Story Skills

Plan, draft, and check fiction continuity in Markdown.

Stars
★ 288
Last updated
1d ago
License
MIT
Primary language
JavaScript

At a glance

How it runs
Agent plugin / skillCLI
Works with
Universal · cross-platformCodex · Claude CodeClaude.ai (Partial support)
Cost
Free, no paid service needed
Setup effort
Low · running in minutes
You'll need
Node.js 18 or newerShell / CLINetwork accessLocal filesystem
Typical use
An independent novelist wants to track characters, places, clues, and chapters in a Markdown project managed with version control.
Not a fit if
  • Writers who want a web-based editor instead of managing local files
  • Teams that need a collaborative online editor
Source review
80/100 · Good

What does this agent do, and when should you use it?

Story Skills provides a shared Markdown project format for fiction, covering the story bible, characters, worldbuilding, plots, scenes, continuity state, and chapter drafts. Its 24 Agent Skills can be installed as Codex or Claude Code plugins, or used by other agents that support `SKILL.md`. The optional `story` CLI handles deterministic maintenance: validating files and links, checking continuity, packing context, and exporting or building manuscripts. Character deaths, promises and payoffs, open questions, and object and knowledge state live in YAML frontmatter, where continuity checks can report contradictions. The project runs through local files and terminal commands; the README also provides GitHub Actions templates for scheduled chapter drafting and pull request review.

Start with story init or import a manuscript with story import; the project stores its bible, entities, and registries in story.md, Markdown files, and _index.md files. Skills can create characters and world details, plan plots, draft chapters, revise prose, and prepare submission or publishing materials. The CLI commands story validate, story links, and story continuity check structure, references, and story state; story check runs validation, link checks, and continuity together. Other commands pack chapter context, track progress, and export or build EPUB, DOCX, print interiors, HTML review copies, screenplays, and Twine or ink formats.

  1. An independent novelist wants to track characters, places, clues, and chapters in a Markdown project managed with version control.
  2. A mystery or fantasy writer needs to catch a character appearing after death, a payoff preceding its setup, or conflicting object state.
  3. An author with an existing draft wants story import to split it into chapters and create project registries.
  4. A writer using Codex, Claude Code, or another SKILL.md-compatible agent wants skills spanning premise, planning, drafting, revision, and submission.
  5. A self-publishing author wants to build EPUB, DOCX, print interiors, or HTML review copies from one project.
  6. A serial or series writer needs to track state across chapters and maintain shared canon across prequels and sequels.

How do you install or deploy this agent?

Install the Codex plugin:

codex plugin marketplace add danjdewhurst/story-skills
codex plugin add story-skills@story-skills

For Claude Code, run these commands inside a Claude Code session:

/plugin marketplace add danjdewhurst/story-skills
/plugin install story-skills@story-skills

For another agent that supports SKILL.md, use the Agent Skills CLI:

npx skills add danjdewhurst/story-skills

The optional CLI requires Node.js 18 or newer. It can be installed globally with npm:

npm install -g story-skills

How do you use this agent?

After installing the skills, ask your agent to “Start a new story.” You can also scaffold a project with the CLI:

story init "The Last Ember"

Import an existing manuscript and run the checks:

story import draft.md --title "The Lost Coast" --genre mystery
story check --strict

Build an EPUB from a project:

story build [path] --format epub

Use npx story-skills --help for CLI help. The README does not require an API key for ordinary local writing; the scheduled GitHub Actions drafting template requires ANTHROPIC_API_KEY.

What are this agent's strengths and limitations?

Pros
  • The 24 skills span premise, planning, drafting, revision, submission, and publishing, handing work through shared project files.
  • Continuity data lives in YAML frontmatter, and the CLI reports concrete issues such as post-death appearances, payoff timing, and conflicting state.
  • Markdown files can be opened in any editor and diffed with Git; one project supports multiple manuscript exports and build formats.
  • It supports multiple languages and scripts, including right-to-left writing and vertical Chinese, Japanese, and Korean builds.
Limitations
  • Projects use local Markdown files, so authors need to manage files and a terminal workflow; the README does not describe a web editor.
  • The optional CLI requires Node.js 18 or newer; without it, deterministic checks and build commands are unavailable.
  • Skills can be used with SKILL.md-compatible agents, but installation varies by agent; the README gives explicit plugin steps for Codex and Claude Code.
  • The scheduled drafting workflow depends on Claude Code Action and requires ANTHROPIC_API_KEY.

How does this agent compare with similar options?

Key facts side by side with the most closely related agents.

