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Novel writing assistant — init bible from premise, review passages for consistency, update the plot tree, manage threads and character arcs
Install with Codex or Claude Copy this prompt, paste it into Codex, Claude, or another assistant, and let it review the skill page and install it for you.
Based on SOC occupation classification
| name | graphify-novel |
| description | Novel writing assistant — init bible from premise, review passages for consistency, update the plot tree, manage threads and character arcs |
| trigger | /graphify-novel |
/graphify-novel init "<premise>" # scaffold bible from a premise
/graphify-novel init --from <file> # scaffold bible from a premise file
/graphify-novel init --from-chapters [--batch N] # build bible by sweeping existing chapters (default batch: 5)
/graphify-novel review [file] [--intent "..."] # review a chapter/passage against the bible
/graphify-novel review --passage # paste a passage inline (AI assistant will prompt)
/graphify-novel update [file] [--intent "..."] # update bible from a chapter
/graphify-novel update --manual ["..."] # interactive update
/graphify-novel update --lore "<lore>" # add/edit bible lore directly
/graphify-novel query "<question>" # relationship query across the full story graph
/graphify-novel query "<question>" --dfs # depth-first — trace a specific path
/graphify-novel path "Node A" "Node B" # shortest connection between two story elements
/graphify-novel status # open threads, character states, unresolved items
/graphify-novel thread new "<name>" # create a new plot thread
/graphify-novel thread resolve <slug> # mark a thread resolved
/graphify-novel thread list # list all threads with status
<project-folder>/
chapters/ ← manuscript files
draft/ ← work-in-progress files (excluded from graph extraction)
static/ ← static files, images, etc (excluded from graph extraction)
bible/
premise.md
timeline.md ← ordered events with IDs (E001, E002 …)
characters/
_index.md ← roster with one-line status per character
<slug>.md ← YAML state + arc log (slug = lowercase-hyphenated unique id)
threads/
_index.md ← all threads, status summary table
<slug>.md ← thread detail, event refs, payoff notes
world/
_index.md ← topic list
<topic>.md ← location/faction/rule/artifact detail
graphify-out/ ← generated by graphify, do not edit manually
graph.json
graph.html
GRAPH_REPORT.md
.graphifyignore ← controls what graphify extracts; see init for contents
bible/ — structured state: what is true now. Queried by direct file reads.
graphify-out/ — relationship graph: how things connect across the full story. Built from both chapters/ and bible/. Neither replaces the other.
draft/ — excluded from graphify extraction; use for in-progress passages not yet canon.
static/ — excluded from graphify extraction; use for images, gifs, or any files you don't want in the bible or graph.
Check whether graphify skill exists.
If it does not exist, output:
graphify is required by graphify-novel but does not appear to be installed.
Would you like me to install it for you? (yes / no)
pip install graphifyy && graphify install. Once complete, confirm installation succeeded and continue.Install it manually from: https://github.com/safishamsi/graphify — then re-run the command and stop.Do not download or execute remote installation from external sources automatically without user approval.
Do not proceed until graphify is installed.
bible/premise.md---
title: <working title>
genre: <genre>
pov: <first | third-limited | third-omniscient>
tone: <e.g. dark fantasy, hopeful, gritty>
themes: [theme1, theme2]
---
## Premise
## Core Conflict
## Story Intent
## Open Questions
<unresolved world / character decisions at time of writing>
bible/timeline.md# Timeline
## Act 1
- [E001] ch.00 — <event> | threads: [<slug>] | characters: [Name]
- [E002] ch.01 · chapter1.txt — <event> | threads: [] | characters: [Name, Name]
Rules:
ch.00 with no filename. If the chapter is unknown, use ch.? with no filename.· (e.g. ch.01 · chapter1.txt). This anchors timeline nodes to their chapter nodes in the knowledge graph, reducing isolated event communities.bible/characters/<slug>.mdThe slug is the filename and must be unique across all characters. If two characters share the same name, choose different slugs.
