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BeCreative

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danielmiessler
BeCreative

Divergent ideation and corpus expansion via Verbalized Sampling plus extended thinking — single-shot generates several internally diverse candidates and surfaces the strongest, or expands a seed corpus into a diverse dataset for evals and test sets. USE WHEN be creative, brainstorm, divergent ideas, creative solutions, maximum creativity, tree of thoughts, radically different, name this, creative angle, expand this corpus, synthetic data, generate diverse examples, create test set. NOT FOR multi-cycle evolutionary ideation with Lamarckian meta-learning (use Ideate).

Overview

Publisherdanielmiessler
RepositoryLifeOS
Skill nameBeCreative
Stars
19K
Forks
2.5K
Bundled files
13
LicenseMIT
Links
  • Markdown instructions

    A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.

  • Works with any LLM

    AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.

  • 13 bundled files

    Scripts, templates, and references the model can read while it works. Files are read-only and never executed.

  • Open source

    Published by danielmiessler on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the BeCreative AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

1

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

  1. Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
  2. Choose "Install from GitHub".
  3. Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
  4. Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.
Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.
2

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/danielmiessler/LifeOS.git /tmp/LifeOS
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/LifeOS/LifeOS/install/skills/BeCreative .claude/skills/BeCreative
Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable BeCreative in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads BeCreative on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so BeCreative is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

  • Loaded only when it is needed

    The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.

  • Switch models mid-chat

    Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Customization

Before executing, check for user customizations at: ~/.claude/LIFEOS/USER/CUSTOMIZATIONS/SKILLS/BeCreative/

If this directory exists, load and apply any PREFERENCES.md, configurations, or resources found there. These override default behavior. If the directory does not exist, proceed with skill defaults.

🚨 MANDATORY: Voice Notification (REQUIRED BEFORE ANY ACTION)

You MUST send this notification BEFORE doing anything else when this skill is invoked.

  1. Send voice notification:

    bash
    curl -s -X POST http://localhost:31337/notify \
      -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
      -d '{"message": "Running the WORKFLOWNAME workflow in the BeCreative skill to ACTION"}' \
      > /dev/null 2>&1 &
  2. Output text notification:

    Running the **WorkflowName** workflow in the **BeCreative** skill to ACTION...

This is not optional. Execute this curl command immediately upon skill invocation.

BeCreative Skill

What It Does

Generates genuinely divergent ideas and expands small corpora. For a single creative request, it produces 5 internally diverse candidates (each low-probability, p<0.10) and surfaces the strongest. For corpus work, it grows a seed set of 5-20 examples into a larger diverse dataset for evals, training, or test sets. Seven workflows spanning standard creativity, maximum creativity, idea generation, tree-of-thoughts, domain-specific work, technical creativity, and synthetic-data expansion.

The Problem

Ask a model for "a creative idea" and you get the most probable idea — the safe, obvious, already-seen one. Diversity collapses toward the mode. That's the opposite of what brainstorming needs. Verbalized Sampling fixes this by forcing the model to generate a spread of low-probability candidates instead of one high-probability answer, which measurably widens the range of what comes out. Combined with extended thinking, you get options that are both varied and good rather than varied and weak.

How It Works

Enhances creativity using deep thinking plus Verbalized Sampling, combining research-backed techniques (Zhang et al., 2024) reporting a 1.6-2.1x diversity increase with extended thinking for quality. The core move: generate 5 diverse options (p<0.10 each) internally, then output the single best response. Verbalized Sampling depends on extended thinking being enabled.


Workflow Routing

Route to the appropriate workflow based on the request.