Agent Source review Form / cost Stars Updated Language Full support on
Story Skills This agent 80 · Good Agent plugin / skillFree ★ 288 1d ago JavaScript Codex · Claude Code
InkOS Story Creation Workspace 50 · Major gaps CLIFree + model costs ★ 10k today TypeScript Claude Code · OpenAI API · Claude API
PaperOrchestra Skill Pack 62 · Some gaps Agent plugin / skillFree + model costs ★ 680 19d ago Python Claude Code
Patina Multilingual Writing Editor 83 · Good Agent plugin / skillFree + model costs ★ 366 11d ago JavaScript Codex · Claude Code

How does FollowAgents rate this agent?

FollowAgents source review · FARS-2.1
Good
80/ 100 5-point scale 4.0 / 5
Trust 22/29
Reliability 9/14
Adaptability 16/18
Convention 15/18
Effectiveness 12/13
Verifiability 6/8
Why each dimension lost points
Trust22 / 29 · 3.8/5

Workflow permissions are limited to read access, and the repository explains the external effects of publishing and draft automation. Drafts go through pull requests, and the docs disclose API key use, public Pages exposure, and release verification, supporting full marks for data flow and external effects. Deductions: the supplied material does not establish confirmation rules for every skill's file writes or external actions, nor consistent handling of sensitive manuscript data across integrations. Rollback relies mainly on ordinary Git workflows, with no dedicated recovery process shown. Package authorship and license are clear, but publisher identity is unverified and ongoing maintenance responsibility is only lightly specified.

Reliability9 / 14 · 3.2/5

The README, package metadata, and workflows consistently describe the markdown project, CLI, and skills, and provide CI, example validation, regression cases, and cross-platform checks. Deductions: this evidence cannot establish that the reviewed revision actually ran successfully; the no-runtime-dependency claim is supported by package metadata, but installation still involves Bun, Node, installers, or external build tools; examples show readable errors, but general install and skill failure handling is not covered in the supplied material.

Adaptability16 / 18 · 4.4/5

The materials address fiction writers, list scenarios from premise through publication, support multiple Agent environments, languages, and output formats, and distinguish deterministic CLI maintenance from creative skills. Deduction: skill triggers are mostly described through example prompts, with little systematic guidance on boundary conflicts or false triggers.

Convention15 / 18 · 4.2/5

The documentation index, project layout, installation steps, command reference, example projects, development guide, security policy, and MIT license have clear entry points. Deductions: the materials are insufficient to verify naming stability across long-term releases; limitations such as the Node requirement, scripts, and private Pages are mentioned but do not form a comprehensive limitation list; a version and changelog entry point exist, but actual change records were not supplied; the security reporting path is clear, while the ongoing maintenance commitment is limited.

Effectiveness12 / 13 · 4.6/5

The skill catalogue, project templates, continuity-check example, and export formats describe usable outputs; structured state and deterministic CLI checks offer a concrete benefit for long-form continuity. Deductions: there is no independent evidence quantifying time saved or quality gains, and the full workflow requires installing the CLI, maintaining frontmatter, and learning the project format, which adds ordinary-use cost.

Verifiability6 / 8 · 3.8/5

The README provides concrete CLI output, test files show assertions in related areas, CI lists validation steps, and the security policy describes release verification, making key claims traceable to source files. Deductions: the supplied README, tests, and workflows cannot independently confirm released artifacts or execution of this revision; product claims and facts verifiable from the supplied files have some distinguishable clues, but are not consistently labeled.

Risks and how to mitigate them
  • The scheduled drafting workflow requires an ANTHROPIC_API_KEY. The README says GitHub Pages may be public by default; check project visibility before publishing a review copy.
  • The Windows CI workflow attempts to disable Defender real-time monitoring on an ephemeral hosted runner. The supplied material explicitly warns against copying that step to a self-hosted runner.
Evidence confidence: Low Reviewed Oct 10, 2026 Reviewed revision 9a54e04b210c
See the full review method →

FAQ

Do I need the CLI to use the writing skills?
No. Install the skills as Codex or Claude Code plugins, or use the Agent Skills CLI; the story CLI is an optional project maintenance tool.
What does the continuity checker look for?
The README documents checks for characters listed after death, payoffs before setup, questions resolved before introduction, knowledge state that references a missing chapter, and conflicting object status.
What do I need to run the CLI?
The CLI requires Node.js 18 or newer. It can also be installed with Homebrew or as a standalone binary from the releases page.
What is needed for scheduled chapter drafting?
The repository includes GitHub Actions workflow templates. The scheduled drafting workflow uses Claude Code Action and requires ANTHROPIC_API_KEY; chapter pull requests are opened for review.
View on GitHub ↗ Install ↓

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