name: book_chapter description: "Write one chapter — continuity check, draft, self-check, then spawn editorial review." debug: true rag_exclude: [business_plan, charter] system: agent_prompt requires: - genre_name - genre_audience - prose_style - chapter_target_words - chapter_ref conditional_skills: - path: guides/YAFictionGuide.md genre_contains: - "YA" - "Young Adult" - path: guides/RomanceFictionGuide.md genre_contains: - "Romance" - "Contemporary Romance" - path: guides/SciFiFictionGuide.md genre_contains: - "Science Fiction" - "Sci-Fi" - "SciFi" - "Science-Fiction" # Genre-aware guide use: Only the guide whose genre_contains keywords match {genre_name} # is injected. The pipeline skips non-matching guides entirely, so there are no # conflicting craft signals from other genres. agent_prompt: - "= identity.md" - "agent.rag.json" sections: - agent - project - rag - skills - deliverables - message - rejection_feedback - instructions steps: - type: think hint: | PASS 0 — BIBLE, CONTINUITY, AND DRAFT PROMPT GENRE: {genre_name} | AUDIENCE: {genre_audience} PROSE STYLE GUIDE: {prose_style} TARGET CHAPTER LENGTH: ~{chapter_target_words} words THIS CHAPTER: {chapter_number} ({chapter_ref}) GENRE GUIDE: Your skills section contains exactly the guide for {genre_name}. Apply it fully. ╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ THE READER KNOWS RULE — CRITICAL, NON-NEGOTIABLE ║ ║ You are the Scribe entering chapter {chapter_number}. ║ ║ You may only use information the READER already knows — ║ ║ what was established in chapters 1 through {chapter_number}. ║ ║ Characters enter this chapter as they left chapter ║ ║ {chapter_number_prev}, not as they end up at book's end. ║ ║ ║ ║ FORBIDDEN sources: ║ ║ - Outline entries for chapters after {chapter_number} ║ ║ - Character sheet state written after this chapter ║ ║ - Any deliverable whose filename contains a chapter ref ║ ║ later than {chapter_ref} (e.g. chapter-ch-08 when ║ ║ writing ch-03) ║ ║ - Editorial reviews, polish drafts, roundtable summaries ║ ║ (they reflect post-writing analysis) ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ STEP 1 — READ THE OUTLINE (chapters 1 through {chapter_number} ONLY): Look at PROJECT DELIVERABLES for the outline file. ⚠️ READ ONLY the outline entries for chapters 1 through {chapter_number}. STOP READING when you reach "Chapter {chapter_number_next}:" or any heading indicating a chapter number greater than {chapter_number}. Do NOT read, record, or reason from any future chapter entry. From the permitted portion, extract and record: - Protagonist: exact name, voice description, age (if fiction) - Love interest and supporting characters: exact names and roles (if fiction) - World rules / constraints established so far (if paranormal or speculative) - THIS chapter's summary, emotional beat, and closing hook ONLY If no outline/bible is available, use the character names and project details from the task description above — be CONSISTENT throughout the book. STEP 2 — CHARACTER STATE (enter chapter {chapter_number} as they LEFT chapter {chapter_number_prev}): Character sheets show the FINAL state of each character (end of book). Do NOT use that final state for early chapters. Use sources in this priority order: 1. RAG asset [character-state] — the most accurate record of right now. Record as "LIVE CHARACTER STATE:" and use it to override outline predictions. 2. "PREVIOUS CHAPTER CHARACTER STATE:" block if present in this prompt. 3. The character's established traits from outline up to chapter {chapter_number_prev}. Ignore arc resolution or growth that happens in later chapters. LOCATION CONTINUITY CHECK (if [character-state] is present): Does this chapter's outline place any character at a location inconsistent with their Location field in [character-state]? If conflict found — FLAG before drafting: "LOCATION CONFLICT: [char] is at [state-location] per last chapter but outline places them at [outline-location]. Resolve: (a) open chapter in transit, (b) adjust scene to actual location, or (c) write a time-skip bridge paragraph. Do NOT silently teleport the character." Also note Active obligations, Open loops, or Known secrets from [character-state] that should be honored or advanced in this chapter. Also check RAG for [world-state] — current NPC attitudes and faction memory. If present, record as "LIVE WORLD STATE:". NPCs listed there should behave according to their recorded attitude. STEP 3 — FIND THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER: Look at PROJECT DELIVERABLES for the chapter before this one (filename: chapter-{chapter_ref_prev} or similar). If no previous chapter exists (this IS Chapter 1), skip to STEP 5. STEP 4 — QUOTE THE ENDING: Copy the LAST 2–3 sentences of the previous chapter here, word for word. Label them: "PREVIOUS CHAPTER ENDED WITH: ..." Your new chapter MUST pick up from this exact moment. STEP 5 — BUILD THE DRAFT PROMPT: Write the exact drafting prompt for the next pass. That prompt must include: - CHAPTER: Exact chapter number and title (from the task message) - POV CHARACTER: Whose perspective are we in? - FIRST LINE: The exact opening sentence, continuing from the previous ending - EMOTIONAL ARC: What does the protagonist feel at start vs end OF THIS CHAPTER? - CHAPTER GOAL: What plot event MUST happen here? - KEY BEATS: 3–5 numbered scene beats that will form the chapter - CLOSING HOOK: Exact last image or line that makes readers continue - Reminders about continuity, prose style, and target length - CHARACTER VOICE PROFILES (pre-extracted): {character_profiles} If this block is empty, fall back to searching PROJECT DELIVERABLES for a file containing "## Voice Signatures" and copy it here. Use ONLY the voice/speech patterns — do NOT copy arc outcomes or end-state descriptions. PASS 1 must write every character to their profile. EDITORIAL OVERRIDES — apply these BEFORE writing any KEY BEATS: {author_intent} ^ If this line is not blank, it is a BINDING creative directive from the editor. Include it verbatim in the draft prompt as: "AUTHOR'S INTENT: [text]" PASS 1 must satisfy this intent completely. {closing_hook} ^ If this line is not blank, use it as the CLOSING HOOK instead of any outline hook. Include it verbatim in the draft prompt as: "LOCKED CLOSING HOOK: [text]" Stop here. Output ONLY the draft prompt. Do NOT write chapter prose yet. - type: think model: power max_tokens: 32000 hint: | PASS 1 — WRITE THE DRAFT Use the draft prompt below as your exact writing brief: {steps[0].text} Requirements: - Start with the FIRST LINE you planned — make it continue naturally from the previous chapter - If the draft prompt contains a line starting with "LOCKED PREVIOUS CHAPTER HOOK:", your FIRST LINE MUST directly resolve that hook — the reader expects the answer immediately - If the draft prompt contains a line starting with "AUTHOR'S INTENT:", treat it as a binding creative directive — your draft must satisfy that intent in full - Follow the KEY BEATS in order, but write with full scene depth — don't skip - All character names must be consistent with the bible/outline - Every dialogue exchange must be tight and voice-distinct - Show, don't tell — externalize emotion through action, detail, and dialogue - Every scene beat moves the story forward OR reveals character (no filler) - End with the CLOSING HOOK you planned - Match the prose style guide: {prose_style} - Target length: {chapter_target_words} words — write the FULL chapter, not a summary - ⚠️ DO NOT stop early. If you have not reached {chapter_target_words} words, continue writing — add interiority, sensory detail, extended dialogue beats, and scene transitions until you hit the target. Short chapters will be REJECTED in adjudication. DRAFTING DISCIPLINE — apply these on every page: - {prose_style} is a hard constraint, not decoration - Not every paragraph needs a memorable or quotable line — use functional