story-writing

Generate a user story with acceptance criteria and failing-test stubs.

1|Updated Mar 15, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/paulingham/.claude --skill story-writing-paulingham
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: story-writing
Source: https://github.com/paulingham/.claude/tree/main/skills/story-writing
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/paulingham/.claude --skill story-writing-paulingham

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

The Skill helps product teams convert vague feature ideas into precise, testable user stories by packaging value statements, acceptance criteria, and concrete test stubs into a ready-to-implement artifact.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Writes a single well-formed story consisting of a value statement, a list of falsifiable acceptance criteria, and a failing-test stub per AC.
  • Provides guidance on complexity budgeting, AC forms (Ubiquitous, Event, State, Unwanted, Optional), and testing contracts to ensure verifiability.
  • Supports planning and discovery workflows by producing measurable, testable requirements that can be independently implemented and verified.

Quick Start

Provide a one-sentence value statement, a set of falsifiable acceptance criteria, and failing-test stubs for each acceptance criterion.

Frequently Asked Questions about story-writing

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I write acceptance criteria that are actually testable?

Testable acceptance criteria must be falsifiable statements that define a clear pass or fail condition. This Skill generates acceptance criteria using EARS forms like Ubiquitous, Event, State, Unwanted, and Optional, ensuring each criterion can be independently verified through a corresponding test stub.

What is the best way to turn a feature idea into a user story with test stubs?

Turning a feature idea into a user story requires packaging a value statement, falsifiable acceptance criteria, and failing-test stubs together. This Skill converts your concept into a ready-to-implement artifact, providing a single value statement and a test stub for each criterion to form a clear implementation contract.

How do I create a single value statement for a product requirement?

A value statement summarizes the user need the feature addresses in one sentence. This Skill enforces a single well-formed value statement from your feature concept during discovery and planning, ensuring the requirement is focused before acceptance criteria and test stubs are generated.

Does EARS notation work for writing user stories and acceptance criteria?

EARS notation works for user stories by structuring acceptance criteria into unambiguous, testable forms. This Skill supports EARS forms including Ubiquitous, Event, State, Unwanted, and Optional, applying them to generate measurable requirements that can be independently implemented and verified.

Can I generate failing test stubs from acceptance criteria automatically?

Generating failing test stubs from acceptance criteria is the core output of this Skill. It produces a failing-test stub for each falsifiable acceptance criterion, establishing a testing contract that developers can use to verify implementation correctness.

When should I not use automated user story generation for product management?

Automated user story generation is not suitable for features lacking a clear value statement or when requirements are too vague to formulate falsifiable acceptance criteria. This Skill requires a one-sentence feature concept to produce a testable, ready-to-implement artifact.