When executing a workflow, output this notification:

Running the **WorkflowName** workflow in the **BeCreative** skill to ACTION...
WorkflowTriggerFile
StandardCreativity"be creative", "think creatively", default creative tasksWorkflows/StandardCreativity.md
MaximumCreativity"maximum creativity", "most creative", "radically different"Workflows/MaximumCreativity.md
IdeaGeneration"brainstorm", "ideas for", "solve this problem"Workflows/IdeaGeneration.md
TreeOfThoughts"complex problem", "multi-factor", "explore paths"Workflows/TreeOfThoughts.md
DomainSpecific"artistic", "business innovation", domain-specificWorkflows/DomainSpecific.md
TechnicalCreativityGemini3"technical creativity", "algorithm", "architecture"Workflows/TechnicalCreativityGemini3.md
SyntheticDataExpansion"expand corpus", "synthetic data", "generate diverse examples", "expand seed set", "create test set from these"Workflows/SyntheticDataExpansion.md

Quick Reference

Core technique: Generate 5 diverse options (p<0.10 each) internally, output single best response.

Default approach: For most creative requests, apply StandardCreativity workflow.

For artistic/narrative creativity: Apply workflow directly (no delegation needed).

For technical creativity: Use TechnicalCreativityGemini3 workflow.


Resource Index

ResourceDescription
ResearchFoundation.mdResearch backing, why it works, activation triggers
Principles.mdCore philosophy and best practices
Templates.mdQuick reference templates for all modes
Examples.mdPractical examples with expected outputs
Assets/creative-writing-template.mdCreative writing specific template
Assets/idea-generation-template.mdBrainstorming template

Integration with Other Skills

Works well with:

  • A social-post skill (X / LinkedIn post workflows) - Generate creative social media content
  • A blog-authoring skill - Creative blog post ideas and narrative approaches
  • Art - Diverse image prompt ideas and creative directions
  • Research - Creative research angles and synthesis approaches

Examples

Example 1: Creative blog angle

User: "think outside the box for this AI ethics post"
-> Applies StandardCreativity workflow
-> Generates 5 diverse angles internally (p<0.10 each)
-> Returns most innovative framing approach

Example 2: Product naming brainstorm

User: "be creative - need names for this security tool"
-> Applies MaximumCreativity workflow
-> Explores unusual metaphors, domains, wordplay
-> Presents best option with reasoning

Example 3: Technical creativity

User: "deep thinking this architecture problem"
-> Invokes TechnicalCreativityGemini3 workflow
-> Uses Gemini 3 Pro for mathematical/algorithmic creativity
-> Returns novel technical solution

Research-backed creative enhancement: 1.6-2.1x diversity, 25.7% quality improvement.

Gotchas

  • This is for QUICK divergent brainstorming. For deep multi-cycle evolutionary ideation, use Ideate instead.
  • Verbalized Sampling requires extended thinking to work. Don't disable extended thinking when using this skill.
  • 1.6-2.1x diversity claims come from specific benchmark conditions. Real-world diversity improvement varies with prompt type.

Execution Log

After completing any workflow, append a single JSONL entry:

bash
echo '{"ts":"'$(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)'","skill":"BeCreative","workflow":"WORKFLOW_USED","input":"8_WORD_SUMMARY","status":"ok|error","duration_s":SECONDS}' >> ~/.claude/LIFEOS/MEMORY/SKILLS/execution.jsonl

Replace WORKFLOW_USED with the workflow executed, 8_WORD_SUMMARY with a brief input description, and SECONDS with approximate wall-clock time. Log status: "error" if the workflow failed.

Bundled files

The model reads these on demand while the skill is loaded. They are exposed as readable files and are never executed.

Frequently asked questions

What does the BeCreative AI skill do?

Divergent ideation and corpus expansion via Verbalized Sampling plus extended thinking — single-shot generates several internally diverse candidates and surfaces the strongest, or expands a seed corpus into a diverse dataset for evals and test sets. USE WHEN be creative, brainstorm, divergent ideas, creative solutions, maximum creativity, tree of thoughts, radically different, name this, creative angle, expand this corpus, synthetic data, generate diverse examples, create test set. NOT FOR multi-cycle evolutionary ideation with Lamarckian meta-learning (use Ideate).

Why use BeCreative on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. BeCreative is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install BeCreative in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/danielmiessler/LifeOS/tree/main/LifeOS/install/skills/BeCreative. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and bundles its files and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use BeCreative?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with BeCreative?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use BeCreative with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the BeCreative AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by danielmiessler under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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