connective prose - Let observation precede interpretation: show the moment before naming what it means - Avoid clustering aphorisms or thesis-style sentences back to back - Prefer scene motion over thesis delivery — action and dialogue carry meaning - Write ONE complete draft now. Do NOT self-polish. Reviewers will give feedback downstream. VOICE ANTI-PATTERNS — THESE ARE FORBIDDEN ON EVERY PAGE: - Do NOT open any chapter with the "didn't just X; it Y" sentence construction. Every chapter must have a structurally distinct opener. Vary: in medias res, quiet beat, dialogue cold open, environmental sweep, interiority. No two consecutive chapters may use the same opener structure. - The book's thematic contrast (whatever it is — body/mind, memory/possibility, etc.) may appear ONCE per scene as a metaphor. Not in every paragraph. Trust the reader. If you have used the contrast in the last two paragraphs, you may not use it again for at least three more paragraphs. - Do NOT label an emotion that you have already shown through action or dialogue. If the character's hands are shaking, do not also write "she was afraid." If the dialogue already conveys anger, do not add "his voice was furious." - Do NOT count or reference chapter numbers in the prose. "Five chapters of..." is an AI fingerprint. Never. - Each character must have at least ONE verbal imperfection per scene they appear in: a sentence they don't finish, a word they use wrong, a line that doesn't land, a moment of fumbling before the right words come. Perfect dialogue is dead dialogue. - Check the CHARACTER VOICE PROFILE in the outline/bible (if present) — if each speaking character's dialogue cannot be identified as THEIRS without a speaker tag, rewrite until it can. Verbal tics, pet phrases, and characteristic patterns are non-negotiable signatures. Output ONLY the draft chapter text. Start directly with the chapter title (e.g., "Chapter N: [Title]") and opening line. No commentary, no plan headers, no "Pass 1" label. - type: think model: power max_tokens: 32000 hint: | SELF-CHECK — STRUCTURAL VALIDATION AND WORD-COUNT EXPANSION You have just written a chapter draft. Your job: check the draft against the structural checklist below, apply all corrections within scope (including word-count expansion if the draft is short), and output the final chapter. DRAFT TO CHECK: {steps[1].text} CHECKLIST — check each item, note any issue found: 1. BEAT & HOOK: Does the chapter reach its intended emotional beat and closing hook from the PASS 0 draft prompt? Flag if the chapter ends without the planned hook. 2. NAMES & POV: Are all character names and the POV consistent with the bible/outline? Flag any name that doesn't match the project canon. 3. CONTINUITY TERMS: Do world rules, place names, and timeline references match project state? Flag any factual break. 4. FORMATTING: Are there obvious section-break artifacts, duplicate headers, or missing chapter title? Flag and fix. 5. WORD FLOOR: Estimate draft word count: count paragraphs × ~60 words/paragraph. Target is {chapter_target_words} words. BEFORE writing the VALIDATION LOG line, you MUST have your full word estimate. - If the draft is MORE THAN 10% under target: EXPAND NOW (write SCENE A, B, C BEFORE validation log). - If within 10% of target: PASS, output verbatim. Do NOT write 'EXPANDED' in the log if you did not write actual new scenes. 6. OPENING HOOK: Check the PASS 0 draft prompt ({steps[0].text}) for a line labeled "LOCKED PREVIOUS CHAPTER HOOK:". If present, verify the chapter's opening paragraph directly resolves it. If not, add a brief resolution sentence at the opening — do not leave a locked hook unanswered. 7. AUTHOR'S INTENT: Check the PASS 0 draft prompt ({steps[0].text}) for a line starting with "AUTHOR'S INTENT:". If present, confirm the completed chapter satisfies that intent — note whether it was honored or partially missed. 