Writer Context Pack Skill for Codex

Writer Context Pack (C4→C5 bridge) [NO PROSE]

Purpose: reduce C5 “hollow writing” by giving the writer a single, per-subsection context pack:

• the exact RQ/axes + paragraph plan (subsection_briefs)
• concrete comparison cards + evaluation protocol + limitations (evidence_drafts)
• numeric/eval/limitation anchors (anchor_sheet)
• allowed citation scope (subsection + chapter union) from evidence_bindings

Inputs

• outline/outline.yml
• outline/subsection_briefs.jsonl
• outline/chapter_briefs.jsonl
• outline/evidence_drafts.jsonl
• outline/anchor_sheet.jsonl
• outline/evidence_bindings.jsonl
• citations/ref.bib

Read as needed

• references/source_text_hygiene.md when bad source sentences or paper self-narration leak into writer packs

Machine-readable assets

• assets/paper_voice_palette.json
• assets/source_text_hygiene.json
• assets/context_pack_policy.json
• repo-wide assets/limitation-signals.json — shared polarity rules used before

a sentence can become a limitation hook

Outputs

• outline/writer_context_packs.jsonl

Output format (outline/writer_context_packs.jsonl)

JSONL, one object per H3 subsection.

Required keys:

• sub_id, title, section_id, section_title
• rq, thesis, axes, paragraph_plan
• clusters (copied from subsection briefs so writer-side evidence can still be assigned per route when comparison cards are sparse)
• tension_statement, evaluation_anchor_minimal (copied from subsection briefs; concrete tension + minimal eval context slots)
• opener_mode, opener_hint (paper-voice hint to vary subsection openers without template labels)
• bridge_terms, contrast_hook, required_evidence_fields (copied from subsection briefs; transition/evidence handles; NO NEW FACTS)
• chapter_synthesis_mode (copied from chapter briefs; helps avoid template-y “Taken together…” repeats)
• allowed_bibkeys_{selected,mapped,chapter,global}
• anchor_facts (trimmed)
• comparison_cards (trimmed)
• must_use (writer contract; minima derived from pack richness + draft_profile)
• do_not_repeat_phrases (rewrite triggers; high-signal generator stems to avoid repeating verbatim)
• pack_warnings (list; why this pack may still draft hollow if not fixed upstream)
• paper_voice_palette (positive paper-voice phrase palette + rewrite stems; avoids "generator voice" without brittle hard blocks)
• Source: workspace override outline/paper_voice_palette.json (if present), else repo default .codex/skills/writer-context-pack/assets/paper_voice_palette.json.
• Includes role_cards (section author / evidence steward / style harmonizer). Treat them as role cues and rewrite intentions, not sentence templates.
• pack_stats (object; raw/kept/dropped counts + trim policy so truncation/drop is not silent)

Trim policy:

• Packs trim long snippets to preserve concrete details while keeping JSONL readable (see pack_stats.trim_policy).
• Trimming does not add ellipsis markers (to reduce accidental leakage into prose).

Writer contract (how C5 should use this pack)

Treat each pack as an executable checklist, not optional context:

A150++ minima (defaults; used by gates and self-loops):

• paragraph_plan: 10
• anchor_facts: >=10
• comparison_cards: >=4
• limitation_hooks: >=3
• allowed_bibkeys_mapped: >=28

course_paper minima use a smaller context pack: paragraph_plan 6,

anchor_facts >=6, comparison_cards >=3, limitation_hooks >=2, and

allowed_bibkeys_mapped >=8. The writer-facing must_use subset is 3 anchors,

2 comparisons, and 1 limitation.

