diff --git a/templates/chapter_polish.yml b/templates/chapter_polish.yml
index 63a5418..19200d1 100644
--- a/templates/chapter_polish.yml
+++ b/templates/chapter_polish.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ sections:
   - instructions
 
 steps:
+  - type: tool
+    action: git_read_file
+    params:
+      path: "staging/refinement_notes/chapter-{chapter_ref}.md"
+    output_key: refinement_notes
+    optional: true
+
   - type: think
     hint: |
       You are Iris, a fiction author performing a bounded editorial correction pass.
@@ -42,6 +49,12 @@ steps:
 
       VERDICT: {chapter_verdict}
 
+      ---
+      HUMAN REFINEMENT NOTES (operator-injected; apply these in addition to MUST APPLY items):
+      {refinement_notes}
+      (If this block is empty, no additional human guidance was provided.)
+      ---
+
       ---
       ORIGINAL CHAPTER:
       {chapter_text}
@@ -101,7 +114,13 @@ steps:
       No commentary, no change log, no editorial notes — ONLY the chapter.
 
   - type: document
-    filename: "Chapter_{chapter_number}_final"
+    filename: "polished/chapter-{chapter_ref}"
+
+  - type: tool
+    action: update_pipeline_status
+    params:
+      chapter_ref: "{chapter_ref}"
+      stage_key: "polished"
 
 
   - type: think
@@ -121,7 +140,7 @@ steps:
     max_chars: 4000
 
   - type: document
-    filename: "character-state-{chapter_ref}-final"
+    filename: "polished/character-state-{chapter_ref}-final"
   - type: close
     rag_update: true
 
diff --git a/templates/drafting.yml b/templates/drafting.yml
index 87cc9b6..c7e4c30 100644
--- a/templates/drafting.yml
+++ b/templates/drafting.yml
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ steps:
       Start directly with the chapter title and opening line. No commentary, no "Pass 1" label.
 
   - type: document
-    filename: "chapter-{chapter_ref}"
+    filename: "staging/drafts/chapter-{chapter_ref}"
 
   - type: think
     hint: |
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ steps:
     max_chars: 4000
 
   - type: document
-    filename: "character-state-{chapter_ref}"
+    filename: "staging/drafts/character-state-{chapter_ref}"
 
   - type: close
     rag_update: true