auto

Auto Batch Skill

Sequentially write up to 5 consecutive chapters with real-time state synchronization.

Arguments

• --batch=N — number of chapters to write (default: 5, max: 5)
• --start=N — override starting chapter number (default: from meta.json.activeChapter)

Core Principle

Sequential only. Never write multiple chapters in parallel. Each chapter informs the next through shared context loaded at the start of the batch.

Workflow

Phase 1: Pre-Batch Verification

Step 1a: Resolve Active Project

node scripts/lib/state-manager.js active

If no project exists, abort with: "No active project. Create one with node scripts/lib/state-manager.js create \"项目名称\""

Step 1b: Load Project

node scripts/lib/state-manager.js load {projectId}

Step 1c: Auto-Setup if Missing

Check and auto-create missing files in data/{projectId}/:

1. If world.json missing:

   • Auto-create with basic template based on genre from meta.json
   • Default: 2-3 locations, 1-2 factions

2. If characters.json missing:

   • Auto-create with protagonist and 1-2 supporting characters
   • Auto-generate names and basic profiles

3. If outline.json has zero chapters:

   • If user provided story premise in arguments (e.g., "生成一部仙侠小说 总章数50章"):
     • Extract genre from arguments (仙侠 → xianxia, 奇幻 → fantasy, etc.)
     • Extract chapter count from arguments (50)
     • Auto-generate complete outline with 50 chapters in three-act structure
   • Else abort with: "No outline found. Run /outline first or include story premise in arguments."

Step 1c: Determine Batch Scope

Read meta.json and outline.json. Determine chapters to write:

1. Start from activeChapter in meta.json (or --start=N override)
2. Scan outline.json.chapters sequentially
3. Include only chapters where status === 'outline'
4. Stop when either 5 chapters collected OR no more outline chapters remain
5. If --start=N is given, override but still skip complete/draft/revision chapters

Report batch scope before starting:

Batch plan:
- Chapter 3: "归途" (outline) — ~3500 words
- Chapter 4: "重逢" (outline) — ~3000 words
(2 of 5 — only 2 outline chapters remain)

Phase 2: Load Full Context (Once, Before Loop)

Read ALL state files from data/{projectId}/:

1. meta.json — project name, genre, tone, target word count, activeChapter
2. outline.json — chapter structure, act breaks, key events, word count targets
3. characters.json — character details, relationships, character arcs
4. world.json — locations, factions, lore, timeline, magic system
5. style-profile.json — if exists, for voice preservation
6. beats.json — if exists, for beat-level scene guidance
7. Last 1-2 existing chapter files — for callback continuity

Phase 3: Sequential Chapter Writing

For each chapter in the batch (in order):

Display Chapter Context

=== Writing Chapter {N}: "{title}" ===
Summary: {summary}
POV: {POV character}
Location: {location}
Key events: {keyEvents list}
Word target: ~{wordTarget} words

Build Writing Context

Assemble the full writing prompt from all loaded state:

CONTEXT FOR CHAPTER {N}:

--- STORY OUTLINE ---
Act: {actName}

--- CHAPTER BRIEF ---
{chapter.summary}
Key events to include:
  - {keyEvent 1}
  - {keyEvent 2}

--- CHARACTERS IN THIS CHAPTER ---
{character.name}: {character arc description}

--- WORLD ---
Location: {location.description}

--- STYLE PROFILE ---
{sentence_length: mixed, dialogue_ratio: ~30%, description_density: moderate}
Opening: {technique from style-profile}
Closing: {technique from style-profile}

--- RECENT CHAPTERS (callback) ---
Previous chapter {N-1} ended with:
{last 2 paragraphs of previous chapter}

Write the Chapter

Write to chapters/{N}.md:

• File: 01.md, 02.md ... (zero-padded)
• H1: # 第{N}章 {title}
• The pre-chapter-chinese-count hook will verify >= 3000 Chinese characters
• The post-chapter-state-update hook will auto-update state files after Write

Progress Report (After Each Chapter)

Chapter {N} written: {word count} words
Status: draft
Next: Chapter {N+1} / {batch total}

Abort on Failure

If the Write tool fails or the hook blocks:

[ABORT] Chapter {N} failed: {reason}
Batch stopped. {X} of {Y} chapters completed.
Completed: {list}
Failed at: Chapter {N}
Retry with: /novel:auto --start={N} --batch={remaining}

Phase 4: Final State Sync

After the batch completes or aborts:

1. Update meta.json:

   • activeChapter = startChapter + writtenCount
   • currentWordCount += totalWrittenWords
   • updatedAt = now

2. Update outline.json:

   • All written chapters: status = 'draft', wordCount, sceneCount set

3. Update beats.json (if exists):

   • Written chapter beats: status = 'written'

4. Update style-profile.json (conditional):

   • If first chapter of a new act was written AND style profile doesn't exist:
     • Extract from the chapter prose
   • If first chapter of a new act was written AND style profile exists:
     • Ask: "New act chapter written. Update style profile? (y/n)"

Phase 5: Batch Summary Report

=== Batch Complete ===
Chapters written: Chapter 3 (3542w), Chapter 4 (3108w)
Total words added: 6650
Active chapter: 5
Time elapsed: {duration}s
State files updated:
  - meta.json
  - outline.json
  - beats.json
Progress: 4 / 15 chapters (26.7%)

Edge Cases

Scenario	Behavior
--batch=0 or negative	Error: "Batch size must be between 1 and 5"
--start=N beyond outline	Error: "Chapter {N} does not exist in outline"
--start=N on complete chapter	Skip with warning, find next outline chapter
0 outline chapters remain	"All chapters have been drafted. No outline chapters remaining."
Hook blocks a chapter write	Abort batch, report partial results
Project does not exist	Error: "No active project. Create one with state-manager.js create"
style-profile.json doesn't exist when writing first chapter	Auto-extract after first chapter
beats.json doesn't exist	Skip beat updates silently
activeChapter past outline length	Error: "No outline chapters beyond Chapter {N}"

State Invariants

After successful batch:

1. meta.json.activeChapter points to chapter AFTER the last written one
2. meta.json.currentWordCount is sum of all chapter word counts
3. outline.json.chapters[i].status === 'draft' for all written chapters
4. outline.json.chapters[i].wordCount > 0 for all written chapters
5. meta.json.updatedAt is always most recent