8. CLOSING HOOK LOCK: Check the PASS 0 draft prompt ({steps[0].text}) for a line starting with "LOCKED CLOSING HOOK:". If present, verify the last paragraph of the chapter uses that exact hook wording. If it's missing or paraphrased, add a final paragraph that delivers the locked hook precisely. ALLOWED CORRECTIONS: - Fix a wrong character name to match the canon name - Fix a POV slip (e.g., the chapter is 1st-person but one paragraph shifted to 3rd) - Fix a missing or duplicated chapter title/header - If the chapter is missing its closing hook entirely, add it as a final paragraph that matches the hook specified in the draft prompt — no new invention beyond the planned hook - WORD COUNT EXPANSION (when draft is more than 10% below {chapter_target_words}): IMPORTANT: Do NOT claim expansion in the VALIDATION LOG unless you have actually written it. The WORD FLOOR line must show a word count you can verify by counting paragraphs. Each paragraph ≈ 50–80 words. Count your paragraphs × 60 to estimate total words. Write NEW SCENES sequentially AFTER the chapter ends: SCENE A: 400+ words — interiority beat deepening the aftermath SCENE B: 400+ words — dialogue exchange with voice-distinct characters SCENE C: 300+ words — grounded transition showing the next 24 hours Total added prose must reach the word target. Obey voice anti-patterns from PASS 1. Do NOT add new plot beats not in PASS 0. Each new scene is an EXPANSION, not a new chapter. NOT ALLOWED — do not make any of these changes: - Improve existing sentences for prose quality, rhythm, or lyricism - Reorder scenes or restructure the chapter - Add new metaphors or aphorisms to existing prose - Normalize or upgrade the authorial voice in existing sentences OUTPUT FORMAT: Start your response with a VALIDATION LOG section: VALIDATION LOG: 1. BEAT & HOOK: [check pass/fail with brief note] 2. NAMES & POV: [check pass/fail with brief note] 3. CONTINUITY TERMS: [check pass/fail with brief note] 4. FORMATTING: [check pass/fail — note any fixes applied] 5. WORD FLOOR: [PASS/EXPANDED — include word count before and after] 6. OPENING HOOK: [check pass/fail or N/A] 7. AUTHOR'S INTENT: [honored / partially missed — note / N/A if no intent set] 8. CLOSING HOOK LOCK: [locked hook delivered / missing / N/A if not locked] Then output the separator on its own line: ---BEGIN CHAPTER--- Then output the COMPLETE final chapter text (all original prose + any expansion). Start the chapter directly with the chapter title and first line. No preamble or commentary within the chapter text. # Commit chapter draft now — last_text() = self-check output (step 2). Must come before # PASS 3 think so the character-state extraction does not overwrite last_text(). - type: document filename: "Chapter_{chapter_number}_draft" primary_deliverable: true strip_before_marker: "---BEGIN CHAPTER---" - type: think system: | EXTRACTION MODE — DO NOT CREATE FICTION. Your ONLY task is to extract factual state from the chapter you just wrote. You are NOT writing the story. You are NOT continuing the narrative. Characters who are DEAD are DEAD. You may NOT invent a living version of them. A character is DECEASED only if they are explicitly killed in the PASS 1 prose of THIS chapter. DO NOT preemptively mark characters DECEASED based on project outline future events. If the outline says a character dies in Chapter 9 but you are writing Chapter 4 and they survive in your prose, they are ALIVE in this chapter's state. hint: | PASS 3 -- CHARACTER + WORLD STATE EXTRACTION ══ STEP 0: FIND THE CORRECT CHAPTER TEXT (DO THIS FIRST) ══ This conversation has multiple text sources. You must extract from the RIGHT one. YOUR CONVERSATION HISTORY (in order): Turn 1 → You received PASS 0 context (deliverables, outline, bible). Deliverables include files like [Chapter_1_draft.md], [Chapter_3_draft.md], [Chapter_10_draft.md], etc. THESE ARE HISTORICAL. NOT the current chapter. Turn 2 → You wrote Chapter {chapter_number} in PASS 1 (~4000-word narrative prose). THIS IS THE CHAPTER