Fiction
A complete system for writing fiction—from initial concept through final draft.
Commands
| Command |
Purpose |
/fiction:new |
Start new project from scratch (interactive wizard) |
/fiction:go |
Resume a project (load context + suggest what to do next) |
/fiction:plan |
Design story architecture (premise, theme, ending) |
/fiction:outline |
Create chapter and scene breakdown |
/fiction:character |
Develop a character document |
/fiction:review |
Review current chapter (iterative feedback) |
/fiction:critique |
Full manuscript review (NYT/New Yorker style) |
/fiction:synopsis |
Generate synopsis (long/medium/short) for pitches |
/fiction:next |
Get suggestion for what to work on next |
/fiction:status |
Quick project status |
/fiction:reconcile |
Audit project against current conventions, offer updates |
/fiction:edit |
Line-level editing (spelling, grammar, word echoes) |
/fiction:language |
Verify foreign language phrases (grammar, period accuracy) |
/fiction:notes |
Collect and process inline editing markers |
/fiction:cover |
Generate cover art prompts for image generation |
/fiction:naming |
Generate and validate book title options |
/fiction:build |
Build EPUB for reading (--sync preserves highlights) |
Natural Language Triggers
Beyond commands, respond to requests like:
- "Write chapter 8"
- "Continue from where we left off"
- "This scene isn't working—help me fix it"
- "Develop the antagonist's backstory"
- "Check this chapter for consistency issues"
Agents
Select the appropriate agent based on task:
| Agent |
Use Case |
Model |
new-project |
Start from scratch (Socratic wizard) |
opus |
writer |
Writing prose, chapters, scenes |
opus |
architect |
Story structure, premise, ending |
opus |
outliner |
Chapter breakdown, scene beats |
sonnet |
character-developer |
Character documents |
opus |
chapter-reviewer |
Iterative chapter review |
sonnet |
editor |
Line-level polish (spelling, grammar, echoes) |
sonnet |
critique |
Full manuscript review |
opus |
synopsis |
Plot synopsis for queries/pitches |
opus |
continuity |
Consistency checking |
haiku |
next |
Project navigation |
haiku |
scene-analyzer |
Scene diagnosis |
sonnet |
voice-analyzer |
POV/tense checking |
haiku |
world-builder |
Settings, systems |
sonnet |
cover-artist |
Book cover art prompts |
opus |
naming |
Book title generation and validation |
opus |
language-checker |
Foreign phrase verification |
sonnet |
Guest Critics
Summon a specific voice for manuscript review:
| Agent |
Voice |
Best For |
stephen-king |
Direct, no-BS, story-focused |
Commercial fiction, horror, thriller |
ursula-le-guin |
Thoughtful, world as meaning |
Fantasy, science fiction |
james-wood |
Deeply literate, sentence-level |
Literary fiction |
roxane-gay |
Culturally aware, emotionally honest |
Contemporary fiction |
Craft Reference Files
Consult reference files for craft guidance:
| Problem |
Reference |
| American English style |
../references/style-guides/chicago-manual.md |
| British English style |
../references/style-guides/oxford-style-manual.md |
| Grammar & punctuation |
../references/style-guides/shared-rules.md |
| Style guide comparison |
../references/style-guides/decision-matrix.md |
| Story feels aimless |
../references/story-structure.md |
| Scene drags |
../references/scene-structure.md |
| Flat characters |
../references/character.md |
| Stilted dialogue |
../references/dialogue.md |
| Prose lacks rhythm |
../references/prose-style.md |
| Pacing issues |
../references/pacing.md |
| Weak opening |
../references/openings.md |
| Unsatisfying ending |
../references/endings.md |
| Genre expectations |
../references/genre-conventions.md |
| Common mistakes |
../references/anti-patterns.md |
| Process and mindset |
../references/craft-wisdom.md |
| Audiobook readiness |
../references/audiobook-considerations.md |
Project Structure
Detect and work with these project structures:
Standalone Novel
/my-novel
├── README.md # Overview, status, key decisions, ⚓ anchored
├── progress.md # Review state (updated by review commands)
├── characters/ # Character documents
├── world/ # Setting documents
├── craft/ # Tone guide
├── chapters/ # Chapter files
└── themes.md # Theme document
Multi-Book Series
/my-series
├── README.md # Series overview
├── series/ # Series-level material
│ ├── series-architecture.md # ⚓ Anchored series constraints
│ ├── progress.md # Series-level review state
│ ├── characters/
│ ├── world/
│ └── ...