---
name: Name # full name if known, else update later when revealed
slug: name-slug # matches filename; unique across all characters
aliases: []
status: alive | dead | missing | unknown
location: <current known location>
goal: <current driving goal>
fears: []
wounds: [] # physical or psychological — carried forward until resolved
knowledge:
knows: []
unaware_of: []
relationships:
other-slug: <nature of relationship, first appeared ch.X> # keyed by slug
last_updated: ch.XX
---
## Arc Log
- ch.01: <belief/state/goal>
## Notes
bible/threads/<slug>.md---
title: Thread Title
slug: thread-slug
status: open | resolved | abandoned
type: main | subplot | character_arc | mystery | promise
introduced: ch.XX
resolved: null
characters: [Name]
events: [E001, E042]
payoff_needed: true
---
## Summary
## Setup
## Current State
## Payoff
bible/characters/_index.md# Character Index
| Slug | Name | Status | Location | Goal |
|------|------|--------|----------|------|
bible/threads/_index.md# Thread Index
| Slug | Title | Status | Type | Introduced | Characters |
|------|-------|--------|------|------------|------------|
bible/world/_index.md# World Index
| File | Name | Type | Story Relevance |
|------|------|------|-----------------|
bible/world/<topic>.md---
name: Topic Name
type: location | faction | rule | artifact | concept
---
## Description
## Rules / Constraints
## Story Relevance
## Notes
/graphify-novel initPurpose: Scaffold a full bible from a premise. Ask only what cannot be reasonably inferred.
Step 0 — Verify graphify is installed. Run the Prerequisite: graphify check above. Do not proceed until graphify is installed.
If --from-chapters is passed, skip to the --from-chapters section below.
Step 1 — Read the premise. Use the quoted string directly, read --from <file>, or ask if neither is given.
Step 2 — Extract, then ask once. Without asking, identify: working title, genre/tone, named characters and roles, core conflict, world elements, implied threads, and genuinely ambiguous items.
Present what you extracted. Ask targeted questions only for consequential ambiguities: POV if unclear, character roles that affect consistency, world rules that affect checking. One round maximum. Don't ask about things that can stay open (theme, subplots).
Step 3 — Create the folder structure.
mkdir -p <project-folder>/chapters
mkdir -p <project-folder>/draft
mkdir -p <project-folder>/static
mkdir -p <project-folder>/bible/characters
mkdir -p <project-folder>/bible/threads
mkdir -p <project-folder>/bible/world
Create <project-folder>/.graphifyignore if it does not already exist:
graphify-out/
draft/
static/
bible/characters/
bible/threads/
bible/timeline.md
bible/world/ and bible/premise.md are intentionally included — they contain authorial lore (world rules, faction histories, artifact details) that helps graphify find hidden connections not explicit in chapter prose. Character, thread, and timeline files are excluded because they duplicate chapter-extracted content and cause redundant nodes.
Step 4 — Populate the bible. Write all files per schemas above:
timeline.md with any pre-story events implied by the premise (ch.00)_index.md filespremise.md with full premise + extracted intent; leave Open Questions for unresolved itemsStep 5 — Build the knowledge graph (REQUIRED). run:
/graphify --no-viz
Step 6 — Report.
Bible initialized at <project-folder>/bible/
Characters (N): Name, Name
Threads (N): Thread Title [open]
World (N): Location, Faction
Timeline: N pre-story events logged
Knowledge graph: built from N existing chapters (or "will build as chapters are written")
Open questions captured in bible/premise.md → Open Questions
Ready for: /graphify-novel review or /graphify-novel update
init --from-chaptersPurpose: Build a bible by sweeping existing chapter files in batches using sub-agents. Designed for porting an existing novel. Each batch runs in a fresh context — no accumulation across chapters regardless of novel length.
Step 0 — Verify graphify is installed. Run the Prerequisite: graphify check above. Do not proceed until graphify is installed.
Step 1 — Check for existing chapters.
List all files in <project-folder>/chapters/ sorted by filename. If the folder is empty or does not exist, output:
No chapters found in chapters/. Add your manuscript files there and re-run.
and stop.
Step 2 — Determine batch size.
--batch N was passed, use N.Compute batches: split the sorted chapter list into groups of N. Show the plan before proceeding:
Found 28 chapters. Processing in 6 batches of 5 (last batch: 3).
Batch 1: ch.01–ch.05
Batch 2: ch.06–ch.10
...
