novelty

Novelty

Overview

Novelist is a comprehensive skill for writing long-form fiction. It breaks the novel-writing process into discrete, manageable phases — each with its own reference file — so you can focus on one aspect of craft at a time while keeping the big picture in view.

Whether you're starting from a vague idea or sitting on a polished manuscript ready for market, Novelty meets you where you are.

Getting Started

When a user activates this skill, begin by asking which track fits their current needs:

Ask the user: "Where are you in your novel-writing journey?"

Workspace Setup

If the user is starting a new project (not continuing an existing one), offer to set up their workspace first:

Ask the user: "Do you have a project folder and GitHub repo set up, or would you like help creating one?"

If they want help, follow references/workspace-setup.md to create their local folder structure and private GitHub repo before proceeding to any writing track.

Option 1: Creative Track — "I'm writing a novel. I need help with the creative process — developing ideas, characters, structure, and prose."

Option 2: Professional Track — "I have a manuscript. I need help with the business side — diagnostics, market research, querying, and submission."

Option 3: Full Journey — "I want to go from concept to submission. Walk me through everything."

Based on their answer, guide them into the appropriate track below. Users can switch tracks or access any phase at any time — the tracks are starting points, not constraints.

Creative Track

The Creative Track covers the craft of writing a novel from first idea to completed draft. It's organized into ten phases:

Phases

1. Concept & Premise — Nail down what your book is about and why it matters
2. Character Creation — Build your cast before you plot, so the story grows from who they are
3. World-Building — Establish the rules and texture of your setting
4. Style & Tone — Decide how the story should feel on the page
5. Fiction Seeds — Capture your chosen voice as a reusable Seed for consistent generation
6. Seed Library — Organize your Seeds into a professional, cross-project collection
7. Dialogue — Develop distinct character voices and master subtext
8. Plot Structure — Outline the narrative arc and key turning points
9. Multi-POV & Timeline — Map viewpoint characters, timelines, and information flow (if applicable)
10. Scene Drafting — Write the manuscript scene by scene

Creative Track Reference Files

• references/concept-and-premise.md — Develop your core idea into a compelling premise with stakes, conflict, and thematic resonance
• references/character-creation.md — Build multi-dimensional characters with backstories, motivations, arcs, and authentic voices
• references/world-building.md — Construct your setting with the right level of detail, from physical geography to social systems and rules
• references/style-and-tone.md — Define and maintain a consistent narrative voice, prose style, pacing rhythm, and emotional register
• references/fiction-seeds.md — Create and manage Fiction Seeds: reusable style generators that capture a voice and reproduce it on demand
• references/seed-library.md — Organize Seeds across projects, genres, and registers into a professional library with cataloging, versioning, and maintenance workflows
• references/dialogue.md — Craft authentic conversations with distinct character voices, subtext, and narrative purpose
• references/plot-structure.md — Shape your narrative arc using proven structural frameworks, from three-act to hero's journey and beyond
• references/multi-pov-and-timeline.md — Manage multiple viewpoint characters, non-linear timelines, information asymmetry, and thread convergence
• references/scene-drafting.md — Write scene by scene with attention to purpose, tension, dialogue, and forward momentum

Professional Track

The Professional Track covers everything after the draft is written — analysis, revision, market positioning, and the submission process. It's organized into four phases:

Phases

1. Manuscript Diagnostics — Analyze the draft for structural, tonal, and pacing problems
2. Revision & Editing — Refine, tighten, and polish based on diagnostic findings
3. Market & Genre — Research your genre's conventions, competition, and positioning
4. Submission & Query — Prepare query letters, synopses, and manage the agent submission process

Professional Track Reference Files

• references/manuscript-diagnostics.md — Analyze a completed draft for pacing, tension, emotional arc, character consistency, information flow, tonal drift, and structural balance
• references/revision-and-editing.md — Systematically revise for structure, character consistency, prose quality, and polish
• references/market-and-genre.md — Research genre conventions, competitive landscape, trends, comp titles, and market positioning
• references/submission-and-query.md — Craft query letters, synopses, comp titles, and manage the agent submission process

Full Journey

If the user selects the Full Journey, guide them through all fourteen phases in order — the Creative Track followed by the Professional Track. The complete sequence:

1. Concept & Premise
2. Character Creation
3. World-Building
4. Style & Tone
5. Fiction Seeds
6. Seed Library
7. Dialogue
8. Plot Structure
9. Multi-POV & Timeline (if applicable)
10. Scene Drafting
11. Manuscript Diagnostics
12. Revision & Editing
13. Market & Genre
14. Submission & Query

Tips for Using This Skill

• Open the relevant file in references/ for whichever phase you're working on
• Keep a running document for your novel project (outline, character sheets, world bible, manuscript)
• Reference earlier phase outputs as you move forward — consistency matters
• Don't try to perfect one phase before moving on; iteration is part of the process
• When stuck, try jumping to a different phase for fresh perspective
• You can switch between tracks at any time — the boundaries are guides, not walls