story-promise

name	Story Promise
description	Define the story's narrative promise - the implicit contract made with readers about what kind of story this will be, what central question drives it, and what stakes will be resolved by the end.

Story Promise Skill

Define the story's narrative promise: the implicit contract made with readers in the opening pages about what kind of story this will be, what central question drives it, and what stakes will be resolved by the end.

Usage

/project:skills:story-promise {story_concept} {genre} {opening_situation}

Process

Inputs

• Required: story_concept, genre, opening_situation
• Optional: protagonist_name, inciting_incident, target_length

Steps

1. Identify what kind of story this is (genre, tone, emotional experience promised).
2. Define the central question or conflict that will drive the narrative.
3. Specify the stakes that must be resolved by story's end.
4. Verify the promise can be established in the first 10-15% of the story.
5. Produce a one-paragraph story promise statement.

Output Format

Story Promise

• Story Type (Genre/Tone/Experience):
• Central Question or Conflict:
• Stakes to be Resolved:
• Promise Statement (1 paragraph):

Reference Example: The Lord of the Rings

Promise Made: Gandalf reveals Bilbo's ring is the One Ring of Sauron, and it must be destroyed in Mount Doom or Sauron will enslave all of Middle-earth. Promise: an epic quest to save the world by destroying ultimate power rather than wielding it.

Promise Fulfilled: Frodo and Sam reach Mount Doom against impossible odds. Though Frodo fails at the final moment (claimed by the Ring), Gollum's intervention destroys it anyway. Sauron falls, the age of magic ends, and hobbits return home changed. The eucatastrophic ending delivers on both the quest's success and the bittersweet cost.

Quality Checks

• Story type matches actual content and establishes clear expectations.
• Central question is compelling and specific (not generic).
• Stakes are clear, meaningful, and will drive reader investment.
• Promise can be credibly kept by the story's planned ending.
• Opening pages (first 10-15%) will clearly communicate this promise.

Usage Notes

• The promise must be kept. Readers feel cheated if the opening teaches them to expect one kind of story but delivers another.
• Examples: Thriller with ticking bomb → promises tension and race against time; Mystery with murdered body → promises killer will be revealed.