezone
- Post tweet 1, then remaining tweets 1-2 minutes apart
- Reply to the hook tweet with the thread to keep it connected
- Quote-tweet the hook 6-8 hours later with a single key insight to resurface

---

## Example: "7 Pricing Mistakes That Cost Me $100K" (10-tweet thread)

```
1/ I've made every pricing mistake in the book.

Over 5 years, these 7 errors cost me at least $100K.

Here's what I'd do differently (thread):

2/ First, some context:

I run a service business. Started at $50/hr.
Now our minimum project is $10K.

Every mistake below happened because I didn't understand value.

3/ Mistake 1: Pricing by the hour

Hourly rates punish efficiency.
The faster you get, the less you earn.

Fix: Price by the outcome, not the clock.

4/ Mistake 2: Not raising prices annually
...
```

---

## Anti-Patterns

- **Tweet 1 is boring** — if the hook does not create curiosity or tension, the thread dies immediately. Rewrite until it passes the "would I click?" test.
- **Wall-of-text tweets** — a 280-character block of text is unreadable. Use line breaks.
- **Links in the middle** — mid-thread links kill engagement. Twitter suppresses them and readers bounce.
- **No numbering** — unnumbered threads feel disorganized and are hard to reference.
- **Repeating the same format** — if every body tweet is "Lesson N: [statement]" it gets monotonous. Mix formats.
- **Thread over 20 tweets** — attention drops sharply after tweet 15. Cut or split into two threads.

---

## Recovery

- **No hook ideas:** Generate 5 hook variants using different formats (story, stat, bold claim, question, list). Let the user pick.
- **Thread too long:** Cut body tweets that overlap or combine two related points into one tweet.
- **Topic too broad:** Narrow to a specific angle. "Marketing tips" becomes "7 email subject line formulas that doubled my open rate."
- **No personal experience:** Frame as curated wisdom: "I studied 50 viral threads. Here are the 7 patterns they all share."
- **Character count issues:** Rewrite long tweets by cutting filler words, using shorter synonyms, or splitting into two tweets.