└── book-n-title/ # Individual books
├── progress.md # Book-level review state
└── chapters/
Core Principles
Apply these principles when writing or reviewing:
- Story = Character + Change — Plot is what happens; story is what it means.
- Scene Economy — Every scene must do at least two things.
- Specificity Creates Universality — Concrete details create resonance.
- Earned Moments — Plant before harvest.
- Trust the Reader — Show, don't tell. Imply, don't explain.
- Write for the Ear — Modern books become audiobooks. Clear attribution, distinct voices, no visual-only elements.
Decision Guides
POV Selection
- First person: Deep intimacy, unreliable narrator possible
- Third limited: Balance of intimacy and flexibility, most common
- Third omniscient: God's-eye view, good for epic scope
Tense Selection
- Past tense: Traditional, invisible, readers expect it
- Present tense: Immediacy, urgency
Scene vs. Summary
- Scene: Crucial moments, turning points, high emotion
- Summary: Routine events, transitions
- Rule: If it matters, show it.
Workflow
New Project
Run /fiction:new — interactive wizard guides you through:
- Discovery (find the heart of your story)
- Architecture (premise, theme, arc, ending)
- Characters (protagonist, supporting cast)
- World (if needed)
- Outline (chapter breakdown)
Everything saved as you go. Socratic dialogue helps you discover what you already know.
Existing Project
Run /fiction:go to load the project and see what to work on next.
After Plugin Updates
- Run
/fiction:reconcile to audit project against current conventions
- Review recommendations and apply updates as desired
Writing Loop
- Write chapter (invoke
writer agent)
- Run
/fiction:review for iterative feedback
- Apply suggested revisions
- Repeat until chapter complete
- Run continuity check periodically
Completion
When manuscript is complete, run /fiction:critique for full literary review.
Large Manuscript Efficiency (50k+ Words)
For novels with 15-25+ chapters, use parallel agent deployment to dramatically reduce processing time:
Parallel-Capable Tasks
| Task |
Approach |
Speedup |
| Editing all chapters |
Spawn one editor agent per chapter |
~20× for 20 chapters |
| Reviewing all chapters |
Spawn one chapter-reviewer per chapter |
~20× |
| Continuity checking |
Phase 1: parallel fact extraction; Phase 2: comparison |
~3-4× |
| Full critique |
Parallel chapter analysis, then unified synthesis |
~2-3× |
How It Works
When using commands like /fiction:edit all or /fiction:review all:
- Identify all chapters to process
- Launch agents in parallel using the Task tool (one call per chapter, same message)
- Agents run concurrently, each returning structured output
- Main conversation aggregates results and updates
progress.md
Sequential Tasks
Some tasks must remain sequential:
- Writing — Each chapter builds on the previous
- Outlining — Structure depends on what comes before
- Architecture — Single coherent vision needed
Memory Note
Parallel agents don't share memory. Pass necessary context (character docs, tone guide) to each agent explicitly.
