crucible-writer

What this skill does

# Crucible Writer

Transform Crucible outlines into first-draft prose while maintaining style consistency, plot fidelity, and narrative quality.

## Critical Principles

**Context Window is Limited.** Never try to hold the entire novel in context. Load only what's needed for the current scene. Save constantly.

**The Outline is Law.** Never invent plot points, characters, or events not in the outline. If something seems missing, ASK the author—don't improvise.

**Style is Sacred.** Capture the author's voice early. Maintain it relentlessly. When in doubt, match the sample.

**Save Everything.** After every scene, update the story bible and save the draft. Progress must survive session breaks.

## Before Starting

**Read these references based on the writing phase:**
- `references/context-management.md` — Critical: Managing limited AI context
- `references/writing-process.md` — Scene-by-scene drafting approach
- `references/style-capture.md` — Learning and maintaining author voice
- `references/anti-hallucination.md` — Verification protocols
- `references/prose-craft.md` — Genre conventions and techniques

## Questioning Rules

1. **ALWAYS use AskUserQuestion tool** for all user questions (provides interactive UI)
2. **Max 4 options per question** (tool limit) + "Other" is automatic
3. **Max 4 questions per AskUserQuestion call**
4. **Reference user's story elements** by name (characters, places, etc.)
5. **Save state after every scene and chapter**

**CRITICAL: Use the AskUserQuestion tool, NOT plain text A/B/C options.**

## Required Inputs

Before writing can begin, gather:

1. **Complete Chapter Outline** (required) — The crucible-outliner output
2. **Crucible Summary Card** (required) — Quick reference for theme, characters
3. **Style Sample** (required) — 2,000+ words of author's existing prose OR detailed style preferences
4. **Constellation Bible** (as needed) — Character details
5. **World Forge** (as needed) — Setting details

## Workflow Overview

```
Phase 1: PROJECT SETUP
         ↓
Phase 2: STYLE CAPTURE
         ↓
Phase 3: CHAPTER WRITING (repeat for each chapter)
         │
         ├─→ Load Context
         ├─→ Write Scene-by-Scene  
         ├─→ Verify Against Outline
         ├─→ Update Story Bible
         └─→ Save Progress
         ↓
Phase 4: COMPILE MANUSCRIPT
```

---

## Phase 1: Project Setup

### Initialize the Draft Project

```bash
python scripts/init_draft.py "./draft-project" "Book Title" --chapters 28 --target-words 150000
```

### Request Essential Documents

```
To begin writing, I need:

1. **Your complete chapter outline** (from crucible-outliner)
2. **The Crucible Summary Card** (for quick reference)
3. **A style sample** — either:
   - 2,000+ words of your previous writing, OR
   - Detailed description of your desired prose style

Please upload or paste these now.
```

### Confirm Writing Parameters

Present the extracted parameters, then use AskUserQuestion:
```
**Writing Parameters:**

Target words per chapter: [calculated from total ÷ chapters]
POV style: [First/Third Limited/Third Omniscient/Multiple]
Tense: [Past/Present]
Genre conventions to follow: [Cultivation fantasy / Epic fantasy / etc.]
Pacing preference: [Dense/Balanced/Breezy]
```

```json
{
  "questions": [
    {
      "header": "Parameters",
      "question": "Do these writing parameters look correct?",
      "options": [
        {"label": "Confirm settings", "description": "Proceed with these parameters"},
        {"label": "Adjust settings", "description": "Modify one or more parameters"}
      ],
      "multiSelect": false
    }
  ]
}
```

