plot-structure

Plot Structure

Overview

Plan and manage story arcs, plot points, foreshadowing, and narrative timeline. Each arc is a markdown file in plot/arcs/ with a chronological timeline maintained in plot/timeline.md. The plot index tracks all arcs, their status, and theme coverage.

Prerequisites

A story project must already exist (created via the story-init skill). Verify by checking for story.md in the project root.

Choosing a Story Structure

1. Read story.md for genre and themes
2. Consult references/structure-models.md for available structures
3. Recommend a structure based on genre (default to three-act if unclear)
4. Update plot/_index.md frontmatter structure field
5. Populate the story structure section with the beat sheet

Creating an Arc

1. Read story.md for themes
2. Read plot/_index.md for existing arcs
3. Read characters/_index.md to understand available characters
4. Ask for:
   • Arc name
   • Type (main, subplot, character, thematic)
   • Which characters are involved
   • Which themes it serves
5. Build the arc through conversation: setup, escalations, climax, resolution
6. Write the file using references/arc-template.md
7. Save to plot/arcs/{arc-name-kebab}.md
8. Update plot/_index.md arcs table
9. Update theme tracking in plot/_index.md
10. If characters are referenced, verify they exist in characters/

Managing Plot Points

Plot points live within arc files in the "Plot Points" table. When adding a plot point:

1. Read the relevant arc file
2. Add the plot point to the table with chapter reference (if known)
3. Add the event to plot/timeline.md in chronological order
4. If the plot point involves foreshadowing, add it to the arc's foreshadowing table

Timeline Management

The timeline at plot/timeline.md is a chronological master list of all story events across all arcs.

When adding events:

• Insert in chronological order
• Link to the relevant arc and chapter
• Keep entries concise (one line per event)