novel-architect — Claude Code skill: what it does, how to install
Guides fiction writers through an interactive interview to scaffold book files, characters, outlines, and chapter drafts.
npx skills add junaid18183/novel-architect-skills --skill novel-architect -a claude-codeWhat novel-architect does
The skill structures fiction projects inside ~/writing/novels/{novel-name}/ through a guided conversational interview. Instead of spitting out an entire draft at once, the assistant explores your core concept and conflict, presenting section drafts incrementally. It keeps approved pieces in memory and writes them to disk only after an entire file receives approval.
The resulting directory contains modular Markdown files including Braindump.md, Characters.md, Style.md, and Timeline.md, alongside folders for beat outlines, drafts, and research notes. The sequence contains 15 explicit stages that carry the story from basic themes to a full manuscript continuity check.
Drafting and reviewing subsequent chapters can run simultaneously using background tasks. Keep in mind that stopping the session before a file is fully confirmed discards any unwritten memory buffers.
What it helps with
- Generate a structured folder layout and Markdown templates for a novel
- Build character profiles and setting rules through conversational prompts
- Map narrative chronology and detailed chapter outlines prior to writing
- Draft and review manuscript chapters using parallel background workers
Example prompts for the agent
- Help me brainstorm my novel and set up the character sheets
- Initialize my book project and start the narrative interview
How to install novel-architect
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add junaid18183/novel-architect-skills --skill novel-architect -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/novel-architect/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/novel-architect/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add junaid18183/novel-architect-skills --skill novel-architect -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/novel-architect/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add junaid18183/novel-architect-skills --skill novel-architect -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/novel-architect/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install junaid18183/novel-architect-skills novel-architect2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/novel-architect/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add junaid18183/novel-architect-skills --skill novel-architect -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/junaid18183/novel-architect-skills --path skills/novel-architectManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/novel-architect/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add junaid18183/novel-architect-skills --skill novel-architect -a opencodeClaude.ai
Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways
Questions about novel-architect
How do I install novel-architect in Claude Code?
Run npx skills add junaid18183/novel-architect-skills --skill novel-architect -a claude-code in your terminal.
Where does novel-architect store story files?
The skill writes the project to ~/writing/novels/{novel-name}/, organizing drafts and notes inside directories such as Chapters/, Outline/, Research/, and Archive/.
How does the section approval process work?
The assistant proposes each section individually and waits for your confirmation to accept, adjust, or regenerate. It writes to disk only when every section of that file is approved.
