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 |
| 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---5
6# Fiction
7
8A complete system for writing fiction—from initial concept through final draft.
9
10## Commands
11
12| 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) |
31
32## Natural Language Triggers
33
34Beyond commands, respond to requests like:
35
36- "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"
41
42## Agents
43
44Select the appropriate agent based on task:
45
46| 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 |
65
66### Guest Critics
67
68Summon a specific voice for manuscript review:
69
70| 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 |
76
77## Craft Reference Files
78
79Consult reference files for craft guidance:
80
81| Problem | Reference |
82|---------|-----------|
83| Story feels aimless | `../references/story-structure.md` |
84| Scene drags | `../references/scene-structure.md` |
85| Flat characters | `../references/character.md` |
86| Stilted dialogue | `../references/dialogue.md` |
87| Prose lacks rhythm | `../references/prose-style.md` |
88| Pacing issues | `../references/pacing.md` |
89| Weak opening | `../references/openings.md` |
90| Unsatisfying ending | `../references/endings.md` |
91| Genre expectations | `../references/genre-conventions.md` |
92| Common mistakes | `../references/anti-patterns.md` |
93| Process and mindset | `../references/craft-wisdom.md` |
94| Audiobook readiness | `../references/audiobook-considerations.md` |
95
96## Project Structure
97
98Detect and work with these project structures:
99
100### Standalone Novel
101
102```
103/my-novel
104├── README.md # Overview, status, key decisions, ⚓ anchored
105├── progress.md # Review state (updated by review commands)
106├── characters/ # Character documents
107├── world/ # Setting documents
108├── craft/ # Tone guide
109├── chapters/ # Chapter files
110└── themes.md # Theme document
111```
112
113### Multi-Book Series
114
115```
116/my-series
117├── README.md # Series overview
118├── series/ # Series-level material
119│ ├── series-architecture.md # ⚓ Anchored series constraints
120│ ├── progress.md # Series-level review state
121│ ├── characters/
122│ ├── world/
123│ └── ...
124└── book-n-title/ # Individual books
125 ├── progress.md # Book-level review state
126 └── chapters/
127```
128
129## Core Principles
130
131Apply these principles when writing or reviewing:
132
1331. **Story = Character + Change** — Plot is what happens; story is what it means.
1342. **Scene Economy** — Every scene must do at least two things.
1353. **Specificity Creates Universality** — Concrete details create resonance.
1364. **Earned Moments** — Plant before harvest.
1375. **Trust the Reader** — Show, don't tell. Imply, don't explain.
1386. **Write for the Ear** — Modern books become audiobooks. Clear attribution, distinct voices, no visual-only elements.
139
140## Decision Guides
141
142### POV Selection
143- **First person**: Deep intimacy, unreliable narrator possible
144- **Third limited**: Balance of intimacy and flexibility, most common
145- **Third omniscient**: God's-eye view, good for epic scope
146
147### Tense Selection
148- **Past tense**: Traditional, invisible, readers expect it
149- **Present tense**: Immediacy, urgency
150
151### Scene vs. Summary
152- **Scene**: Crucial moments, turning points, high emotion
153- **Summary**: Routine events, transitions
154- **Rule**: If it matters, show it.
155
156## Workflow
157
158### New Project
159Run `/fiction:new` — interactive wizard guides you through:
1601. Discovery (find the heart of your story)
1612. Architecture (premise, theme, arc, ending)
1623. Characters (protagonist, supporting cast)
1634. World (if needed)
1645. Outline (chapter breakdown)
165
166Everything saved as you go. Socratic dialogue helps you discover what you already know.
167
168### Existing Project
169Run `/fiction:go` to load the project and see what to work on next.
170
171### After Plugin Updates
1721. Run `/fiction:reconcile` to audit project against current conventions
1732. Review recommendations and apply updates as desired
174
175### Writing Loop
1761. Write chapter (invoke `writer` agent)
1772. Run `/fiction:review` for iterative feedback
1783. Apply suggested revisions
1794. Repeat until chapter complete
1805. Run continuity check periodically
181
182### Completion
183When manuscript is complete, run `/fiction:critique` for full literary review.
184
185## Large Manuscript Efficiency (50k+ Words)
186
187For novels with 15-25+ chapters, use parallel agent deployment to dramatically reduce processing time:
188
189### Parallel-Capable Tasks
190
191| Task | Approach | Speedup |
192|------|----------|---------|
193| **Editing all chapters** | Spawn one editor agent per chapter | ~20× for 20 chapters |
194| **Reviewing all chapters** | Spawn one chapter-reviewer per chapter | ~20× |
195| **Continuity checking** | Phase 1: parallel fact extraction; Phase 2: comparison | ~3-4× |
196| **Full critique** | Parallel chapter analysis, then unified synthesis | ~2-3× |
197
198### How It Works
199
200When using commands like `/fiction:edit all` or `/fiction:review all`:
2011. Identify all chapters to process
2022. **Launch agents in parallel** using the Task tool (one call per chapter, same message)
2033. Agents run concurrently, each returning structured output
2044. Main conversation aggregates results and updates `progress.md`
205
206### Sequential Tasks
207
208Some tasks must remain sequential:
209- **Writing** — Each chapter builds on the previous
210- **Outlining** — Structure depends on what comes before
211- **Architecture** — Single coherent vision needed
212
213### Memory Note
214
215Parallel agents don't share memory. Pass necessary context (character docs, tone guide) to each agent explicitly.