# How to Convert Articles to Narration Scripts with Garden Skills: A Complete Guide > Learn how to convert articles to narration scripts using Garden Skills. This guide details the `web-video-presentation` skill for efficient content transformation and validation. - Repository: [ConardLi/garden-skills](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-08-29 --- **Garden Skills provides a method-driven agent framework that transforms raw articles into production-ready narration scripts through the `web-video-presentation` skill, enforcing style guidelines and validation checkpoints at each phase.** The `web-video-presentation` skill in the **ConardLi/garden-skills** repository implements a structured pipeline to convert articles into cinematic video presentations. This skill automates the transformation of text into [`script.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/script.md) files that serve as the foundation for visual outlines and optional audio synthesis. ## Understanding the web-video-presentation Skill Architecture The skill operates as a **phase-driven agent** defined in [`/skills/web-video-presentation/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main//skills/web-video-presentation/SKILL.md). It treats article conversion as a formal production pipeline rather than simple text transformation. The repository organizes functionality into distinct components: - **[`SCRIPT-STYLE.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/SCRIPT-STYLE.md)** enforces sentence-level density rules and language preservation standards - **[`OUTLINE-FORMAT.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/OUTLINE-FORMAT.md)** governs how narration beats map to visual scenes - **[`AUDIO.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/AUDIO.md)** provides TTS provider contracts for Minimax, OpenAI, ElevenLabs, and Azure - **[`manifest.json`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/manifest.json)** drives the skill's execution parameters and stage definitions ## The Article-to-Script Conversion Pipeline ### Phase 1.2: Generating the Narration Script The conversion process begins when the skill ingests source material—whether plain text, Markdown, or PDF-derived content—and produces a **platform-agnostic [`script.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/script.md)**. According to [`/skills/web-video-presentation/references/SCRIPT-STYLE.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main//skills/web-video-presentation/references/SCRIPT-STYLE.md), the generated script must adhere to strict formatting rules regarding sentence density and structural consistency. Key generation parameters include: - **Sentence-level density controls** preventing overly complex narration blocks - **Language preservation** maintaining the source article's linguistic characteristics - **Beat-by-beat structure** defining precise narration timing for downstream visual mapping ### Validation and Checkpoint Requirements Before the pipeline advances, the skill executes **three layers of self-validation** as documented in [`/skills/web-video-presentation/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main//skills/web-video-presentation/SKILL.md) lines 87-94: 1. **Format validation** ensuring [`script.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/script.md) conforms to structural templates 2. **Tone verification** checking consistency with the target presentation style 3. **Read-aloud testing** verifying natural speech patterns and timing The system then enforces a **hard checkpoint** requiring explicit user confirmation of the script before proceeding to outline generation. This prevents downstream errors from propagating into visual production. ## From Script to Outline and Audio ### Phase 2: Outline Generation Once validated, [`script.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/script.md) feeds into the outline generation phase. The skill parses each narration beat to create [`outline.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/outline.md), which maps spoken content to full-screen visual steps. This process respects the **step size, timing, and scene boundaries** defined in [`/skills/web-video-presentation/references/OUTLINE-FORMAT.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main//skills/web-video-presentation/references/OUTLINE-FORMAT.md). The outline serves as the bridge between audio narration and visual presentation, ensuring that every spoken beat corresponds to a specific visual element or transition. ### Optional Audio Synthesis The skill supports automated narration generation through the **`tts-providers`** implementation documented in [`/skills/web-video-presentation/references/AUDIO.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main//skills/web-video-presentation/references/AUDIO.md) lines 13-22. Available providers include: - **Minimax** (built-in support) - **OpenAI** (built-in support) - **ElevenLabs** (via ready-made integration snippets) - **Azure Speech Services** (via configuration templates) Audio synthesis occurs after outline approval, generating synchronized audio files for each narration beat defined in the script. ## Implementing the Conversion Workflow ### Project Scaffolding Initialize a new presentation workspace using the scaffold script: ```bash bash skills/web-video-presentation/scripts/scaffold.sh ./my-presentation --theme=paper-press ``` This command creates a **Vite + React + TypeScript** project structure including [`script.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/script.md), [`outline.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/outline.md), and theme assets as referenced in [`/skills/web-video-presentation/scripts/scaffold.sh`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main//skills/web-video-presentation/scripts/scaffold.sh) lines 10-12. ### Executing the Conversion Convert an existing article into a narration script: ```bash garden run web-video-presentation --input article.md --stage script ``` Inspect the generated output: ```bash cat my-presentation/script.md ``` ### Generating Downstream Assets Create the visual outline from the approved script: ```bash garden run web-video-presentation --input script.md --stage outline ``` Optionally synthesize narration audio: ```bash bash my-presentation/scripts/synthesize-audio.sh ``` ## Summary - **Garden Skills** automates article-to-script conversion through the `web-video-presentation` skill, enforcing strict formatting via [`SCRIPT-STYLE.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/SCRIPT-STYLE.md). - The pipeline requires **three-layer validation** (format, tone, read-aloud) and a **hard user checkpoint** before accepting the generated [`script.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/script.md). - Validated scripts automatically generate **visual outlines** mapped to full-screen presentation steps according to [`OUTLINE-FORMAT.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/OUTLINE-FORMAT.md). - Optional **TTS synthesis** supports Minimax, OpenAI, ElevenLabs, and Azure providers through standardized audio contracts. - The **scaffold script** bootstraps complete Vite-based projects ready for screen recording and cinematic presentation. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What input formats does the web-video-presentation skill support? The skill accepts multiple input formats including plain text, Markdown, and PDF-derived content. According to [`/skills/web-video-presentation/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main//skills/web-video-presentation/SKILL.md), the parser normalizes these inputs during Phase 1.2 to produce a consistent [`script.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/script.md) output regardless of the source format. ### How does the skill ensure narration quality before proceeding? The system implements three validation layers documented in [`/skills/web-video-presentation/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main//skills/web-video-presentation/SKILL.md) lines 87-94: format verification against [`SCRIPT-STYLE.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/SCRIPT-STYLE.md), tone consistency checks, and read-aloud testing for natural speech flow. After these automated checks, a hard checkpoint requires explicit user confirmation, preventing low-quality scripts from advancing to outline generation. ### Can I customize the TTS provider for audio generation? Yes. While the skill includes built-in support for Minimax and OpenAI, [`/skills/web-video-presentation/references/AUDIO.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main//skills/web-video-presentation/references/AUDIO.md) provides integration snippets for ElevenLabs and Azure Speech Services. You can configure the desired provider through the skill's manifest or environment variables before running the synthesis scripts. ### What is the relationship between script.md and outline.md? [`script.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/script.md) contains the **narration beats**—the spoken content and timing—while [`outline.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main/outline.md) maps those beats to **visual scenes**. As specified in [`/skills/web-video-presentation/references/OUTLINE-FORMAT.md`](https://github.com/ConardLi/garden-skills/blob/main//skills/web-video-presentation/references/OUTLINE-FORMAT.md), the outline translates each script segment into full-screen visual steps with precise timing boundaries, creating the storyboard for the final presentation.