# Write your own skill

Canonical: https://godspeedmissioncontrol.com/guide/write-a-skill

A skill is a folder in the `skills` folder of your mission control folder, named in lowercase with hyphens. Its `SKILL.md` file starts like this:

```markdown
---
name: plan-my-day
description: Plan a day around fixed commitments, priorities and available time.
---

Use the meetings, deadlines, tasks and energy limits I provide to propose today's plan.
```

- **`name`** is the folder's name.
- **`description`** says when to use it, in the words you would say. Godspeed picks skills by this line.
- **The steps** follow: what to read, what to make, what to do when something is missing, and what never to do.

## Write it

1. In the chat, describe the job and ask Godspeed to write the skill:

   ```text
   Write a skill called plan-my-week that plans my week. Show me skills/plan-my-week/SKILL.md before you save it.
   ```

2. Check that it says what input it expects, which files it reads, what to do when information is missing, and that it sends and publishes nothing.
3. Ask for changes until it fits, then tell Godspeed to save it. **Godspeed's brain** in the notebook lists it under **Skills**, marked **Your own**.

> [!TIP]
> Not sure which job deserves a skill? Ask Godspeed to interview you about the tasks you repeat every week.

## Change a skill

Open the skill on **Godspeed's brain**, change **What it is for** or **The steps**, and click **Save**. **Earlier versions** takes you back. You can also ask Godspeed to interview you about what to change and update the same file.

## Check that Godspeed picks it

A conversation that began before the skill existed does not pick it by itself, so test in a new one:

- **Telegram on a server:** send `/new`.
- **Claude Code or Codex:** start a new session in your mission control folder.
- **The notebook's chat:** [update first](/guide/update), then click **Clear conversation**. Your next message starts a fresh conversation; your saved notebook stays.

Then check three things:

1. In a new conversation, ask for the job without naming the skill. Then ask "Which skill did you use?" If it was not yours, add your words to its description.
2. Give it a real example, such as a pasted email. Ask "Which files did you read?" and check that dates and names stayed exact.
3. Ask again, adding "Do not open profile/projects.md for this." It passes if it says what is missing. If it invents the gap, write into the skill what to do without that file.

## Run it on a schedule

Ask:

```text
Run my plan-my-week skill every weekday at 7:00.
```

Godspeed makes a routine, a job that runs at set times, that follows the skill. It appears under **Settings** > **Routines** ([Pause, move or run a routine](/guide/routines)).