diff --git a/templates/short_story.yml b/templates/short_story.yml
index 5072ad3..ad2b8f3 100644
--- a/templates/short_story.yml
+++ b/templates/short_story.yml
@@ -7,11 +7,6 @@ agent_prompt:
   - "= identity.md"
   - "agent.rag.json"
 
-requires:
-  - genre_name
-  - genre_audience
-  - prose_style
-
 sections:
   - agent
   - project
@@ -29,6 +24,7 @@ steps:
 
       GENRE: {genre_name}  |  AUDIENCE: {genre_audience}
       PROSE STYLE: {prose_style}
+      (If any of the above are empty, infer genre, audience, and prose style from the task description and project goal.)
       TARGET LENGTH: 3,000–15,000 words (short story to novelette)
 
       Before writing, plan the story: