adrienckr/notslop/notslop-write-cold-dm

Providers required

When to use this skill

• "Write a cold DM to @<handle>"
• "Help me reach out to <person> on Twitter/LinkedIn"
• "Draft an intro DM to <person> asking for <thing>"
• The user mentions cold outreach, DM, or reaching out to someone specific.

For Reddit replies, use notslop-write-reddit-reply. For broad-audience tweets, use notslop-write-x-tweet.

Setup

notslop init configured. ZeroEntropy key set.

Steps

1. Ask the user (if not already provided):

• Recipient handle (e.g. @karpathy) or full name
• Goal of the DM: intro, ask for feedback, pitch a project, ask for an intro to someone, etc. Be specific — "build a relationship" is not a goal.
• Platform: X (Twitter) or LinkedIn
• Who the user is (1 line — needed for the sign-off context)

1. Pull the recipient's recent thinking. Try in this order:

• If the recipient has a configured voices/list entry, use it:

``bash notslop voices "<recipient handle or topic>" --top 10 --for-content ``

• Otherwise add a temp X list scoped to the recipient, then digest it:

``bash notslop list add temp_dm --kind x_profiles --items <handle> notslop digest "<topic the recipient cares about>" --list temp_dm --since 30d --top 10 --for-content ``

• As a fallback (no X profile / LinkedIn only): digest on their name/topic:

``bash notslop digest "<recipient name>" --since 30d --top 10 --for-content ``

1. Read the output. If the recipient hasn't posted in 30 days, stop and suggest the user pick someone else — there's no signal to ground in.

1. Pick 1 specific recent post or theme the recipient has been engaging with. Quote or paraphrase it.

1. Write the DM. Structure:

• Greeting: first name only. No "Hey there", no "Hi <handle>".
• Hook (1-2 sentences): reference the specific recent post or theme. Show you actually read it — paraphrase a point, push back gently, or extend it.
• The ask (1-2 sentences): what you want, time-bounded. "5-min feedback on X" / "intro to your CTO if it makes sense" / "your take on Y".
• Sign-off: first name + one-line context about who you are. No "best regards", no email signature block.

1. Length cap: 50-90 words total. Twitter DM tolerates 1000 chars but tight wins. LinkedIn DMs have a 300-char preview — keep the hook in the first 200 chars.

1. Show the draft. Below it, print the 1 source post you grounded in (URL or quoted line).

Output format

Print:

1. The DM text.
2. Word count.
3. The 1 source post / theme you grounded in.

Constraints

• Never say "I love your work", "huge fan", "your content has been so impactful", "your thread on X changed my life". Show, don't tell — reference the specific post.
• No "quick question", "got a sec", "hope you're well", "sorry to bother you".
• No 5-paragraph essays. If the ask needs more than 90 words, it needs a different channel (email, intro request).
• No links in the first DM unless the user explicitly wants to share a demo (and even then, prefer waiting for a reply).
• No emojis unless the user asks.
• If the recipient hasn't posted in 30 days, refuse and suggest another target.
• Sign off with the user's first name and one short identity line (e.g. "Adrien — building Karmable, a Reddit growth tool"). No tagline-style boast.