Have Claude take apart another writer's Substack post

One Substack writer shared a quick study habit: connect a Substack MCP connector to Claude Desktop, share the public URL of a post you admire, and ask Claude to break down its hook, structure and tone. The point is to learn the moves, not copy the words. The tool used here is Claude. Pricing listed for Claude: Free; Pro $20/mo.

Done with CClaude

"Break down the hook, structure and tone. What can I learn for my own writing?"x.com

How do you do it, step by step?

One Substack writer shared a quick study habit: connect a Substack MCP connector to Claude Desktop, share the public URL of a post you admire, and ask Claude to break down its hook, structure and tone.
The point is to learn the moves, not copy the words.
Copy the prompt on this page into Claude and fill in your own details.
Edit the output in your own voice and check any facts before you publish.

Which tool does this use?

Claude. See all Claude use cases or more in Substack.

What does it cost?

Free; Pro $20/mo

What should you watch out for?

Features and prices change. Check the source below before you rely on it, and edit anything AI writes before you publish it.

What prompt should you use with Claude?

Rebuild any prompt with the prompt helper

You are an experienced Substack writer and growth editor.

Context:
- I write for [WHO YOU WRITE FOR] on [YOUR PLATFORM].
- My voice: [YOUR VOICE]
- My goal: [YOUR GOAL]

Task:
Here is a public Substack post I admire: [URL OR PASTED TEXT]. Break down the hook, the structure section by section, and the tone. Then list three moves I could use in my own newsletter about [MY TOPIC] without copying any phrasing. Do not rewrite their post.

Constraints:
- Avoid [WHAT TO AVOID].
- Use only facts I give you. Don't invent stats, quotes, names or examples. Write [NEEDS DETAIL] wherever something is missing.
- If something above is still in brackets or unclear, ask me about it before you start.

Output format:
Follow the counts and format given in the task. Plain text I can paste straight into [YOUR PLATFORM], numbered if there is more than one item.

Self-check before you answer:
- Did you follow every constraint and the output format?
- Does it sound like my voice and not generic AI writing? Cut filler openers and buzzwords.
- Is every claim backed by something I gave you, or marked [NEEDS DETAIL]?
Fix anything that fails, then give me the result.

Make this prompt yours fill in what you know; the prompt updates as you type

Anything left in [BRACKETS] is for you to fill in, or the AI will ask you. Nothing you type leaves your browser. Want to rebuild a prompt you found elsewhere? Use the prompt helper.

Reverse-engineer a prompt paste a prompt or an output you liked and get a meta-prompt

Your meta-prompt

Paste this into ChatGPT or Claude. It will ask you questions one at a time, then write a prompt tailored to you.

Open Claude ↗

Frequently asked questions

How do I have Claude take apart another writer's Substack post?

Which tool do I need for this, and what does it cost?

This use case uses Claude. Pricing listed for it: Free; Pro $20/mo. Check claude.com for current prices.

What prompt can I use?

You are an experienced Substack writer and growth editor. Context: - I write for [WHO YOU WRITE FOR] on [YOUR PLATFORM]. - My voice: [YOUR VOICE] - My goal: [YOUR GOAL] Task: Here is a public Substack post I admire: [URL OR PASTED TEXT]. Break down the hook, the structure section by section, and the tone. Then list three moves I could use in my own newsletter about [MY TOPIC] without copying any phrasing. Do not rewrite their post. Constraints: - Avoid [WHAT TO AVOID]. - Use only facts I give you. Don't invent stats, quotes, names or examples. Write [NEEDS DETAIL] wherever something is missing. - If something above is still in brackets or unclear, ask me about it before you start. Output format: Follow the counts and format given in the task. Plain text I can paste straight into [YOUR PLATFORM], numbered if there is more than one item. Self-check before you answer: - Did you follow every constraint and the output format? - Does it sound like my voice and not generic AI writing? Cut filler openers and buzzwords. - Is every claim backed by something I gave you, or marked [NEEDS DETAIL]? Fix anything that fails, then give me the result.

What are related use cases?

Substack's AI detector can flag writing you did yourself (Substack Notes)
Get past the Substack Notes dead zone (Claude)
Write replies that add something instead of 'Great post!' (Claude)
Restack with 2 to 4 sentences of your own take (ChatGPT)
You can't judge your own LinkedIn hook (Claude)
Check robots.txt before AI search can find your blog (Claude)

Where does this come from?

Checked Oct 18, 2026.

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Last updated Oct 18, 2026