Step 3 — Ask for a premise (one question only).
Optional: paste a one-line premise or working title so I can seed premise.md.
(Or tell me to skip — I'll derive it from the first chapter.)
Accept whatever the writer gives. If skipped, note it for Step 6.
Step 4 — Create the folder structure.
Same as standard init Step 3. Create .graphifyignore with the same contents if it does not already exist.
Step 5 — Sweep batches via sub-agents.
For each batch, spawn a sub-agent with the following instructions:
You are processing a batch of novel chapters to build/update a story bible. Bible location:
<project-folder>/bible/Chapters to process (in order): [list of filenames]For each chapter in order:
- Read the chapter file.
- Read current bible state from disk:
bible/timeline.md,bible/characters/_index.md,bible/threads/_index.md, and any character/thread/world files relevant to this chapter. Always read from disk — do not rely on prior chapter content in this context.- Extract: new events, character introductions and state changes, thread openings and advancements, new world elements.
- Do not ask questions. Where interpretation is uncertain, tag the entry inline with
[?]and a brief note:status: alive # [?] ch.12 fate unclear — dead or captured?- Write all updates to bible files immediately before moving to the next chapter.
- Return one summary line per chapter processed:
ch.01 — 3 characters, 4 events, 2 threads logged ch.02 — 1 new character, 3 events, thread "binding-pact" advanced
Wait for each batch to complete before spawning the next. Print each batch's summary lines as they arrive.
Step 6 — Seed premise.md.
If the writer provided a premise in Step 3, use it. Otherwise derive a working title, genre/tone, core conflict, and story intent from what was extracted across all batches. Write bible/premise.md. Leave Open Questions blank — ambiguities are tagged in individual bible files with [?].
Step 7 — Build the knowledge graph (REQUIRED).
/graphify
Step 8 — Report.
Bible built from N chapters at <project-folder>/bible/
Processed in K batches of B chapters each.
Characters (N): Name, Name, Name
Threads (N): thread-slug [open], thread-slug [open]
World (N): Location, Faction
Timeline: N events logged (ch.01–ch.NN)
Knowledge graph: built from N chapters
Ambiguities flagged for review (M items marked [?]):
characters/kira.md — line 6: fate at ch.12 unclear
threads/binding-pact.md — line 12: resolution status ambiguous
timeline.md — E034: chapter placement uncertain
Resolve with: /graphify-novel update --manual
Ready for: /graphify-novel status or /graphify-novel review
/graphify-novel reviewPurpose: Check a passage against the bible. Flag contradictions, suggest missed thread opportunities, and list what update would need to commit if approved.
Step 1 — Load passage and intent. Read the file (if not in chapters/ then check draft/), or if --passage, prompt the writer to paste. Hold --intent context for Steps 2–5.
Step 2 — Extract from passage: characters present/referenced, locations, facts stated, events that occur, threads touched, new entities.
Step 3 — Query graph (cross-chapter connections → feeds Step 5 checks)
Apply the graph existence check (see General Rules) — skip if it fails. If graph exists, run a single combined query covering the key characters and central event:
/graphify query "<CharacterName> relationships, connected events, and <central event or concept>" --budget 1200
Hold results for Step 5.
Step 4 — Load bible (current ground truth → feeds Step 5 checks; independent of Step 3)
Using entities from Step 2:
bible/timeline.md — last 10 entries + any entries for characters in this passagebible/characters/_index.md → load characters/<slug>.md for each characterbible/world/_index.md → individual world files for anything referencedbible/premise.md — only if the passage touches core conflict or world rulesStep 5 — Check four categories:
CONTRADICTION (must fix): impossible location/knowledge/wound given bible state; world rule violated; timeline impossible. Also: a relationship portrayed as established that is absent from the graph, or entities with no prior co-occurrence presented as familiar.
CONTINUITY GAP (should address): unlogged past event; implied relationship not in bible; unstated world history. Also: a graph edge implies a prior connection that the passage ignores.
OPEN THREAD OPPORTUNITY (suggestion): open thread involving passage characters not advanced; prior setup unused. Prefer threads whose key entities appear in the graph results over those merely sharing a character name. Filter by --intent if given.
