# novel-architect

Guides fiction writers through an interactive interview to scaffold book files, characters, outlines, and chapter drafts.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 2200 installs · ★ 3
- Author: junaid18183
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/junaid18183/novel-architect-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/novel-architect/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-01-29
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/novel-architect

## What it 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.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add junaid18183/novel-architect-skills --skill novel-architect -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/novel-architect/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/novel-architect/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add junaid18183/novel-architect-skills --skill novel-architect -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/novel-architect/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add junaid18183/novel-architect-skills --skill novel-architect -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/novel-architect/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install junaid18183/novel-architect-skills novel-architect
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/novel-architect/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add junaid18183/novel-architect-skills --skill novel-architect -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/junaid18183/novel-architect-skills --path skills/novel-architect
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/novel-architect/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add junaid18183/novel-architect-skills --skill novel-architect -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/junaid18183/novel-architect-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/novel-architect/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- 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
- Help me brainstorm my novel and set up the character sheets
- Initialize my book project and start the narrative interview

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md