# writing-staffing

Dispatch reference for assembling sub-agent teams on writing projects. Teaches which skills to attach, which files to pass, and when to fan out or run parallel lanes.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 723 installs · ★ 541
- Author: haowjy
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/haowjy/creative-writing-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/writing-staffing/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-25
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/writing-staffing

## What it does

The skill explains how to distribute work among sub-agents — `@writer`, `@critic`, `@editor`, `@continuity-checker`, and others — within a single project. For each agent it lists the skills to attach, project files (character styles, vocabulary, timelines), and work modes from `/creative-writing-modes`. It distinguishes fan-out (same question to multiple models for independent judgment) from parallel lanes (each agent has its own focus area).

It scales critic coverage to scene stakes: three critics on different dimensions (structure, voice, prose) for a standard chapter, five for a pivotal scene with duplicated coverage on the critical dimension. No FFmpeg, Python, or external libraries — this is a pure reference skill, loaded manually via `/load` or attached to an agent.

Part of the `haowjy/creative-writing-skills` repository under Apache-2.0. Not model-invocable (`model-invocable: false`).

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add haowjy/creative-writing-skills --skill writing-staffing -a claude-code
```

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

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add haowjy/creative-writing-skills --skill writing-staffing -a codex
```

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

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add haowjy/creative-writing-skills --skill writing-staffing -a cursor
```

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install haowjy/creative-writing-skills writing-staffing
```

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

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add haowjy/creative-writing-skills --skill writing-staffing -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/haowjy/creative-writing-skills --path skills/writing-staffing
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add haowjy/creative-writing-skills --skill writing-staffing -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/haowjy/creative-writing-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/writing-staffing/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- Distribute editing and critique tasks across sub-agents
- Choose the right files and skills for each agent
- Decide when to fan out versus run parallel lanes
- Scale review depth to scene importance

## Example prompts
- Show me how to configure `@critic` for voice checking
- Which files should I pass to `@continuity-checker` for chapter 7?
- Does this scene need fan-out or are parallel lanes enough?

## Source text · SKILL.md · Apache-2.0

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BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE f5b87c74013a0ae2
```text
---
name: writing-staffing
type: reference
description: >
  Dispatch reference for composing writing teams. Teaches which extra skills
  to attach, which files to pass, which resources to reference, and when to fan
  out versus run parallel lanes. Load when staffing a workflow.
model-invocable: false
---

# Writing Staffing

Each delegated agent loads its core skills from its definition. This skill
teaches which extra skills to attach, files to pass, and resources to reference.

## Model Selection

Agent defaults are usually correct. When overriding or selecting models for
additional lanes, match the model to the work: creative taste and high-stakes
critique need judgment; outlining and cross-document checks need structured
synthesis; bulk gathering and mechanical checks can use a cheaper model when
later synthesis will catch misses.

For model-diverse fan-out, choose two available model families with different
blind spots. Check the live model catalog and model-specific prompting guidance
at dispatch time rather than assuming which models or routes are available.

**Fan-out** passes the same question and files to different model families for
independent judgment. Reserve it for high-stakes calls where model diversity
can reveal different blind spots. **Parallel lanes** use different prompts or
focus areas; use each agent's default model unless a lane needs a capability it
lacks.

## Dispatch Reference

### `@writer`

Attach `/character-sim` for voice fidelity and `/shared-dao` for project
vocabulary.

Name the production mode from `/creative-writing-modes` →
`resources/prose-modes.md` (fresh draft, revision, bridge, alternate take,
line polish). Point to `/creative-writing-craft` →
`resources/prose-writing.md` or `resources/scene-construction.md` when relevant.
Pass the style and character-state files for everyone who appears, plus the
continuity anchors.

One writer per scene — voice consistency degrades when multiple writers handle
adjacent content.

### `@critic`

Attach `/creative-writing-craft` for prose or voice focus and `/shared-dao` for
vocabulary checks.

Assign a focus area: structure, character, voice, prose, or continuity. Pass the
style file for voice critique and character-state files for character or
continuity focus.

Run different focus areas as parallel lanes. Scale to stakes: 1–2 for
low-stakes, 3 for standard chapters, 4–5 for pivotal scenes with duplicated
coverage on the critical dimension.

For a pivotal scene or disputed judgment, fan out the same critical dimension
across two strong model families, then synthesize the disagreement.

### `@editor`

Name the edit level: editorial review, developmental, line edit, copyedit, or
proofreading. Point to `/story-review` → `resources/editorial-review.md` for a
```
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First 2789 of 4882 bytes. © haowjy · Apache-2.0 · https://github.com/haowjy/creative-writing-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/writing-staffing/SKILL.md

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---
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