• Plan compliance: follow paragraph_plan (don’t skip planned paragraphs; merge only if you keep the same contrasts/anchors).
• Connector intent: treat paragraph_plan[].connector_phrase as semantic guidance, not copy-paste; paraphrase and vary; avoid Next, we ... narration.
• Anchors are must-use: include at least one anchor_facts item that matches your paragraph’s claim type (eval / numeric / limitation), when present.
• Comparisons are must-use: reuse comparison_cards to write explicit A-vs-B contrast sentences (avoid “A then B” separate summaries).
• comparison cards are only valid when both sides carry usable highlights; if a card becomes one-sided after hygiene, drop it and route the gap upstream instead of asking the writer to improvise the missing side
• Thesis is must-use: the first paragraph should end with the thesis statement (or a faithful paraphrase with the same commitment level).
• Prefer a content claim; avoid generator-like meta openers (This subsection ...) and avoid repeating literal opener labels (e.g., Key takeaway:) across many H3s.
• Opener mode (anti-template): use opener_mode / opener_hint to vary how paragraph 1 frames the subsection (tension-first vs decision-first vs lens-first).
• Do not copy labels into the prose; keep signposting light and content-bearing.
• Anti-template: treat do_not_repeat_phrases as rewrite triggers (paper voice hygiene):
• if a listed phrase appears, rewrite it into a content claim / argument bridge (no outline narration)
• avoid swapping in a new repeated stem; keep phrasing varied and paper-like
• exception: a phrase may appear once if it is truly subsection-specific (not a reusable stem)
• Micro-structure: if prose starts drifting into flat summaries, apply grad-paragraph repeatedly (tension → contrast → evaluation anchor → limitation).
• Citation scope: prefer allowed_bibkeys_selected (then allowed_bibkeys_mapped, then allowed_bibkeys_chapter). allowed_bibkeys_global is reserved for cross-cutting works mapped across many subsections (foundations/benchmarks/surveys): use it sparingly and still keep >=3 subsection-specific citations per H3.

How this pack prevents common writer failures (use it proactively)

Treat the pack as a set of *writing constraints + affordances*.

Failure -> Pack handle -> Writing move

• Narration opener ("This subsection ...", "In this subsection ...")
• Use: tension_statement, opener_mode, opener_hint, thesis
• Move: write a content-first paragraph 1: tension/decision/lens -> why it matters -> end with thesis.

• Topic listing (one paragraph per paper, no comparison)
• Use: comparison_cards, axes
• Move: write A-vs-B sentences with explicit contrast words (whereas / in contrast / unlike) and align them to one axis at a time.

• Missing evaluation context (claims float without protocol/metric)
• Use: evaluation_anchor_minimal, evaluation_protocol
• Move: state the minimum trio in the paragraph where you compare results: task type + metric + constraint (budget/tool access/cost).
• Treat benchmark inventories inside evaluation_protocol as metadata only; do not replay raw benchmark-name lists as body prose.

• Limitation missing (reads overconfident)
• Use: limitation_hooks, required_evidence_fields
• Move: add one explicit caveat paragraph or clause tied to what the evidence does NOT show (protocol mismatch, missing ablations, unclear threat model).

• Disclaimer spam ("abstract-only evidence" repeated in every H3)
• Use: pack_warnings (as a signal), not as copy
• Move: keep evidence policy once in front matter; in H3, only add a short local caveat when it is subsection-specific.

• Citation drift / free-citing across the paper
• Use: allowed_bibkeys_selected (then mapped, then chapter, rarely global)
• Move: if you cannot write without citing outside these sets, stop and fix upstream mapping/bindings instead of "making it work" in prose.

Mini examples (do not copy verbatim; paraphrase)

Bad (narration opener):

• This subsection surveys tool interfaces for agents ...

Better (content-first opener):

• A central tension in tool interfaces is balancing expressive action spaces with verifiable execution; we argue that interface contracts largely determine what evaluation claims can be trusted.

Bad (meta guidance):

• Therefore, survey comparisons should focus on ...

Better (literature-facing observation):

• Across reported protocols, comparisons often hinge on whether tools are treated as deterministic APIs or as stochastic resources, which changes both cost and failure modes.

Script

Quick Start

• uv run python .codex/skills/writer-context-pack/scripts/run.py --help
• uv run python .codex/skills/writer-context-pack/scripts/run.py --workspace <workspace>

All Options

• --workspace <dir>
• --unit-id <U###>
• --inputs <semicolon-separated>
• --outputs <semicolon-separated>
• --checkpoint <C#>

Examples

• Default IO:
• uv run python .codex/skills/writer-context-pack/scripts/run.py --workspace <workspace>
• Explicit IO:
• uv run python .codex/skills/writer-context-pack/scripts/run.py --workspace <workspace> --inputs "outline/outline.yml;outline/subsection_briefs.jsonl;outline/chapter_briefs.jsonl;outline/evidence_drafts.jsonl;outline/anchor_sheet.jsonl;outline/evidence_bindings.jsonl;citations/ref.bib" --outputs "outline/writer_context_packs.jsonl"

Refinement marker (recommended; prevents churn)

When you are satisfied with writer packs (and they are consistent with briefs/bindings), create:

• outline/writer_context_packs.refined.ok

This is an explicit "I reviewed/refined this" signal:

• prevents scripts from regenerating and undoing your work
• (in strict runs) can be used as a completion signal before writing