opener-variator_skill

Overview

This skill rewrites the opening paragraph of flagged subsection files to remove generator-style narration and repeated opener cadences. It preserves citations and argument moves while converting overview or “we” narration into a content-bearing, varied opener that ends with a clear thesis or takeaway. The transformation is narrowly scoped to the first paragraph (1–2 sentences, up to 4) of each H3 body file.

How this skill works

The skill reads the writer self-loop report to locate files flagged for style smells and opens only those sections/S*.md files. For each file it rewrites the first paragraph using one chosen opener mode (tension, decision, failure, protocol, contrast, or lens) while keeping all citation keys and the subsection’s original thesis intact. It writes directly to the sections/S*.md files and expects the writer-selfloop check to show reduced Style Smells after rerunning.

When to use it

• After writer-selfloop is PASS but the Style Smells list flags repeated opener stems or overview narration
• When subsection openers read like a generated table-of-contents or show a repeated rhetorical cadence
• When you need minimal, targeted copy edits that preserve evidence and citations
• When the section is substantive enough to support a content-bearing opener (skip if evidence-thin)

Best practices

• Only rewrite the first paragraph (1–4 sentences); avoid touching the rest of the subsection
• Do not invent facts or move/add/remove citation keys
• Choose one opener mode per subsection and make sentence one content-bearing, not navigational
• Skip this pass for pre-C2 drafts or sections lacking evidence; route upstream instead
• Optionally consult outline/writer_context_packs.jsonl for opener_mode, tension_statement, and thesis to stay aligned

Example use cases

• A survey subsection where every H3 begins with “This subsection provides…” and needs varied framing
• A draft showing a subtle generator cadence across H3 openers while argument and citations are correct
• A paper needing consistent, concrete thesis-bearing openers so each subsection reads authored rather than templated