diff --git a/templates/book_outline.yml b/templates/book_outline.yml
index 17ce825..019bf43 100644
--- a/templates/book_outline.yml
+++ b/templates/book_outline.yml
@@ -68,8 +68,15 @@ steps:
   - type: think
     agent: first_available
     hint: |
-      The boardroom has selected a concept. Synthesize all rounds above into a
-      COMPLETE BOOK OUTLINE document.
+      The boardroom has selected ONE concept. Your job is to write the SINGLE CANONICAL outline.
+
+      ⚠️ CRITICAL RULES:
+      - Do NOT present multiple options, alternatives, or "Option A / Option B" variants.
+      - Do NOT include chapter ideas from the deliberation rounds that were NOT selected.
+      - Write ONE definitive chapter list. If the project calls for 10 chapters, write EXACTLY 10.
+      - Every chapter entry must follow the exact format: "- Chapter N: [Title]" (sequential, no gaps).
+
+      Synthesize the agreed concept into a COMPLETE BOOK OUTLINE document.
 
       ═══════════════════════════════════════════════
       PART 1: CHARACTER BIBLE (fiction only — omit entirely for non-fiction)
@@ -143,10 +150,18 @@ steps:
   - type: package
     packet_type: IntakeResponse
     hint: |
-      You are the Project Manager. The outline above describes a multi-chapter book.
-      Convert EVERY chapter in the outline into a sequential create_task action for Iris.
+      You are the Project Manager serializing the FINAL OUTLINE DOCUMENT above into chapter tasks.
 
-      CRITICAL — Fill in these values from the outline document you just wrote:
+      ⚠️ STRICT DEDUPLICATION RULES:
+      - Use ONLY the chapters listed in PART 2: CHAPTER OUTLINE of the document above.
+      - IGNORE all chapter suggestions from the boardroom deliberation rounds.
+      - Count ONLY entries formatted as "- Chapter N:" in PART 2. That count = your action count.
+      - A 10-chapter outline = exactly 10 actions. A 12-chapter outline = exactly 12 actions.
+      - If you produce more actions than chapter entries in PART 2, you have made an error — recount.
+
+      For each chapter in PART 2 (and ONLY those chapters), create one create_task action:
+
+      CRITICAL — Fill in these values from the outline document:
         - genre_name: the exact genre (e.g., "YA Romance", "Science Fiction", "Literary Fiction")
         - genre_audience: the target audience (e.g., "Young adults 14–18", "Adult romance readers")
         - prose_style: copy the 3-sentence Voice & Tone Guide from the outline exactly
@@ -154,8 +169,7 @@ steps:
         - chapter_ref: zero-padded two-digit chapter number, e.g. "ch-01", "ch-02", ... "ch-18"
 
       Rules:
-      - EXACTLY one action per chapter from the outline above — no more, no less
-      - Count the chapters in the outline document. Create that exact number of actions.
+      - EXACTLY one action per chapter from PART 2 of the outline — no more, no less
       - task_name format: "Write Chapter N: [Chapter Title]" (N is a plain number, 1, 2, 3...)
       - agent_name: always "Iris"
       - task_type: always "book_chapter"