YOU ARE ANALYZING. Turn 3 → You performed SELF-CHECK (editorial notes, not chapter prose). Turn 4 → THIS MESSAGE (PASS 3 extract). THE CHAPTER = YOUR PASS 1 RESPONSE (Turn 2). It starts immediately after the line "PASS 1 — WRITE THE DRAFT" and ends before the SELF-CHECK. ⚠ ANCHOR TEST — before writing any Location field, ask yourself: "Did I write this location in my PASS 1 narrative, or is it from a deliverable file?" If it is from any [Chapter_N_draft.md] or from the PRE-PASS-1 context — REJECT IT. Use ONLY what your PASS 1 narrative says. ══ MANDATORY CHECK — DECEASED CHARACTERS ══ Before writing ANY character entry, classify every named character into ONE bucket: BUCKET A — DIES IN THIS CHAPTER: Character appears alive in PASS 1, then dies within THIS chapter's narrative (death scene described in PASS 1 prose). → Use DECEASED FORMAT. Death chapter = {chapter_ref} (NOT any prior chapter). → Write a NEW ESTABLISHED sentence from how they died in PASS 1. → NEVER copy the chapter number or cause from a prior deliverable. BUCKET B — ALIVE THROUGHOUT: Character appears in PASS 1 and is still alive at the end. → Use LIVING FORMAT. → Prior deliverables showing them DECEASED are OVERRIDDEN by the prose. → The prose you wrote is THE authoritative source. No exceptions. BUCKET C — ABSENT (not in PASS 1 prose at all): Character does not appear. → Check PASS 0 for last known state. → If DECEASED in prior state: copy their entry forward UNCHANGED (same chapter). → If ALIVE in prior state: omit them (no update needed for off-screen characters). RULE: NEVER use a prior deliverable's death-chapter for BUCKET A characters. NEVER mark a BUCKET B character as DECEASED. NEVER give a BUCKET C / deceased character a living Location or Emotional field. ══ DECEASED FORMAT(two lines only) ══ ## [Name] — DECEASED (Ch[N]) Established: [one sentence: how they died] Legacy: [one sentence: how their death affected this chapter] ══ LIVING CHARACTER FORMAT ══ # Character State: {chapter_ref} ## [Character Name] Location: [specific location -- building, floor, city, planet] Physical: [injuries, fatigue, notable physical state, or "no injuries"] Emotional: [dominant emotion at chapter end] Active obligations: [format: "owes [person] [what] (Ch[N]) -- UNPAID/PAID"] Open loops: [format: "[parties] [issue] (Ch[N]) -- UNRESOLVED/RESOLVED"] Known secrets: [format: "knows [what] -- [who does NOT know]"] Arc: [XX%] -- [one sentence: what permanently changed this chapter] Permanent: [YES/NO] (Repeat for EVERY named character who appeared. Deceased = short form only.) # World State: {chapter_ref} ## NPC Memory - [NPC Name] ([faction/location]): [ATTITUDE] -- [what happened] -- [consequence] ## Faction Attitudes - [Faction name]: [attitude] -- [reason] ## Active World Events - [Event]: [status and timeline] ══ SECRET CARRY-FORWARD RULE ══ Before submitting, check the PASS 0 context for any "Known secrets:" fields or "CARRIED SECRET" markers from the PREVIOUS character-state file. ⚠ FUTURE-CHAPTER CONTAMINATION GUARD: ONLY carry secrets from character-state files whose filename indicates a chapter EARLIER than {chapter_ref}. Example: if writing ch-07, only use secrets from ch-06, ch-05, ch-04, etc. NEVER copy a secret from character-state-ch-08 or later — those are FUTURE events. If a secret in PASS 0 context comes from a deliverable filename like "character-state-ch-08" or "character-state-ch-09", IGNORE it entirely. For each secret that was NOT resolved or revealed in THIS chapter's PASS 1 prose: → Copy it forward unchanged into the character's "Known secrets:" field. → Prefix it: "CARRIED (Ch[N]—unresolved): [secret]" This ensures multi-chapter secrets are NOT silently dropped between chapters. ══ DEATH-FORWARD RULE ══ Scan the PASS 1 prose for character death events (these are BUCKET A characters). For each character who DIES in THIS chapter's prose: → Status: DECEASED ({chapter_ref}) — always the CURRENT chapter, never a prior one → Established: [one sentence from PASS 1 describing HOW they died] → Legacy: [one sentence: how their death affects surviving characters this chapter] → Remove all Living Format fields (Location, Physical, Emotional, obligations, etc.) For characters ALREADY deceased in prior state (BUCKET C, absent from prose): → Copy their entry forward UNCHANGED. Do NOT change the chapter number or cause. EXCEPTION — RETCON: If a character was DECEASED in prior state but appears ALIVE in THIS chapter's PASS 1 prose (BUCKET B), use LIVING FORMAT. Prose overrides all. CRITICAL: Keep total output under 3500 characters. NO prose — structured data only. - type: rag_write asset_id: "character-state" source_step: 4 # PASS 3 character-state extraction; explicit to avoid last_text() falling back to chapter text max_chars: 4000 - type: document filename: "character-state-{chapter_ref}" - type: package source_step: 4 # PASS 3 — character-state extraction (compact, describes permanent changes) max_tokens: 4000 hint: | The draft chapter has been written, self-checked, and committed. The character-state from PASS 3 is provided above. Summarize the character state changes for {chapter_ref} in the `chapter_state` field (2-3 sentences max). This is used for bookkeeping — the chapter text itself is passed to reviewers directly. NEW CHARACTER DETECTION: For each NEW character introduced this chapter (not previously known), emit one create_task action using task_type: character_sheet. PERMANENT CHANGE DETECTION (butterfly effect): For any character with "Permanent: YES" in the state, emit a create_task action using task_type: character_update to record the change in the character sheet. Now confirm the chapter is ready for review. schema: chapter_state: string spawn: - task_type: chapter_review task_name: "Review (Devon): {chapter_ref}" agent_name: Devon priority: 6 _if: "not meta.is_locked" context: chapter_text: "{steps[1].text}" review_focus: developmental genre_name: "{genre_name}" genre_audience: "{genre_audience}" chapter_ref: "{chapter_ref}" chapter_number: "{chapter_number}" review_letter: "a" character_profiles: "{character_profiles|}" - task_type: chapter_review task_name: "Review (Lane): {chapter_ref}" agent_name: Lane priority: 6 _if: "not meta.is_locked" context: chapter_text: "{steps[1].text}" review_focus: line genre_name: "{genre_name}" genre_audience: "{genre_audience}" chapter_ref: "{chapter_ref}" chapter_number: "{chapter_number}" review_letter: "b" character_profiles: "{character_profiles|}" - task_type: chapter_review task_name: "Review (Cora): {chapter_ref}" agent_name: Cora priority: 6 _if: "not meta.is_locked" context: chapter_text: "{steps[1].text}" review_focus: continuity genre_name: "{genre_name}" genre_audience: "{genre_audience}" chapter_ref: "{chapter_ref}" chapter_number: "{chapter_number}" review_letter: "c" character_profiles: "{character_profiles|}" - task_type: chapter_roundtable task_name: "Roundtable: {chapter_ref}" agents: - Devon - Lane - Cora priority: 7 _if: "not meta.is_locked" context: chapter_text: "{steps[1].text}" genre_name: "{genre_name}" genre_audience: "{genre_audience}" chapter_ref: "{chapter_ref}" chapter_target_words: "{chapter_target_words}" character_profiles: "{character_profiles|}" depends_on: - "Review (Devon): {chapter_ref}" - "Review (Lane): {chapter_ref}" - "Review (Cora): {chapter_ref}" - type: close rag_update: true adjudication: enabled: true pass_threshold: 80 deliverable_type: consumer criteria: word_count: weight: 30 description: "Chapter meets the {chapter_target_words}-word minimum; under-length chapters fail" narrative_flow: weight: 25 description: "Story progresses naturally with good pacing" character_voice: weight: 20 description: "Characters are distinct and consistent" prose_quality: weight: 15 description: "Writing is clear and readable; voice is consistent with {prose_style}" continuity: weight: 10 description: "Consistent with prior chapters and canon"