---

## Phase 2: Style Capture

**CRITICAL:** Read `references/style-capture.md` before this phase.

### Analyze the Style Sample

Extract and document:

```
**STYLE PROFILE**

Sentence Structure:
- Average length: [Short/Medium/Long/Varied]
- Complexity: [Simple/Compound/Complex/Mixed]
- Rhythm pattern: [Staccato/Flowing/Varied]

Vocabulary:
- Register: [Formal/Informal/Mixed]
- Density: [Sparse/Rich/Purple]
- Unusual word frequency: [Low/Medium/High]

Dialogue:
- Tag style: [Minimal/Standard/Elaborate]
- Dialect/Voice distinction: [Strong/Moderate/Subtle]
- Subtext usage: [Heavy/Moderate/Light]

Description:
- Sensory focus: [Visual/Auditory/Tactile/Mixed]
- Metaphor density: [Sparse/Moderate/Rich]
- Setting integration: [Separate blocks/Woven in]

Interiority:
- Internal monologue: [Rare/Occasional/Frequent]
- Emotional showing vs. telling: [Show-heavy/Balanced/Tell-heavy]

Pacing:
- Scene transitions: [Abrupt/Smooth/Varied]
- White space usage: [Dense paragraphs/Frequent breaks]

**SIGNATURE ELEMENTS:**
[List 3-5 distinctive features of this author's voice]
```

### Confirm Style Profile

Present the style profile and sample, then use AskUserQuestion:
```
Based on your sample, here's your style profile:

[Show extracted profile]

**Sample of how I'll write in this style:**

[Write 200-word sample matching the style]
```

```json
{
  "questions": [
    {
      "header": "Style",
      "question": "Does this capture your writing voice?",
      "options": [
        {"label": "Captures my voice", "description": "Proceed with this style profile"},
        {"label": "Needs adjustment", "description": "Specify what's off about the style"},
        {"label": "Show another sample", "description": "See a different example in this style"}
      ],
      "multiSelect": false
    }
  ]
}
```

---

## Phase 3: Chapter Writing

### Pre-Chapter Context Loading

**For each chapter, load ONLY:**

1. **Current chapter outline** (from the full outline)
2. **Previous chapter summary** (from story bible—NOT full text)
3. **Active character states** (from story bible)
4. **Relevant foreshadowing** (plants that pay off OR are planted this chapter)
5. **Style profile** (from Phase 2)

**Do NOT load:**
- Full text of previous chapters (too large)
- Chapters not adjacent to current
- Planning documents not directly relevant

### Scene-by-Scene Writing

Each chapter contains multiple scenes. Write ONE SCENE AT A TIME:

```
**WRITING: Chapter [X], Scene [Y]**

From outline:
- Goal: [scene goal]
- Conflict: [what opposes]
- Turn: [how it shifts]
- Key moments: [listed]
- Plants/Payoffs: [listed]

Writing this scene now...
```

**After each scene:**
1. Show word count
2. Ask if author wants to review before continuing
3. Option to revise before moving on

### Scene Writing Protocol

For each scene, follow this sequence:

1. **State what you're writing** (goal, conflict, turn)
2. **Write the prose** (matching style profile)
3. **Verify against outline** (all required elements present?)
4. **Note any plants/payoffs** executed
5. **Update running word count**

### Chapter Completion

After all scenes in a chapter:

```
**Chapter [X] Complete**

Word count: [X,XXX]
Target: [X,XXX]
Status: [Under/On target/Over]

**Outline Verification:**
- [✓] All required scenes written
- [✓] All key moments included
- [✓] All plants executed
- [✓] All payoffs resolved (for this chapter)
- [✓] Chapter turn achieved
- [✓] Ending hook present

**Continuity Check:**
- [✓] Character states consistent
- [✓] Timeline consistent
- [✓] No new elements invented
```

Use AskUserQuestion for chapter approval:
```json
{
  "questions": [
    {
      "header": "Chapter",
      "question": "How would you like to proceed with this chapter?",
      "options": [
        {"label": "Approve & save", "description": "Save chapter and continue to next"},
        {"label": "Review scene", "description": "Look at a specific scene in detail"},
        {"label": "Revise", "description": "Make changes before saving"}
      ],
      "multiSelect": false
    }
  ]
}
```

### Update Story Bible

After each chapter, update the story bible to track progress and continuity:

```bash
python scripts/update_story_bible.py "./draft-project" --chapter X
```

**For complete command reference**, see [references/story-bible-commands.md](references/story-bible-commands.md).

Key commands:
- `--ch