Plan and synthesize pre-draft reader conversations for useful nonfiction books, including listening interviews, teaching calls, reader-language capture, promise validation, scope refinement, and TOC testing.
SkillScore95Maintained
Automatic
◆Writing & Editing pack
Last verified 8/15/2026
What it changes
Passed 21 of 22 test cases with the skill, and 11 of 22 without it.
Without skill50%
With skill95%
Checks it passed that the model alone missed
The synthesis table includes a column or field for signal.
The response includes an explicit note-taking schema section.
The recommended conversation type is a teaching conversation.
and 12 more in the full report
10 fixed11 passed either way1 still failing0 broke
Pass-rate lift
+45 pp
Tokens
+21%
Agent turns
0%
Response time
-9%
Model gemini-3.6-flashMeasured 8/15/2026v121 of 22 cases passed with skill
Tokens, turns and time describe resource use, not a dollar price.
See it in action
One of 10 test cases the skill fixed. Same model, same prompt, with and without the skill.
1 of 10
Prompt
I am conducting reader research interviews with senior developers for a handbook on cloud cost optimization. What specific structure should I prepare to ensure my interview output contains all required reader discovery elements?
What was checked, without and with the skill
Checked
Without skill
With skill
The response includes an explicit note-taking schema section.
Missed
Passed
The synthesis table includes fields for signal, evidence, implication, and book decision.
Missed
Passed
case-13 · gemini-3.6-flash · 8/15/2026 · answers are capped and redacted
What's inside
The instructions your model reads when the skill loads.
SKILL.md84 linessingle file
Book Reader Conversations
Core Lens
Reader conversations are product discovery for useful nonfiction. The goal is not to ask whether people like a book idea. The goal is to understand the reader's real situation, language, failed attempts, urgency, objections, and ability to receive the value the book intends to deliver.
Use this skill before or during drafting to:
Validate a book promise before writing too much prose.
Escape the author's curse of knowledge.
Find the strongest reader profile and use case.
Test a takeaway-first TOC by teaching from it.
Turn conversations into scope, structure, examples, and beta-reader leads.
Reference Routing
Need
Read
Core model and terminology
references/core/knowledge.md
Interview and synthesis rules
references/core/rules.md
Example prompts and synthesis patterns
references/core/examples.md
Fast setup and review checklist
references/core/checklist.md
Run a conversation round
workflows/run-reader-conversations.md
Workflow
1. Define The Learning Goal
Choose one primary question for this round:
Is the reader problem real and urgent?
Which reader profile cares most?
What does the reader already know or believe?
Which promise is easiest to understand and recommend?
Does the TOC sequence help the reader receive value?
Do not mix early listening with pitching unless the user is explicitly running a teaching conversation.