NEW BIBLE ENTRIES NEEDED (for update step): new events, character state changes, thread advancements, new world elements.
Step 6 — Present findings.
## Review: <filename or "passage">
Intent: <stated intent, or "none provided">
### Contradictions ← must fix
- [CHARACTER STATE] Elara is in Thornwall, but last logged location (ch.05, E031) is the Archive.
→ Fix: add a travel event, or correct the passage.
### Continuity Gaps ← should address
- Mordath references "the night of the first burning" — not in timeline. Log or clarify.
### Thread Opportunities ← suggestions
- Thread "The Binding Pact" (open) involves Elara and is unaddressed here.
### Implicit Connections ← graph findings not resolved into a check above
- ch.02 and this chapter both end with Elara destroying something she was meant to protect.
- Mordath's tone clusters with ch.06 (lineage reveal): Mordath / Black Fort / coercion.
(Omit section if graph.json does not exist or if all graph findings were already surfaced above.)
### Ready to Commit
If contradictions are resolved, these updates are queued for /graphify-novel update:
- E047: Elara arrives at the Ashfields (ch.09)
- Character: Elara — location → Ashfields, knowledge.knows += [Pact predates her]
- Thread "binding-pact" — current state updated, events += [E048]
Step 7— Wait. Do not write anything to the bible. The update step requires explicit writer action.
/graphify-novel updatePurpose: Commit new events, character state changes, and thread advancements to the bible.
[file] [--intent "..."] — derive updates from a chapter file.--manual — conversational update. Ask: "Which files changed, or describe what's different." Accept files, prose, or both.--lore "<lore>" — apply inline lore text.Step 0 — Review check (all modes). A review pass is required before any update. Check whether a review was run in the current conversation context.
timeline.md only for the next event ID. Verify all flagged contradictions were resolved — if any remain open, stop and ask before proceeding.A review pass is needed before updating the bible.
May I run one now?
yes — I'll run /graphify-novel review [file/content] then continue with the update.
no — update will proceed without graph-informed checks.
If yes: run the appropriate review (file, passage, or lore-targeted bible check) and surface findings before continuing. If no: proceed but note that graph contradiction checks were skipped.
Step 1 — Load content.
| Mode | Load |
|---|---|
file | Check chapters/ then draft/; if draft-only, ask to move file to chapters/ first |
--manual | Ask writer what changed — character states, deaths, relationships, threads, world elements |
--lore | Use inline text; route to target file(s): character trait/state → characters/<slug>.md; world/faction/artifact → world/<topic>.md; thread → threads/<slug>.md; ambiguous → ask |
Step 2 — Resolve ambiguity. Ask all open questions in one block before writing anything. Skip items already clarified during review. Apply --intent without asking.
Step 3 — Write updates:
bible/timeline.md in chapter order._index.md files.Step 4 — Update the knowledge graph (REQUIRED). Rebuild graph (see General Rules).
Step 6 — Report.
## Bible Updated
Timeline: added E047–E050 (ch.09)
Characters updated: Elara (location, knowledge), Kira (status → captured)
Threads: "binding-pact" advanced (E048 added), "kira-rescue" opened
World: no new entries
Knowledge graph: updated (chapters/ch09.md re-extracted)
Open threads: 4 (binding-pact, kira-rescue, mordath-lineage, the-second-burning)
/graphify-novel statusPurpose: Quick snapshot before starting a new chapter.
Read: bible/timeline.md (full), bible/threads/_index.md, all character files, all open thread files. If graphify-out/GRAPH_REPORT.md exists, read it for structural hubs (pull top 3–5 "God Nodes"; translate centrality data into plain story terms — not "betweenness: 0.406" but what it means narratively).
