{"id":"3bbfee24-9de6-408d-b8a0-ac63af899255","shortId":"v4yudN","kind":"skill","title":"plot-structure","tagline":"This skill should be used when the user asks to \"create a plot arc\", \"story structure\", \"add a plot point\", \"story timeline\", \"track foreshadowing\", \"pacing\", \"act structure\", \"story arc\", \"plot outline\", or wants to plan and manage the narrative structure of a story.","description":"# Plot Structure\n\n## Overview\n\nPlan 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.\n\n## Prerequisites\n\nA story project must already exist (created via the story-init skill). Verify by checking for `story.md` in the project root.\n\n## Choosing a Story Structure\n\n1. Read `story.md` for genre and themes\n2. Consult `references/structure-models.md` for available structures\n3. Recommend a structure based on genre (default to three-act if unclear)\n4. Update `plot/_index.md` frontmatter `structure` field\n5. Populate the story structure section with the beat sheet\n\n## Creating an Arc\n\n1. Read `story.md` for themes\n2. Read `plot/_index.md` for existing arcs\n3. Read `characters/_index.md` to understand available characters\n4. Ask for:\n   - Arc name\n   - Type (main, subplot, character, thematic)\n   - Which characters are involved\n   - Which themes it serves\n5. Build the arc through conversation: setup, escalations, climax, resolution\n6. Write the file using `references/arc-template.md`\n7. Save to `plot/arcs/{arc-name-kebab}.md`\n8. Update `plot/_index.md` arcs table\n9. Update theme tracking in `plot/_index.md`\n10. If characters are referenced, verify they exist in `characters/`\n\n## Managing Plot Points\n\nPlot points live within arc files in the \"Plot Points\" table. When adding a plot point:\n\n1. Read the relevant arc file\n2. Add the plot point to the table with chapter reference (if known)\n3. Add the event to `plot/timeline.md` in chronological order\n4. If the plot point involves foreshadowing, add it to the arc's foreshadowing table\n\n## Timeline Management\n\nThe timeline at `plot/timeline.md` is a chronological master list of all story events across all arcs.\n\nWhen adding events:\n- Insert in chronological order\n- Link to the relevant arc and chapter\n- Keep entries concise (one line per event)\n\nWhen reviewing the timeline:\n- Check for chronological consistency\n- Identify pacing issues (too many events clustered, long gaps)\n- Flag arcs that haven't progressed\n\n## Foreshadowing Tracking\n\nEach arc tracks its own foreshadowing in the \"Foreshadowing\" table:\n- **Planted:** What hint or setup is placed\n- **Payoff:** What the payoff will be\n- **Chapter Planted / Chapter Payoff:** Where each occurs\n- **Status:** `planted` or `paid-off`\n\nDuring chapter writing, flag any `planted` items that haven't been paid off as reminders.\n\n## Cross-Referencing\n\n- Arcs reference characters via frontmatter `characters` field\n- Arcs reference themes via frontmatter `themes` field\n- Plot points reference chapters\n- Timeline entries link arcs and chapters\n- Theme tracking in `plot/_index.md` maps themes to arcs and chapters\n\n## Reference Files\n\n- **`references/arc-template.md`** - Template for arc files with frontmatter and sections\n- **`references/structure-models.md`** - Story structure models (three-act, hero's journey, save the cat, kishotenketsu, five-act) with beat 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chars)","verified":false,"liveness":"unknown","lastLivenessCheck":null,"agentReviews":{"count":0,"score_avg":null,"cost_usd_avg":null,"success_rate":null,"latency_p50_ms":null,"narrative_summary":null,"summary_updated_at":null},"enrichmentModel":"deterministic:skill-github:v1","enrichmentVersion":1,"enrichedAt":"2026-04-23T07:01:07.021Z","embedding":null,"createdAt":"2026-04-18T23:05:58.752Z","updatedAt":"2026-04-23T07:01:07.021Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-04-23T07:01:07.021Z","tsv":"'1':114,160,261 '10':232 '2':121,165,267 '3':127,171,280 '4':141,178,289 '5':147,196 '6':206 '7':212 '8':221 '9':226 'across':319 'act':29,138,473,483 'ad':257,323 'add':20,268,281,296 'alreadi':92 'arc':17,32,54,62,81,159,170,181,199,217,224,249,265,300,321,333,361,369,422,429,443,453,461 'arc-name-kebab':216 'ask':12,179 'avail':125,176 'base':131 'beat':155,485 'build':197 'cat':479 'chapter':276,335,391,393,405,439,445,455 'charact':177,186,189,234,241,424,427 'characters/_index.md':173 'check':103,347 'choos':110 'chronolog':71,287,312,327,349 'climax':204 'cluster':357 'concis':338 'consist':350 'consult':122 'convers':201 'coverag':86 'creat':14,94,157 'cross':420 'cross-referenc':419 'default':134 'entri':337,441 'escal':203 'event':283,318,324,342,356 'exist':93,169,239 'field':146,428,435 'file':66,209,250,266,457,462 'five':482 'five-act':481 'flag':360,407 'foreshadow':27,57,295,302,366,373,376 'frontmatt':144,426,433,464 'gap':359 'genr':118,133 'haven':363,412 'hero':474 'hint':380 'identifi':351 'index':78 'init':99 'insert':325 'involv':191,294 'issu':353 'item':410 'journey':476 'kebab':219 'keep':336 'kishotenketsu':480 'known':279 'line':340 'link':329,442 'list':314 'live':247 'long':358 'main':184 'maintain':73 'manag':40,52,242,305 'mani':355 'map':450 'markdown':65 'master':313 'md':220 'model':470 'must':91 'name':182,218 'narrat':42,59 'occur':397 'one':339 'order':288,328 'outlin':34 'overview':49 'pace':28,352 'paid':402,415 'paid-off':401 'payoff':385,388,394 'per':341 'place':384 'plan':38,50 'plant':378,392,399,409 'plot':2,16,22,33,47,55,77,243,245,253,259,270,292,436 'plot-structur':1 'plot/_index.md':143,167,223,231,449 'plot/arcs':68,215 'plot/timeline.md':75,285,309 'point':23,56,244,246,254,260,271,293,437 'popul':148 'prerequisit':87 'progress':365 'project':90,108 'read':115,161,166,172,262 'recommend':128 'refer':277,423,430,438,456 'referenc':236,421 'references/arc-template.md':211,458 'references/structure-models.md':123,467 'relev':264,332 'remind':418 'resolut':205 'review':344 'root':109 'save':213,477 'section':152,466 'serv':195 'setup':202,382 'sheet':156,486 'skill':5,100 'skill-plot-structure' 'source-danjdewhurst' 'status':83,398 'stori':18,24,31,46,53,89,98,112,150,317,468 'story-init':97 'story.md':105,116,162 'structur':3,19,30,43,48,113,126,130,145,151,469 'subplot':185 'tabl':225,255,274,303,377 'templat':459 'themat':187 'theme':85,120,164,193,228,431,434,446,451 'three':137,472 'three-act':136,471 'timelin':25,60,72,304,307,346,440 'topic-agent-skills' 'topic-claude-code' 'topic-claude-code-plugin' 'topic-codex' 'topic-copilot' 'topic-creative-writing' 'topic-cursor' 'topic-fiction' 'topic-gemini-cli' 'topic-markdown' 'topic-skill-md' 'topic-storytelling' 'track':26,79,229,367,370,447 'type':183 'unclear':140 'understand':175 'updat':142,222,227 'use':8,210 'user':11 'verifi':101,237 'via':95,425,432 'want':36 'within':248 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