2 added, 9 removed. Audit A to A.
---
name: chapter-writing
description: This skill should be used when the user asks to "write a chapter", "next chapter", "chapter outline", "draft chapter", "continue the story", "write a scene", "outline a chapter", or wants to write prose for a story project.
---
# Chapter Writing
## Overview
Write story chapters using an outline-first workflow. Gathers context from all other story elements (characters, world, plot) to maintain consistency, builds a beat-by-beat outline for approval, then writes full prose. After writing, updates all cross-references (chapter index, timeline, foreshadowing).
## Prerequisites
A story project must already exist with at least:
- `story.md` (story bible)
- At least one character in `characters/`
- A plot structure in `plot/_index.md` (recommended but not required for first chapters)
## Recommended Companion Skill
Before drafting or revising chapter prose, check whether the `better-writing` skill is available in the active agent environment.
- If `better-writing` is available, use it for prose quality, voice calibration, anti-generic writing checks, and the final pre-flight pass before saving the chapter.
- If `better-writing` is not available, recommend installing [forjd/better-writing](https://github.com/forjd/better-writing) with `npx skills add forjd/better-writing` or `bunx skills add forjd/better-writing`, then continue with this skill's built-in writing guidelines if the user does not install it.
## Outline-First Workflow
### 1. Gather Context
Read these files to understand the current story state:
- `story.md` - genre, themes, POV, tense
- `chapters/_index.md` - what's been written, current word count
- `plot/_index.md` - arc status, what needs to happen next
- `plot/timeline.md` - chronological position
If this isn't the first chapter, also read:
- The previous chapter file - for continuity (ending state, cliffhangers, emotional tone)
- Active arc files in `plot/arcs/` - for upcoming plot beats
### 2. Determine Chapter Scope
Ask the user:
- What should this chapter cover? (or suggest based on plot arcs)
- Whose POV?
- Which location(s)?
If plot arcs exist, suggest the next logical beats to advance.
### 3. Build the Outline
Create a beat-by-beat outline listing:
- Each scene/beat and what it accomplishes
- POV character and location for each beat
- Which arc plot points are advanced
- Any foreshadowing to plant or pay off
Load the POV character's file for voice reference. Load relevant location files for setting details.
Present the outline to the user for approval. Revise until approved.
### 4. Write the Chapter
With the approved outline, write the full prose:
- Follow the POV and tense from `story.md`
- Use the POV character's voice and speech patterns from their profile
- Ground scenes in location details from worldbuilding files
- Consult `references/writing-guidelines.md` for prose craft guidance
- When available, apply the `better-writing` skill before finalizing prose
- Use the chapter template from `references/chapter-template.md`
- Include the approved outline in the file above the prose (for reference)
Save to `chapters/chapter-{NN}.md` with appropriate frontmatter.
Write chapter prose directly into the chapter markdown file. Do not stage prose in project-local build scripts, generator scripts, or bulk writer scripts (for example `build-*.js`) to emit chapters. If a temporary helper is truly unavoidable for mechanical file operations, keep it outside the story project and remove it before finishing.
### 5. Post-Write Updates
After the chapter is written:
1. **Update `chapters/_index.md`** - add chapter to registry, update total word count
2. **Update `plot/timeline.md`** - add events from this chapter in chronological order
3. **Update arc files** - mark advanced plot points with chapter reference
4. **Update foreshadowing** - mark any items as `planted` or `paid-off` with chapter reference
5. **Note character changes** - if a character's status changed (injury, revelation, relationship shift), flag for the user to update the character file
6. **Run CLI maintenance when available:**
```shell
story wordcount . --write
story links .
story validate .
```
Present a summary of all updates made.
## Scene Breaks
Within a chapter, separate scenes with `---`. Each scene should have a clear POV character (even if the same as the previous scene) and location.
- ## Revision Workflow
+ ## Revision Handoff
- When asked to revise a chapter:
- 1. Read the existing chapter
- 2. Understand what needs to change
- 3. When available, use the `better-writing` skill for the prose-quality pass
- 4. Make targeted edits rather than rewriting from scratch
- 5. Update word count in frontmatter
- 6. Update chapter status (draft -> revised)
- 7. When CLI access is available, run `story wordcount . --write`, `story links .`, and `story validate .`
+ When asked to revise, line edit, polish, or continuity-check an existing chapter, use the `revision-continuity` skill. This skill owns new drafting and chapter creation; `revision-continuity` owns targeted edits, continuity audits, and post-draft cleanup.
## CLI Maintenance
Use the Story CLI when it is available. If `story` is not installed but the `story-maintenance` skill is present, use `node ../story-maintenance/scripts/story.js` with the same arguments, resolving the path relative to this skill folder. If no CLI is available, perform the registry, backlink, and word-count checks manually.
## Reference Files
- **`references/chapter-template.md`** - Frontmatter and structure template for chapter files
- **`references/writing-guidelines.md`** - Prose craft guidance: show-don't-tell, POV, dialogue, pacing, scene structure, continuity