| name | workflow-guide |
| description | Use when user asks about the novel writing process, workflow steps, or how to get started — provides the seven-step methodology for systematic novel creation |
Novel Writing Workflow Guide
This skill provides the seven-step systematic workflow for novel creation. It ensures you follow a proven methodology from initial concept to completed manuscript.
The Seven-Step Methodology
| Step | Name | Purpose | Output |
|---|
| 1 | Constitution | Establish creative principles | memory/constitution.md |
| 2 | Specify | Define story specifications | stories/[name]/specification.md |
| 3 | Clarify | Resolve ambiguities | Updated specification |
| 4 | Plan | Create creative plan | stories/[name]/creative-plan.md |
| 5 | Tasks | Break down into tasks | stories/[name]/tasks.md |
| 6 | Write | AI-assisted chapter writing | stories/[name]/content/chapter-XX.md |
| 7 | Analyze | Quality verification | Analysis report |
When to Use Each Step
Starting a New Novel
Begin at Step 1 (Constitution) and proceed sequentially. Do not skip steps — each builds on the previous.
Resuming an Existing Project
Check which files already exist:
memory/constitution.md exists → Step 1 completestories/[name]/specification.md exists → Step 2 completestories/[name]/creative-plan.md exists → Step 4 completestories/[name]/tasks.md exists → Step 5 completestories/[name]/content/ has chapters → Step 6 in progress
Resume from the first incomplete step.
Writing Additional Chapters
If the project is set up and you're writing more chapters, go directly to Step 6 (Write). The pre-write checklist skill will automatically ensure all context is loaded before each chapter.
Key Principles
- Never skip the Constitution — it prevents creative drift over long projects
- Specifications prevent scope creep — treat your story like a product
- The pre-write checklist is mandatory — it solves AI context degradation after 30+ chapters
- Regular analysis catches problems early — run Step 7 every 5-10 chapters
- Track everything — use the tracking templates to maintain state across sessions
Related Skills
pre-write-checklist — Mandatory context reload before each chaptersetting-detector — Auto-detects genre and loads relevant knowledgeconsistency-checker — Catches contradictions across chaptersforgotten-elements — Finds dropped plot threads and abandoned character arcs
