| name | outlining |
| description | Outline creation patterns for fiction and nonfiction book structures, including chapter breakdowns, scene planning, and narrative arc mapping. |
Outlining Skill
Purpose
The outlining skill helps authors create structured plans for their books, whether fiction or nonfiction. It transforms high-level ideas into detailed roadmaps with chapter breakdowns, scene structures, and narrative arcs.
When to Use
- Story Planning: When the author needs to plan the overall structure of their book
- Chapter Breakdown: When developing detailed chapter-by-chapter outlines
- Arc Development: When mapping character arcs, plot threads, or argument flows
- Structure Evaluation: When assessing whether an outline has proper pacing and balance
Core Capabilities
Story Structure Analysis
The skill understands various narrative structures:
- Three-act structure (setup, confrontation, resolution)
- Hero's journey (Campbell's monomyth)
- Kishotenketsu (introduction, development, twist, conclusion)
- Five-act structure (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, denouement)
For nonfiction:
- Problem-solution structure
- Chronological progression
- Thematic organization
- Argument-evidence structure
Planning Workflow
- Initial Structure: Create high-level book structure from author's concept
- Chapter Breakdown: Develop detailed chapter outlines with key points
- Scene Planning: Break chapters into scenes or sections with specific purposes
- Arc Tracking: Map how themes, characters, or arguments develop across the book
Outline Components
Each outline should include:
- Chapter/Section Title: Clear, descriptive title
- Purpose: What this chapter accomplishes in the overall narrative
- Key Events/Points: Main content or plot points
- Arc Progression: How character/theme/argument arcs advance
- Pacing Notes: Tension level, speed, emotional tone
- Word Count Target: Estimated length for balance
Integration with Corpus
The outlining skill leverages the corpus for:
- Consistency Checks: Verify outline aligns with established world details
- Character Arc Tracking: Ensure character development matches their profiles
- Timeline Validation: Check that events sequence properly
- Theme Reinforcement: Identify opportunities to reinforce core themes
Pre-Outline Queries
Before creating outlines, query the corpus for:
- Character relationship graphs
- Timeline of established events
- Location and world-building details
- Thematic elements to weave through chapters
Outline Types
The skill supports different outline depths:
High-Level Outline
- Part/section divisions
- Chapter titles and one-sentence descriptions
- Major turning points
- 1-2 pages total
Standard Outline
- Chapter-by-chapter breakdown
- Key scenes or sections per chapter
- Character/theme progression notes
- 5-10 pages total
Detailed Outline
- Scene-by-scene breakdown
- POV character per scene
- Specific plot beats and dialogue points
- Character emotional arcs per scene
- 20+ pages total
Pacing Considerations
The skill evaluates pacing by:
- Scene/Chapter Length Variation: Mixing short punchy chapters with longer ones
- Tension Escalation: Building toward climactic moments
- Breather Moments: Placing quieter scenes after intense sequences
- Information Distribution: Spreading reveals and developments evenly
Output Format
Outlines should be structured markdown with:
- Clear hierarchical headings
- Consistent formatting for scene/chapter entries
- Metadata annotations (POV, timeline, word count targets)
- Cross-references to corpus entries
See outline-template.md for the standard template structure.
Specialized Techniques
Fiction Outlining
See fiction.md for:
- Plot arc structures
- Scene tension patterns
- Character development tracking
- Subplot integration
Nonfiction Outlining
See nonfiction.md for:
- Argument flow structures
- Evidence organization
- Reader journey mapping
- Chapter types and purposes
Validation Steps
Before finalizing an outline:
- Verify each chapter has clear purpose
- Check arc progression is smooth
- Confirm pacing has appropriate rhythm
- Validate timeline consistency
- Ensure themes are woven throughout
- Check word count distribution is balanced
Iteration Support
Outlines should be treated as living documents:
- Store in corpus for later reference
- Update as book evolves
- Track major structural changes
- Maintain version history for rollback if needed
