Generate structured YouTube course outlines from an idea + research context. Produces title options, scripted hooks, wow moments, and detailed section breakdowns with demos, prompts, sources, and links. Use when creating course outlines, planning longform YouTube content, or building 2-3 hour educational videos. Triggers on "outline", "course outline", "generate outline", "plan a course", or /outline-generator.
Generate production-ready course outlines for 2-3 hour longform YouTube videos. Output matches {{USER_NAME}}'s proven course structure (see reference: active/youtube-strategy/outlines/ai-agents-prompting-course-2026.md).
/outline-generatorThe user provides some combination of:
If inputs are sparse, ask the user to provide more before proceeding. Don't generate from thin air.
Run 3-5 targeted queries via the x-search skill to find cutting-edge discussions, real practitioner techniques, and accounts worth citing. This adds genuine value that {{USER_NAME}} can't get from their own knowledge alone.
# Broad mode first to map the landscape
.venv/bin/python .claude/skills/outline-generator/x_search_research.py broad -q "What are the most discussed [TOPIC] techniques on X right now? Include specific accounts and posts."
# Then deep mode for actual tweets with citations
.venv/bin/python .claude/skills/outline-generator/x_search_research.py deep -q "[TOPIC] advanced techniques OR strategies" --from-date [30 days ago]
Compile the best findings — real techniques people are using, accounts to credit, novel approaches {{USER_NAME}} hasn't covered yet.
Combine all inputs (user's idea, packaging, raw research, X research) into a structured outline. The outline MUST follow this exact structure:
# [Course Title]: [Subtitle]
Google Doc: (left blank — filled after export)
Exactly 3 title options. Each must:
## Title Options
- [Keyword]: [Value Prop] (Full Course 2026)
- [Keyword]: [Angle] (Full Course)
- [Keyword] Full Course: [Hook]
A fully scripted 60-90 second intro {{USER_NAME}} reads verbatim. Structure:
The hook must name-drop specific, concrete things (not vague promises). Each technique preview should make the viewer think "I need to know how to do that."
## Hook (scripted)
[Full scripted text here — {{USER_NAME}} reads this verbatim on camera]
Something visually impressive that happens in the first 2-3 minutes. Must be:
# 0. The wow moment — [short description]
[2-3 sentences describing what the viewer sees]
[1 sentence on why this matters / what it demonstrates]
Demo setup: [Exact steps to reproduce this demo. What to pre-configure, what tools are needed, what can go wrong.]
Links:
- [Relevant tool/doc]: [URL]
Each section follows this template. Aim for 8-14 sections total depending on course depth.
# [N]. [Section type]: [Title]
[1-2 sentence summary of what this section covers and why it matters]
**How it works:** [Detailed explanation. Be specific — include code snippets, configuration examples, or step-by-step breakdowns where relevant. This is {{USER_NAME}}'s reference for what to say on camera.]
**Demo:** [Exactly what to show on screen. What to set up beforehand, what the viewer sees step by step, what the expected result is. Be specific enough that {{USER_NAME}} can reproduce this without thinking.]
**Show the prompt:** [If applicable — the exact prompt, CLAUDE.md block, or configuration. Walk through why each piece is worded the way it is.]
**When to use it:** [1-2 sentences on when this technique is valuable and when it's overkill.]
Sources: [X accounts, blog posts, original discoverers — credit where due]
Links:
- [Resource name]: [URL]
Not every section needs all fields. Use judgment:
5 project ideas ranked by difficulty, each referencing techniques from the course. Point to {{COMMUNITY_NAME}}.
# [N]. What to build next
[5 numbered project ideas, each with:]
1. **[Project name]** (Techniques [X] + [Y]) — [1-2 sentence description]
Point viewers to {{COMMUNITY_NAME}} for guided builds and community support.
Links:
- {{COMMUNITY_NAME}}: https://www.skool.com/{{COMMUNITY_SLUG}}
- [Other relevant links]
Output the full outline in a single markdown block. Tell the user:
The user reviews and makes changes. Incorporate feedback, add/remove sections, adjust depth.
After the outline is locked, generate 1-2 diagrams per section using the diagram-generator skill. Diagrams should:
python3 .claude/skills/outline-generator/generate_diagram.py "[description]" --aspect 16:9
Compile the final outline + diagrams into a Google Doc for recording reference:
python3 .claude/skills/outline-generator/md_to_gdoc.py "active/youtube-strategy/outlines/OUTLINE.md" --title "Course Title — Outline"
Uses gws CLI under the hood (no Python Google API dependencies needed).
Before presenting the outline:
Save outlines to: active/youtube-strategy/outlines/[slug].md