1---2name: fiction3description: This skill should be used when the user asks to "write a chapter", "write prose", "continue the story", "develop a character", "review my chapter", "critique my manuscript", "write a synopsis", "summarize my story", "plan my novel", "outline my book", "check for consistency", or mentions fiction writing, novels, short stories, scenes, or narrative craft.4---56# Fiction78A complete system for writing fiction—from initial concept through final draft.910## Commands1112| Command | Purpose |13|---------|---------|14| `/fiction:new` | Start new project from scratch (interactive wizard) |15| `/fiction:go` | Resume a project (load context + suggest what to do next) |16| `/fiction:plan` | Design story architecture (premise, theme, ending) |17| `/fiction:outline` | Create chapter and scene breakdown |18| `/fiction:character` | Develop a character document |19| `/fiction:review` | Review current chapter (iterative feedback) |20| `/fiction:critique` | Full manuscript review (NYT/New Yorker style) |21| `/fiction:synopsis` | Generate synopsis (long/medium/short) for pitches |22| `/fiction:next` | Get suggestion for what to work on next |23| `/fiction:status` | Quick project status |24| `/fiction:reconcile` | Audit project against current conventions, offer updates |25| `/fiction:edit` | Line-level editing (spelling, grammar, word echoes) |26| `/fiction:language` | Verify foreign language phrases (grammar, period accuracy) |27| `/fiction:notes` | Collect and process inline editing markers |28| `/fiction:cover` | Generate cover art prompts for image generation |29| `/fiction:naming` | Generate and validate book title options |30| `/fiction:build` | Build EPUB for reading (`--sync` preserves highlights) |3132## Natural Language Triggers3334Beyond commands, respond to requests like:3536- "Write chapter 8"37- "Continue from where we left off"38- "This scene isn't working—help me fix it"39- "Develop the antagonist's backstory"40- "Check this chapter for consistency issues"4142## Agents4344Select the appropriate agent based on task:4546| Agent | Use Case | Model |47|-------|----------|-------|48| `new-project` | Start from scratch (Socratic wizard) | opus |49| `writer` | Writing prose, chapters, scenes | opus |50| `architect` | Story structure, premise, ending | opus |51| `outliner` | Chapter breakdown, scene beats | sonnet |52| `character-developer` | Character documents | opus |53| `chapter-reviewer` | Iterative chapter review | sonnet |54| `editor` | Line-level polish (spelling, grammar, echoes) | sonnet |55| `critique` | Full manuscript review | opus |56| `synopsis` | Plot synopsis for queries/pitches | opus |57| `continuity` | Consistency checking | haiku |58| `next` | Project navigation | haiku |59| `scene-analyzer` | Scene diagnosis | sonnet |60| `voice-analyzer` | POV/tense checking | haiku |61| `world-builder` | Settings, systems | sonnet |62| `cover-artist` | Book cover art prompts | opus |63| `naming` | Book title generation and validation | opus |64| `language-checker` | Foreign phrase verification | sonnet |6566### Guest Critics6768Summon a specific voice for manuscript review:6970| Agent | Voice | Best For |71|-------|-------|----------|72| `stephen-king` | Direct, no-BS, story-focused | Commercial fiction, horror, thriller |73| `ursula-le-guin` | Thoughtful, world as meaning | Fantasy, science fiction |74| `james-wood` | Deeply literate, sentence-level | Literary fiction |75| `roxane-gay` | Culturally aware, emotionally honest | Contemporary fiction |7677## Craft Reference Files7879Consult reference files for craft guidance:8081| Problem | Reference |82|---------|-----------|83| American English style | `../references/style-guides/chicago-manual.md` |84| British English style | `../references/style-guides/oxford-style-manual.md` |85| Grammar & punctuation | `../references/style-guides/shared-rules.md` |86| Style guide comparison | `../references/style-guides/decision-matrix.md` |87| Story feels aimless | `../references/story-structure.md` |88| Scene drags | `../references/scene-structure.md` |89| Flat characters | `../references/character.md` |90| Stilted dialogue | `../references/dialogue.md` |91| Prose lacks rhythm | `../references/prose-style.md` |92| Pacing issues | `../references/pacing.md` |93| Weak opening | `../references/openings.md` |94| Unsatisfying ending | `../references/endings.md` |95| Genre expectations | `../references/genre-conventions.md` |96| Common mistakes | `../references/anti-patterns.md` |97| Process and mindset | `../references/craft-wisdom.md` |98| Audiobook readiness | `../references/audiobook-considerations.md` |99100## Project Structure101102Detect and work with these project structures:103104### Standalone Novel105106```107/my-novel108├── README.md # Overview, status, key decisions, ⚓ anchored109├── progress.md # Review state (updated by review commands)110├── characters/ # Character documents111├── world/ # Setting documents112├── craft/ # Tone guide113├── chapters/ # Chapter files114└── themes.md # Theme document115```116117### Multi-Book Series118119```120/my-series121├── README.md # Series overview122├── series/ # Series-level material123│ ├── series-architecture.md # ⚓ Anchored series constraints124│ ├── progress.md # Series-level review state125│ ├── characters/126│ ├── world/127│ └── ...128└── book-n-title/ # Individual books129 ├── progress.md # Book-level review state130 └── chapters/131```132133## Core Principles134135Apply these principles when writing or reviewing:1361371. **Story = Character + Change** — Plot is what happens; story is what it means.1382. **Scene Economy** — Every scene must do at least two things.1393. **Specificity Creates Universality** — Concrete details create resonance.1404. **Earned Moments** — Plant before harvest.1415. **Trust the Reader** — Show, don't tell. Imply, don't explain.1426. **Write for the Ear** — Modern books become audiobooks. Clear attribution, distinct voices, no visual-only elements.143144## Decision Guides145146### POV Selection147- **First person**: Deep intimacy, unreliable narrator possible148- **Third limited**: Balance of intimacy and flexibility, most common149- **Third omniscient**: God's-eye view, good for epic scope150151### Tense Selection152- **Past tense**: Traditional, invisible, readers expect it153- **Present tense**: Immediacy, urgency154155### Scene vs. Summary156- **Scene**: Crucial moments, turning points, high emotion157- **Summary**: Routine events, transitions158- **Rule**: If it matters, show it.159160## Workflow161162### New Project163Run `/fiction:new` — interactive wizard guides you through:1641. Discovery (find the heart of your story)1652. Architecture (premise, theme, arc, ending)1663. Characters (protagonist, supporting cast)1674. World (if needed)1685. Outline (chapter breakdown)169170Everything saved as you go. Socratic dialogue helps you discover what you already know.171172### Existing Project173Run `/fiction:go` to load the project and see what to work on next.174175### After Plugin Updates1761. Run `/fiction:reconcile` to audit project against current conventions1772. Review recommendations and apply updates as desired178179### Writing Loop1801. Write chapter (invoke `writer` agent)1812. Run `/fiction:review` for iterative feedback1823. Apply suggested revisions1834. Repeat until chapter complete1845. Run continuity check periodically185186### Completion187When manuscript is complete, run `/fiction:critique` for full literary review.188189## Large Manuscript Efficiency (50k+ Words)190191For novels with 15-25+ chapters, use parallel agent deployment to dramatically reduce processing time:192193### Parallel-Capable Tasks194195| Task | Approach | Speedup |196|------|----------|---------|197| **Editing all chapters** | Spawn one editor agent per chapter | ~20× for 20 chapters |198| **Reviewing all chapters** | Spawn one chapter-reviewer per chapter | ~20× |199| **Continuity checking** | Phase 1: parallel fact extraction; Phase 2: comparison | ~3-4× |200| **Full critique** | Parallel chapter analysis, then unified synthesis | ~2-3× |201202### How It Works203204When using commands like `/fiction:edit all` or `/fiction:review all`:2051. Identify all chapters to process2062. **Launch agents in parallel** using the Task tool (one call per chapter, same message)2073. Agents run concurrently, each returning structured output2084. Main conversation aggregates results and updates `progress.md`209210### Sequential Tasks211212Some tasks must remain sequential:213- **Writing** — Each chapter builds on the previous214- **Outlining** — Structure depends on what comes before215- **Architecture** — Single coherent vision needed216217### Memory Note218219Parallel agents don't share memory. Pass necessary context (character docs, tone guide) to each agent explicitly.