Story Cog

Story Cog - Storytelling Powered by CellCog

Create compelling stories with AI - from short fiction to novels to screenplays to immersive worlds.

Prerequisites

This skill requires the CellCog mothership skill for SDK setup and API calls.

clawhub install cellcog

Read the cellcog skill first for SDK setup. This skill shows you what's possible.

Quick pattern (v1.0+):

# Fire-and-forget - returns immediately
result = client.create_chat(
    prompt="[your story request]",
    notify_session_key="agent:main:main",
    task_label="story-creation",
    chat_mode="agent"  # Agent mode for most stories
)
# Daemon notifies you when complete - do NOT poll

What Stories You Can Create

Short Fiction

Complete short stories:

• Flash Fiction: "Write a 500-word horror story that ends with a twist"
• Short Stories: "Create a 3,000-word sci-fi story about first contact"
• Micro Fiction: "Write a complete story in exactly 100 words"
• Anthology Pieces: "Create a short story for a cyberpunk anthology"

Example prompt:

"Write a 2,000-word short story:

Genre: Magical realism Setting: A small Japanese village with a mysterious tea shop Theme: Grief and healing

The protagonist discovers that the tea shop owner can brew memories into tea.

Tone: Melancholic but hopeful. Studio Ghibli meets Haruki Murakami."

Novel Development

Long-form fiction support:

• Novel Outlines: "Create a detailed outline for a fantasy trilogy"
• Chapter Drafts: "Write Chapter 1 of my mystery novel"
• Character Arcs: "Develop the protagonist's arc across a 3-act structure"
• Plot Development: "Help me work through a plot hole in my thriller"

Example prompt:

"Create a detailed outline for a YA fantasy novel:

Concept: A magic school where students' powers are tied to their fears Protagonist: 16-year-old who's afraid of being forgotten Antagonist: Former student whose fear consumed them

Include:

• Three-act structure
• Major plot points
• Character arcs for 4 main characters
• Magic system explanation
• Potential sequel hooks"

Screenwriting

Scripts for film and TV:

• Feature Scripts: "Write the first 10 pages of a heist movie"
• TV Pilots: "Create a pilot script for a workplace comedy"
• Short Films: "Write a 10-minute short film script about loneliness"
• Scene Writing: "Write the confrontation scene between hero and villain"

Example prompt:

"Write a cold open for a TV drama pilot:

Show concept: Medical thriller set in a hospital hiding dark secrets Tone: Tense, mysterious, hook the audience immediately

The scene should:

• Introduce the hospital setting
• Hint at something wrong without revealing it
• End on a moment that makes viewers need to know more

Format: Standard screenplay format"

Fan Fiction

Stories in existing universes:

• Continuations: "Write a story set after the events of [series]"
• Alternate Universes: "Create an AU where [character] made a different choice"
• Crossovers: "Write a crossover between [universe A] and [universe B]"
• Missing Scenes: "Write the scene that happened between [event A] and [event B]"

World Building

Create immersive settings:

• Fantasy Worlds: "Design a complete magic system for my novel"
• Sci-Fi Settings: "Create the political structure of a galactic empire"
• Historical Fiction: "Research and outline 1920s Paris for my novel"
• Mythology: "Create a pantheon of gods for my fantasy world"

Example prompt:

"Build a complete world for a steampunk fantasy:

Core concept: Victorian era where magic is industrialized

I need:

• Geography (3 major nations)
• Magic system and its limitations
• Social structure and conflicts
• Key historical events
• Major factions and their goals
• Technology level and aesthetics
• 5 interesting locations with descriptions"

Character Development

Deep character work:

• Character Bibles: "Create a complete character bible for my protagonist"
• Backstories: "Write the backstory of my villain"
• Dialogue Voice: "Help me develop a unique voice for this character"
• Relationships: "Map out the relationships between my ensemble cast"

Story Genres

Chat Mode for Stories

Use "agent" for most creative writing. Short stories, individual scenes, and character development execute well in agent mode.

Use "agent team" for narrative complexity - novel-length outlines, intricate plot development, or multi-layered world building that benefits from deep thinking.

Example Prompts

Complete short story:

"Write a complete 2,500-word science fiction short story:

Title: 'The Last Upload' Concept: In a world where consciousness can be uploaded, one person chooses to be the last to die naturally

Structure: Non-linear, moving between their final day and key memories Tone: Philosophical, bittersweet

End with an ambiguous moment that makes readers question their own choice."

Character development:

"Create a complete character bible for a morally complex antagonist:

Setting: Modern political thriller Role: Senator who believes they're saving the country through corrupt means

Include:

• Detailed backstory (childhood, formative events)
• Psychology (fears, desires, defense mechanisms)
• Relationships (family, allies, enemies)
• Speech patterns and mannerisms
• Their 'truth' they tell themselves
• What would make them change"

World building:

"Design the magic system for a fantasy novel:

Constraints:

• Magic has a real cost (not just tiredness)
• Some people are born with it, some earn it
• It should enable interesting conflicts

I need:

• How magic works mechanically
• Its limitations and costs
• How society treats magic users
• How it's learned/controlled
• 5 example uses (combat, utility, creative)
• Potential for abuse and safeguards"

Tips for Better Stories

1. Genre expectations: Readers have expectations. Honor them or subvert them intentionally, but know what they are.

2. Character drives plot: Give CellCog clear character motivations. Plot emerges from characters wanting things.

3. Specific details: "A coffee shop" is generic. "A coffee shop with mismatched furniture and a cat named Hemingway" is memorable.

4. Emotional truth: Even in fantasy, the emotions should feel real. Specify the emotional journey you want.

5. Show, don't tell: Ask for scenes, not summaries. "Write the moment she realizes..." not "Describe that she was sad."

6. Iterate: First drafts are starting points. Use CellCog to revise, expand, and refine.