Doc Co-Authoring Workflow

Collaborative workflow for creating documentation that works for readers.

When to Offer This Workflow

Trigger conditions:

• Writing documentation: "write a doc", "draft a proposal", "create a spec", "write up"
• Code documentation: "write README", "create API docs", "document this code", "architecture docs"
• Specific doc types: "PRD", "design doc", "decision doc", "RFC", "technical spec"
• User starting any substantial writing task

Workflow Variants

Variant	Stages	Use For
Full Collaborative	Context Gathering → Refinement → Reader Testing	Proposals, specs, decisions, RFCs
Streamlined Collaborative	Context Gathering → Refinement	READMEs, API docs, architecture guides

Both variants use collaborative principles (clarifying questions, iterative refinement). Streamlined skips Reader Testing since code docs have different validation (working examples, API accuracy).

Three Stages Overview

Stage 1: Context Gathering

Close the gap between what the user knows and what Claude knows. Ask about doc type, audience, desired impact, and template. Encourage info dumping. Ask clarifying questions until understanding is sufficient.

Stage 2: Refinement & Structure

Build the document section by section. For each section: ask clarifying questions, brainstorm options, let user curate, draft, and refine through surgical edits. Use code documentation patterns as scaffolds for READMEs, APIs, etc.

Stage 3: Reader Testing (Full Collaborative only)

Test the document with a fresh Claude (no context bleed) to verify it works for readers. If sub-agents available, test directly. Otherwise, guide user through manual testing.

Initial Offer Template

When triggered, offer the workflow:

I can help you write that [doc type]. I use a structured workflow that helps
ensure the doc works well when others read it:

1. **Context Gathering**: You share relevant context while I ask clarifying questions
2. **Refinement & Structure**: We build each section through brainstorming and iteration
3. **Reader Testing**: We test the doc with a fresh Claude to catch blind spots
   (or skip for code docs like READMEs)

Would you like to try this workflow, or prefer to work freeform?

Code Documentation Patterns

For code docs, select the appropriate pattern as the starting scaffold:

Doc Type	Pattern
README	Features, Installation, Quick Start, Config, API, Contributing
API Docs	OpenAPI spec with paths, schemas, examples
Architecture	Overview, Component Diagram, Components table, Data Flow
Configuration	Required/Optional vars table, example config
Module	Purpose, Architecture diagram, Components, Methods table

See WORKFLOW.md for complete patterns.

Resources

• WORKFLOW.md - Full stage procedures and code patterns
• EXAMPLES.md - Complete templates for proposals, specs, READMEs
• TROUBLESHOOTING.md - Common issues and solutions

Tips

• Be direct and procedural - explain rationale briefly when it affects user behavior
• Give user agency - always allow them to skip stages or work freeform
• Track context - address gaps as they come up, don't let them accumulate
• Use surgical edits - never reprint entire doc, use str_replace
• Quality over speed - each iteration should make meaningful improvements
• For code docs - verify examples work, check API signatures against actual code