Write a Structure That Survives Editing
Added 2026-11-03
Fix the skeleton first so later edits do not force a rewrite.
I need to write a piece (topic below). Give me the structure only, not the prose: 1) one sentence on what the reader should change after reading; 2) three or four sections, each with its point in one line; 3) the logical relation between sections — causal, parallel, progressive; 4) which section could be cut without harming the argument; 5) where the draft is most likely to drift. The structure must tolerate additions and cuts, so do not rely on a few nice sentences.
Site original
Chinese original
How to use
结构定好了，改稿是换砖；结构没定，改稿是重盖。
Try tweaking it
- Ask for three openings in different tones, then pick one.
- Replace "make it better" with concrete limits: length, reader, facts to keep.
What you should get
- A publishable draft, not an outline
- A short changelog: what changed and why
Common mistakes
- Letting it guess the facts, so plausible-looking sources get invented.
- Dumping the whole text with just "polish it" — the result still has no point.
How to check the output
- The conclusion comes first; deleting the opening paragraph does not break it.
- Every fact, number and quote traces back to the source text.
Where it works
- Good for: turning a rambling draft into a conclusion-first, shorter version.
- Watch out: keep sources and figures verbatim — do not let it invent citations.