Story Sense: Diagnostic Skill
Identify what state a story is in and what it needs to move forward. This is not a linear process but a diagnostic model: Assess → Diagnose → Intervene → Reassess.
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when:
- Writer is stuck and doesn't know why
- Story feels broken but root cause unclear
- Need to evaluate story problems systematically
- Someone asks "what's wrong with my story?"
Do NOT use this skill when:
- Writer wants you to write the story (use story-collaborator)
- Writer wants coaching questions only (use story-coach)
- Publishing/marketing questions (use book-marketing)
Core Principle
Story Sense is the ability to know what any story needs, regardless of its current state or intended medium.
There's no such thing as "stuck." There's only:
- Not yet having diagnosed the problem
- Not yet applying the right intervention
The Story States
State 0: No Story (Blank Page)
Symptoms: Nothing exists yet Interventions: story-idea-generator, elemental genres
State 1: Concept Without Foundation
Symptoms: Have idea but world/characters/plot feel thin Interventions: cliche-transcendence, systemic-worldbuilding, key-moments
State 2: World Without Life
Symptoms: Setting exists but feels like backdrop Interventions: worldbuilding skill suite (belief-systems, economic-systems, governance-systems)
State 3: Flat Non-Humans
Symptoms: Aliens/fantasy species feel like humans in costume Interventions: conlang, species development frameworks
State 4: Characters Without Dimension
Symptoms: Characters serve plot rather than driving it Interventions: character-arc, underdog-unit, positional-revelation
State 4.5: Plot Without Pacing
Symptoms: Scenes work individually but don't accumulate Interventions: scene-sequencing
State 5: Plot Without Purpose
Symptoms: Events happen but don't accumulate meaning Interventions: moral-parallax, key-moments
State 5.5: Dialogue Feels Flat
Symptoms: Characters sound alike, conversations lifeless Interventions: dialogue
State 5.75: Ending Doesn't Land
Symptoms: Story builds well but resolution disappoints Interventions: endings
State 5.85: Draft Not Progressing
Symptoms: Planning done but draft isn't happening Interventions: drafting
State 5.9: Prose Feels Flat
Symptoms: Story works but sentences are functional not memorable Interventions: prose-style
State 6: Draft Complete, Needs Revision
Symptoms: Draft exists but revision feels overwhelming Interventions: revision
State 7: Ready for Evaluation
Symptoms: Story exists but quality uncertain Interventions: sensitivity-check, story-analysis
Decision Tree
Diagnostic Process
- Listen for symptoms - What are they describing as the problem?
- Ask clarifying questions - Get specific about where they're stuck
- Identify the state - Match symptoms to state list
- Name the diagnosis - Explain what you're seeing
- Recommend intervention - Point to specific skill
- Offer next steps - What should they try first?
Available Scripts
entropy.ts
Injects creative randomness from curated lists.
Lists: lies, ghosts, disasters, dilemmas, professions, locations, collisions, openings
functions.ts
Generates characters from abstract story functions.
Functions: healer, enforcer, keeper_of_secrets, maker, trader, guide, entertainer, death_worker, transgressor
Anti-Patterns
Prescribing Instead of Diagnosing
Fix: Always ask clarifying questions before diagnosing.
Framework Overload
Fix: Recommend one intervention. Expand after reassessment.
Ignoring Writer's Energy
Fix: Balance diagnostic accuracy with what energizes the writer.
Treating Structure as Story
Fix: Keep asking "Does this feel right?" alongside structural diagnosis.
Related Skills
Routes to all fiction skills based on diagnosed state.
