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

Is there anything on the page? ├── NO → story-idea-generator └── YES → What's the problem? ├── Feels generic → cliche-transcendence ├── World feels thin → worldbuilding ├── Non-humans feel fake → conlang ├── Characters flat → character-arc ├── Pacing off → scene-sequencing ├── Dialogue wooden → dialogue ├── Ending weak → endings ├── Meaning unclear → moral-parallax ├── Draft not progressing → drafting ├── Prose flat → prose-style └── Draft needs revision → revision

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.

deno run --allow-read scripts/entropy.ts lies deno run --allow-read scripts/entropy.ts disasters --count 3 deno run --allow-read scripts/entropy.ts --combo

Lists: lies, ghosts, disasters, dilemmas, professions, locations, collisions, openings

functions.ts

Generates characters from abstract story functions.

deno run --allow-read scripts/functions.ts deno run --allow-read scripts/functions.ts --setting scifi deno run --allow-read scripts/functions.ts healer --setting fantasy

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.