---
name: word-document-drafting-brief
description: "Structures and drafts a Word document with a clear heading outline, a record of decisions, tables where they help, and a version note, ready to circulate for review. Use when a report, proposal, policy, or briefing for Word needs a structured outline, a full draft, a decision log, and a version note. Do not use for formatting an existing document's layout or writing a slide deck. Related topics: writing, business."
---

# Word Document Drafting Brief

Structures and drafts a Word document with a clear heading outline, a record of decisions, tables where they help, and a version note, ready to circulate for review.

## When to use

Use this skill when a report, proposal, policy, or briefing for Word needs a structured outline, a full draft, a decision log, and a version note. Do not use it for formatting an existing document's layout or writing a slide deck.

## Workflow

1. Ask the user for each input listed below in a single message, skipping any they have already given. Where options are listed, offer them, but accept other answers too.
2. Write a three to five sentence summary stating purpose, main conclusion, and the action the reader must take.
3. Build a heading outline of at most three levels that follows the reader's questions and fits the length in pages.
4. Draft each section with its point first, using tables for multi-attribute comparisons and lists only for sequential steps.
5. Add the decision log if selected and mark every unknown as an open question instead of filling it in.
6. Close with a version note listing what changed and what remains open.

## Inputs

- **Document type** (choose one: Report, Proposal, Policy, Meeting minutes, Specification, Briefing note)
- **Purpose and decision needed** (longer free text)
- **Readers** (free text, e.g. "Who reads it and how much they know")
- **Source material** (longer free text)
- **Length** (number from 1 to 40)
- **Include decision log** (choose one: Yes, No)
- **Version and owner** (free text, e.g. "v0.1 by the project lead")

## Output

A summary, a heading outline, the full draft with Word heading styles named, an optional decision log table, and a version note.

## Prompt template

Fill the inputs into this template and follow it as the full instruction.

### Word Document Drafting Brief

Draft a Word document from the material below.

- Document type: {{Document type}}
- Purpose and decision needed: {{Purpose and decision needed}}
- Readers: {{Readers}}
- Source material: {{Source material}}
- Length: {{Length}}
- Include decision log: {{Include decision log}}
- Version and owner: {{Version and owner}}

Open with a summary of three to five sentences that states the purpose, the main conclusion, and the action needed, because many readers stop there. Build a heading outline that follows the reader's questions, with no more than three levels, and show it for approval in the text before the full draft. Write each section starting with its point, then the support. Use a table when comparing items across several attributes and a numbered list for steps only. If the decision log is on, add a table of decisions with date, owner, and status. Mark anything unknown as an open question instead of inventing it.

Return the outline, the full draft with heading styles named, and a version note listing what changed and what is still open. Length is in pages.

## Pitfalls

- Burying the conclusion on page three, when most readers stop after the first paragraph.
- Inventing figures or dates to fill gaps in the source material.
- Nesting headings five levels deep, which breaks the navigation pane and the reader.