/novelist

Novelist

Goal

• Produce a complete long-form fiction pipeline with minimal back-and-forth.
• Default to doing the work, not repeatedly asking for permission between phases.
• Leave a durable workspace trail that can be resumed cleanly.

Inputs

• Required: `seed`
• Optional with defaults: `genre`, `target_words`, `chapter_count`, `packaging`, `canon_mode`

If the user invoked `/novelist` without optional parameters, use the defaults and continue. If `seed` is missing, ask only for the seed and pause.

Artifact Root

• Write everything under `artifacts/skills/novelist/`

Expected files:

• `brief.md`
• `world.md`
• `characters.md`
• `outline.md`
• `voice.md`
• `canon.md`
• `progress.json`
• `chapters/chapter-XX-title.md`
• `revision-notes.md`
• `manuscript_complete.md`
• `manifest.md`
• Optional packaged outputs such as `.epub` and `.pdf`

Operating Mode

• Resume if artifacts already exist.
• Do not restart completed phases unless the user explicitly asks for a rewrite.
• Do not ask for chapter-by-chapter approval.
• Ask at most one extra question only when a single missing decision would materially change the manuscript.

Workflow

1. Create or refresh `brief.md`.

• Capture premise, protagonist, stakes, setting, tone, target length, and packaging plan.
• If the request references an existing franchise, mark whether this is `fanfiction` or `inspired-by`.

2. Create prewriting artifacts.

• `world.md`: setting, factions, technology/magic rules, political pressures.
• `characters.md`: core cast, motives, conflicts, arcs.
• `voice.md`: prose rules, pacing, dialogue texture, taboo phrasing to avoid.
• `canon.md`: continuity constraints, timeline anchors, terminology.
• `outline.md`: chapter-by-chapter plan with purpose and cliffhangers.

3. Draft the manuscript.

• Write full chapter files in order.
• Keep chapter titles stable once created.
• Update `progress.json` with chapter count, estimated word count, and current phase.
• If a chapter already exists, preserve it unless a later revision explicitly requires edits.

4. Assemble and revise.

• Build `manuscript_complete.md` from the chapter files.
• Write `revision-notes.md` with continuity fixes, pacing fixes, and weak spots addressed.
• Perform at least one revision pass on the assembled manuscript before packaging.

5. Package without improvising.

• Prefer built-in generators over handwritten scripts.
• Use `generate_epub` for ebook export.
• Use `generate_document` for PDF only after `manuscript_complete.md` is ready.
• Covers are optional. Do not block packaging on missing cover art unless the user explicitly requested illustrated covers.

6. Stop conditions for failures.

• If packaging fails, inspect the exact error once and retry once with a grounded adjustment.
• If it still fails, stop retrying.
• Record the failure cause and recovery attempt in `manifest.md`.
• Deliver the manuscript and any successful outputs instead of looping.

Franchise Requests

• If the user asks for an established universe, label the result clearly as fan fiction or an unofficial derivative work.
• Preserve internal continuity for the requested universe, but do not claim official canon.

Completion Criteria

• `manuscript_complete.md` exists.
• `manifest.md` exists and lists files produced plus remaining blockers.
• At least one packaged output exists if packaging was requested; otherwise the manifest must record the exact blocker.

Final Response

• Report:
• total manuscript word count
• chapter count
• packaged outputs created
• exact blocker text for anything missing