diff --git a/packages/api/src/llm/fo-blog-pipeline.ts b/packages/api/src/llm/fo-blog-pipeline.ts
index 31a9517..efa7218 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/llm/fo-blog-pipeline.ts
+++ b/packages/api/src/llm/fo-blog-pipeline.ts
@@ -396,6 +396,12 @@ Write the flow plan (3-4 beats, as prose):`;
 
 export const STEP4_MASTER_DRAFT = `Write the full technical blog article based on the outline below.
 
+═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+LENGTH: HARD LIMIT — 800–1,100 WORDS. STOP AT 1,100.
+═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+Target: 800–1,100 words. If you hit 1,100 words, stop immediately and end the article.
+This is not negotiable. Longer is not better. Dense and focused beats exhaustive.
+
 ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 FORMAT: CONTINUOUS PROSE — NO EXCEPTIONS
 ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
diff --git a/packages/api/src/routes/blog.ts b/packages/api/src/routes/blog.ts
index be409e7..a6a26fb 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/routes/blog.ts
+++ b/packages/api/src/routes/blog.ts
@@ -1017,8 +1017,8 @@ async function runLlmPipeline(
     withCalibration,
   } = await import("../llm/fo-blog-pipeline");
 
-  const LLM_OPTS = { temperature: 0.7, maxTokens: 8192, timeoutMs: 480000 };
-  const LLM_REFINE = { temperature: 0.4, maxTokens: 6144, timeoutMs: 480000 };
+  const LLM_OPTS = { temperature: 0.7, maxTokens: 1600, timeoutMs: 480000 };
+  const LLM_REFINE = { temperature: 0.4, maxTokens: 1800, timeoutMs: 480000 };
   const TOTAL_STEPS = 16; // 10 original + 4b Narrative Control + 8b Reduction + 8c Style Lock + 8d Auto-Kill + Auto-Kill Score + LinkedIn
   let stepsCompleted = 0;
 
@@ -1083,6 +1083,12 @@ async function runLlmPipeline(
       }
     }
 
+    if (additionalContext) {
+      contextLines.unshift(
+        `[HOT TOPIC BRIEFING — editorial direction, do not copy verbatim]\n${additionalContext.slice(0, 4000)}`
+      );
+    }
+
     const contextData = contextLines.length > 0
       ? contextLines.join("\n")
       : "[NO PRODUCT DATA AVAILABLE — do NOT invent product names, part numbers, or prices]";
@@ -1131,7 +1137,7 @@ async function runLlmPipeline(
       STEP4_MASTER_DRAFT
         .replace("{{OUTLINE}}", step3.text)
         .replace("{{CONTEXT_DATA}}", contextData),
-      { ...LLM_OPTS, maxTokens: 8192 }
+      { ...LLM_OPTS, maxTokens: 1600 }
     );
     stepsCompleted = 4;
     console.log(`    Draft: ${step4.text.split(/\s+/).length} words`);
@@ -1343,8 +1349,8 @@ async function runLlmPipeline(
     await pool.query(
       `UPDATE blog_drafts
        SET title = $9, draft_content = $1, word_count = $2,
-           generated_by = 'fo-blog-engine-v5-autokill',
-           pipeline_version = 'v5-auto-kill-layer',
+           generated_by = 'fo-blog-engine-v6-length-fix',
+           pipeline_version = 'v6-length-capped',
            pipeline_steps_completed = $3,
            auto_qa_score = $4,
            outline = $5,