creative-thinking · diff
v2026.5.17 to v2026.5.17
4 added, 8 removed. Audit A to A.
---
name: creative-thinking
description: >
Use this skill when the user asks for creative thinking or wants divergent
ideation—fluency, flexible perspectives, novel combinations, and elaboration,
with optional light convergence. Use when they want fresh ideas, blue-sky
options, reframes, or more variety before committing, including casual or
messy prompts. Skip when they want a single delivered answer with no
exploration, audit-only teardown with no generation asked for, or purely
mechanical execution.
license: MIT
metadata:
author: ysskrishna
version: "2026.5.17"
---
# Creative Thinking
Defer judgment during divergence. Keep **generate** (Prime, Diverge, Connect) separate from **Harvest** (pick and plan).
- ---
-
- ## When to Use
-
- Use for open-ended invention — features, narratives, workshop prompts, campaign angles, teaching examples, naming explorations. Skip when the user wants audit-only, compliance checks, or deterministic code fixes.
+ **How to run it with this skill:** one clearly headed section per phase in this order: Prime → Diverge → Connect → Harvest. Optional **Perspectives** beat only when noted in Setup.
---
## Setup (run before starting)
In one short block:
1. **Creative brief** — goal, audience, constraints (time, tone, taboos)
2. **Default pass** — Prime → Diverge → Connect → Harvest (state this line)
- Up to 3 clarifying questions if constraints are missing; otherwise assume sensibly and tag `[ASSUMED]`.
+ If constraints are missing, ask at most 3 clarifying questions in one message, then proceed. Note any remaining gaps or working guesses in plain language (no bracket tags in Setup).
If the user is **stuck on one framing**, add a short **Perspectives** beat before **Diverge**: Optimist / Skeptic / Outsider — two reframes each, no cross-critique yet.
---
## The Phases
### Prime
Warm context in 2–4 bullets: what would **delight** or **surprise** success look like? What must **not** be violated?
### Diverge
- Quantity first. Aim for **about 10** ideas unless the user asks for fewer or many more. Tag ideas `F` (flexible reuse of existing), `N` (novel twist), or `W` (wild — may be impractical).
+ Quantity first. Produce a **substantive** list of ideas (no fixed count unless the user asks for one). Tag ideas `F` (flexible reuse of existing), `N` (novel twist), or `W` (wild — may be impractical).
Use at least **two** different creative triggers drawn from: **analogy** (unrelated domain), **constraint flip** (remove/add a rule), **user fantasy** (absurd ideal), **time shift** (past/future), **scale shift** (micro/macro).
### Connect
- Combine or **mash** ideas: **A + B →** hybrid concept in several lines (roughly half the Diverge count, minimum 3).
+ Combine or **mash** ideas: **A + B →** hybrid concept in several lines (aim for multiple mashups, fewer than Diverge but not a single mashup unless the brief is tiny).
### Harvest
1. **Top picks** — 3 ideas with **selection rationale** tied to the brief
2. **Next creative step** — e.g. prototype storyboard, user interview, spike, moodboard
3. **Parking lot** — 2 promising ideas deferred (why deferred)
---
## Execution Rules
1. No harsh criticism in **Prime**, **Diverge**, or **Connect**; park risks for a separate pass if the user asks.
2. Do not pretend user research happened; label speculative benefits as hypothetical.
3. One response for all phases unless the user requests pacing.
---
## Checklist (verify before responding)
- [ ] Setup: brief + default pass (and optional Perspectives if used)
- [ ] Diverge uses two+ triggers; ideas tagged F/N/W where applicable
- [ ] Connect present with multiple mashups
- [ ] Harvest has top picks + next step + parking lot