Sync Story Bible

Overview

Use this skill to keep the story bible aligned with the latest accepted chapter state. It should synchronize chapter statuses, open loops, workflow metadata, and other story-level files after revisions and continuity updates have already settled the local chapter changes.

When To Use

Use this skill when:

• a chapter has been drafted, reviewed, revised, and stabilized;
• the story-level files lag behind the actual manuscript state;
• chapter status tracking needs to be updated;
• open loops or synopsis-level summaries need to reflect accepted changes.

Do not use this skill to rewrite chapters or redefine the style bible.

Required Inputs

Gather or infer these inputs:

• story.yaml metadata;
• latest stable chapter artifacts;
• chapter list and open loops;
• relevant review and continuity artifacts;
• synopsis or higher-level story files if the accepted change propagates upward.

Ask questions only when the affected chapter scope is genuinely unclear.

Files To Read

Always read:

• story.yaml
• 02_story/chapter_list.md
• 02_story/open_loops.md

Read these when present and relevant:

• target chapter files in 05_draft/
• 06_review/chapter_XX.review.md
• 06_review/chapter_XX.revision.md
• 07_continuity/*
• 02_story/synopsis.md
• 02_story/logline.md
• 04_outline/*

Files To Write

Write or update as needed:

• 02_story/chapter_list.md
• 02_story/open_loops.md
• story.yaml

Optionally update:

• 02_story/synopsis.md
• 02_story/logline.md

Only update synopsis or logline when accepted chapter changes materially alter the story-level understanding.

Chapter Status Convention

02_story/chapter_list.md may include an optional status field per chapter:

• planned
• drafted
• reviewed
• revised

If the project already uses another clear status convention, preserve it rather than forcing a rewrite.

Language Rules

This skill depends on story.yaml as the source of truth for project metadata.

• Read story.language before updating markdown story files.
• Keep file and folder names in English.
• Write markdown content in the selected story language.
• Use correct orthography, accents, and normal Unicode for that language.
• Keep YAML keys in English.
• Preserve the established value-language pattern in story.yaml unless a deliberate migration is requested.

Procedure

1. Read the latest stable chapter artifacts and determine what is now accepted state.
2. Update the chapter entry in 02_story/chapter_list.md so its summary and status match the accepted draft state.
3. Update 02_story/open_loops.md:
   • add newly opened threads;
   • advance threads touched by the chapter;
   • mark threads resolved only when the draft actually resolves them.
4. Update story.yaml workflow metadata so project.status and workflow.next_skill reflect the current state.
5. Update synopsis or logline only if the accepted changes materially alter the higher-level story promise or route.
6. Avoid broad rewrites. This skill should consolidate accepted changes, not reopen creative decisions.

Output Requirements

The sync should make it easy to answer:

• which chapters are only planned, drafted, reviewed, or revised;
• which open loops remain active;
• what the next workflow step is;
• whether any higher-level summary changed.

Output

After running the skill, provide:

• a short summary of the synchronized files;
• the chapter status changes applied;
• open loops added, advanced, or resolved;
• the recommended next step, usually plan-chapter for the next chapter.

Definition Of Done

This skill is done when:

• chapter-level accepted changes are reflected in story-level files;
• story.yaml points to the correct next workflow step;
• open_loops.md and chapter statuses are current;
• no unnecessary story-level rewrites were introduced.

Restrictions

• Do not rewrite the manuscript here.
• Do not modify the style bible or character bible unless explicitly asked.
• Do not mark a thread resolved if the text only suggests resolution.
• Do not promote unaccepted review ideas into the official story bible.

Example Invocation

Use $sync-story-bible to update chapter status, open loops, and workflow metadata after the chapter 2 revision and continuity sync.