## Story Status
Last logged event: [E050] ch.09 — Kira is taken to the Black Fort
Open threads (4):
binding-pact — Elara & Mordath [ch.03, payoff needed]
kira-rescue — Elara & Jorin [ch.09, payoff needed]
mordath-lineage — Mordath [ch.06, payoff needed]
the-second-burning — multiple [ch.01, payoff needed]
Character states:
Elara — alive | Ashfields | goal: find Kira
Mordath — alive | Black Fort | goal: unknown
Kira — captured | Black Fort | goal: escape
Jorin — alive | Ashfields | goal: unknown
Unresolved setups (Chekhov's guns):
E012 — The burned letter Elara found (ch.02) — no payoff yet
E031 — Jorin's missing years mentioned but never explained (ch.05)
Structural hubs: ← omit if GRAPH_REPORT.md does not exist
Mordath — bridges Lineage / Black Fort / Pact communities
Elara — bridges Archive / Ashfields / Pact communities
The Binding Pact — central to all three main communities
Next: /graphify-novel review <draft> or /graphify-novel update <draft>
/graphify-novel threadthread new "<name>"Ask the writer: type (main/subplot/character_arc/mystery/promise), characters involved, setup/promise made to the reader, and any existing timeline event IDs that belong to this thread.
Create bible/threads/<slug>.md and update _index.md. Then rebuild graph (see General Rules).
thread resolve <slug>Read the thread file. Ask: which chapter resolved it, which event IDs are the payoff, resolved as planned or differently?
Update the thread file: status: resolved, resolved: ch.XX, payoff section filled. Update _index.md. Then rebuild graph (see General Rules).
thread listRead bible/threads/_index.md and all thread files. Print grouped by status.
/graphify-novel queryPurpose: Answer relationship questions that span the whole story — not current state (use bible files directly for that), but how things connect across chapters.
| Question | Use |
|---|---|
| Where is Elara right now? | Read characters/elara.md directly |
| What threads involve Mordath? | Read threads/_index.md directly |
| How is Elara connected to the Obsidian Throne? | /graphify-novel query |
| What do ch.3 and ch.8 have in common thematically? | /graphify-novel query |
| Shortest path between Jorin and the Black Fort? | /graphify-novel path |
Step 1 — Check graph exists. Apply the graph existence check (see General Rules). Stop if it fails.
Step 2 — Route to graphify.
/graphify query "<question>" --budget 1200 # default BFS
/graphify query "<question>" --dfs --budget 1200 # depth-first
/graphify path "Node A" "Node B" # shortest path
Step 3 — Supplement with direct reads if needed. After getting graphify and bible results, assess whether they fully answer the question. If not, or if the user mentions specific in-chapter details not covered by the graph or bible, you may read the relevant chapters directly. The ch.XX name does not always correspond to actual filename. Use chapter filenames if present or load chapters folder to find the right file.
Step 4 — Interpret and present. Do not dump raw graphify output. Translate to plain story language. Always note which edges are EXTRACTED (explicit in prose) vs. INFERRED (graphify deduced — suggestions, not facts). If you supplemented with direct chapter reads, note which claims come from the graph vs. the prose.
## Query: "how is Elara connected to the Obsidian Throne?"
Elara → [seeks] → The Binding Pact (ch.03) — EXTRACTED
The Binding Pact → [grants access to] → The Vault of Ash (ch.06) — INFERRED
The Vault of Ash → [contains] → The Obsidian Throne (ch.06) — EXTRACTED
Related: Mordath (co-signatory), Jorin (present at Vault scene)
If called with no subcommand, an unrecognized subcommand, or missing required arguments, print the command list at the top of this file and stop.
Ask vs. infer: Infer if clearly established in the bible and the passage is consistent. Ask if ambiguous and the interpretation affects bible state. Never ask about stylistic or prose choices — only story-state changes. Batch all questions into one message.
--intent flag: When provided, it takes priority over AI assistant's inferences. Apply without re-asking. In review, use it to suppress noise — a gap that the intent explains is not a contradiction; thread opportunities are only flagged if they align with the stated intent.
Never overwrite without confirmation: In review mode, never write to any file — findings are proposals only. In update mode, resolve all ambiguity first, then write.
Conflict between passage and bible: Always flag it. Never silently accept the passage as correct. The bible is the source of truth until the writer explicitly changes it.
Rebuild graph: Run /graphify --update.
Node IDs in results: graphify uses {file_stem}_{entity_slug} format — no fixed prefix.
Graph existence check: If graphify-out/graph.json does not exist, note: "Knowledge graph not built yet — run /graphify-novel update after your first chapter." Then skip or stop as the calling step requires.