Writestory

WriteStory

Layered fiction writing system that constructs stories across seven simultaneous narrative dimensions, powered by Will Storr's The Science of Storytelling and Mark Forsyth's The Elements of Eloquence.

Customization

Before executing, check for optional user customizations in a sibling USER/ override directory if your environment defines one. If present, load and apply a PREFERENCES.md (default genre, aesthetic, voice) plus any additional skill-specific files. Otherwise proceed with skill defaults.

Workflow Routing

Route to the appropriate workflow based on the request.

When executing a workflow, announce which one you're running:

Running the **WorkflowName** workflow in the **WriteStory** skill to ACTION...

Workflow	Trigger	File
Interview	"interview me", "extract my story ideas", "help me plan a story"	Workflows/Interview.md
BuildBible	"build story bible", "create story plan", "map the story"	Workflows/BuildBible.md
Explore	"explore ideas", "brainstorm", "creative exploration", "what if"	Workflows/Explore.md
WriteChapter	"write chapter", "write scene", "write prose", "draft"	Workflows/WriteChapter.md
Revise	"revise", "edit", "improve", "polish", "rewrite"	Workflows/Revise.md

The Seven Story Layers

Every story in this system is constructed across seven simultaneous layers:

1. Meaning — Theme, philosophical argument, lesson
2. Character Change — Sacred flaw -> transformation arc (Storr)
3. Plot — Cause-and-effect chain of events
4. Mystery — Information management (reader knows vs. doesn't)
5. World — Setting, politics, physical environment, rules
6. Relationships — How key bonds evolve and pressure characters
7. Prose — Rhetorical figures, voice, aesthetic, style

Core References

Reference	File	Purpose
Layer Architecture	StoryLayers.md	Seven-layer system definition
Storr Framework	StorrFramework.md	Character change, sacred flaw, mystery
Rhetorical Figures	RhetoricalFigures.md	Comprehensive rhetorical figures catalogue
Anti-Cliche System	AntiCliche.md	Freshness enforcement, banned patterns
Story Structures	StoryStructures.md	Save the Cat, Dramatica, Story Grid
Aesthetic Profiles	AestheticProfiles.md	Genre and style configuration
Critic Profiles	Critics.md	Multi-pass review system for prose refinement

Quick Reference

• Theoretical Foundation: Storr (character science) + Forsyth (rhetoric) + classical rhetoric
• Story Bible: PRD-based plan mapping all 7 layers start-to-finish
• Scale: Short story (100s of ISC) to multi-book series (10,000s of ISC)
• Anti-Cliche: Built-in freshness system bans generic AI patterns
• Aesthetic: Configurable per project (Adams, Tolkien, sparse sci-fi, etc.)

Examples

Example 1: Starting from scratch

User: "I have an idea for a fantasy novel about an elven princess raised by orcs"
→ Invokes Interview workflow
→ Extracts character concepts, world details, themes
→ Maps ideas across seven story layers
→ Produces structured input for BuildBible

Example 2: Building the full story plan

User: "Build the story bible for my novel"
→ Invokes BuildBible workflow
→ Creates Story Bible PRD with all layers mapped start-to-finish
→ Identifies milestones, character transformations, mystery reveals
→ Outputs comprehensive layered narrative plan

Example 3: Writing actual prose

User: "Write chapter 3 based on the story bible"
→ Invokes WriteChapter workflow
→ Reads Story Bible PRD for chapter milestones across all layers
→ Deploys rhetorical figures for memorable dialogue
→ Produces fresh, anti-cliche prose in configured aesthetic