Guide · Agent skill
How to use the story-long-write agent skill for long web novels
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
story-long-write is an agent skill for planning and writing long, serialised web novels, mainly in Chinese. Once it is installed, the agent acts as a writing coach that can brainstorm structure, build outlines and volume plans, write detailed chapter outlines, or draft and revise chapters while tracking characters, foreshadowing and timelines in project files. This guide explains what the skill does, how to install it, how to trigger it with plain requests, and what to check before you rely on it.
Long-form web novel writerzenstory-ai/oh-story-claudecode · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download and unzip. Download the ZIP from this page and unzip the story-long-write folder.
- 2Place the skill. Put it in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder. Alternatively, upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- 3Confirm Python 3. Make sure Python 3 runs as python3, python or py -3 on your machine.
- 4Set up a project folder. Create a local project folder that contains the skill's workflow reference files and scripts.
- 5Ask for a planning step. Request a structure discussion, a book start, or a volume plan using a natural sentence or /story-long-write.
- 6Confirm each checkpoint. Review the direction, setup, volume outline and chapter outlines, and answer the questions the agent raises before it moves on.
- 7Request chapters explicitly. Ask for a specific chapter or daily update when you are ready for prose, then review the output.
What an agent skill is and what story-long-write makes the agent do
An agent skill is a folder of instructions and reference files that an AI agent loads when a task matches it. story-long-write turns the agent into a web-novel writing coach for long fiction. Its main file is SKILL.md, supported by reference files on setup, outlines, chapter workflow, revision, banned words and writing technique.
The skill works in stages and can stop at any of them. You can ask it only to discuss story structure, to write a volume outline, to write detailed outlines for specific chapters, or to write and revise chapter prose. It asks you to confirm key decisions before moving on, and it does not draft prose during a planning request unless you explicitly ask for chapters.
- Discuss structure only, with no files created
- Write a book outline or volume plan
- Write or fill detailed chapter outlines
- Write, continue, or revise chapters, with continuity tracking
Install the story-long-write skill
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it. You can place the skill folder in your user skills directory at ~/.claude/skills/, or inside a project at .claude/skills/ so that it applies only to that project.
In the Claude apps you can instead upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- Personal install: unzip into ~/.claude/skills/
- Project install: unzip into the project's .claude/skills/ folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload
Check the requirements before you start
The skill needs Python 3, because its scripts are called with python3, python or py -3, whichever runs on your machine. It also needs a local project folder that contains the skill's workflow reference files and scripts. The skill runs scripts but does not use the network.
- Python 3 installed and reachable as python3, python or py -3
- A local project folder containing the workflow reference files and scripts
- Scripts run locally; the skill does not make network calls
Trigger the skill with natural requests
You can invoke the skill with the slash command /story-long-write or /写长篇, or simply describe what you want in Chinese. The skill recognises requests such as starting a new book, setting up the worldbuilding, drafting volume plans, planning the plot, writing an outline, filling in detailed outlines, daily updates, continuing a story, and revising or rewriting a specific chapter.
Be specific about the stopping point. Saying only to discuss structure stops before any files are created, while saying write chapter N asks for prose for that chapter only. If you give no clear intent, the skill lists a few options for you to choose from rather than starting to write.
- Structure only: 只讨论结构 or 推敲故事结构
- Book start: 帮我开书
- Setup: 定设定
- Volume plan: 出卷纲
- Outline: 写大纲, 规划剧情, 补细纲
- Chapter prose: 写第N章, 日更, 续写, 修改第X章, 重写第X章
Work through a typical session
For a new book, the skill moves through confirmation points in order: direction, setup, volume outline, then the first batch of 10 chapter outlines. Each step waits for your go-ahead, and a book start stops at outlines by default rather than writing prose. Chapter writing is limited per turn: a single chapter by default, two to three for daily updates, and at most three per turn.
When it writes prose, it works from the chapter outline and tracking files, then reports what was written and what decisions need your input. Reports are written in plain language, with technical notices kept on a final line.
- Single chapter by default
- Daily updates default to 2-3 chapters
- Maximum of 3 chapters per turn; the rest carry over to the next turn
- Word-count ranges you give in an outline are respected; outside that range the skill asks you to decide rather than padding text silently
Safety notes: scripts and network access
The skill runs local scripts, which the listing marks as Runs scripts: yes. Its tracking writes go through scripts/tracking_commit.py, and the tracking state file is the single source of truth, with other tracking files generated from it. Do not edit those derived files by hand. The skill is listed as not using the network.
Read a script before running it if you are unsure what it does, and keep your project in a folder you control. Because the tracking files are generated, manual edits can be overwritten or cause inconsistencies.
- Scripts run locally; review them if you need to be sure
- No network use is listed for this skill
- Do not hand-edit generated tracking files
Tips for getting consistent results
Give clear intent and a stopping point in every request. Confirm structural decisions at each checkpoint, since the workflow is designed around that. Keep your chapter outlines complete, because the writing step relies on them. When you want something remembered long term, say so explicitly so it is saved as an author preference.
Expect the skill to ask you about new major plot events, power rules, reversals and changes to planned outcomes. Those are decisions it deliberately leaves to you.
- State the scope and stopping point in each request
- Fill in chapter outlines before asking for prose
- Answer the checkpoint questions rather than skipping them
- Say explicitly when a preference should be remembered
What people use it for
- Brainstorming the structure of a multi-volume Chinese web serial before writing any prose
- Building a book outline and a volume plan with plot units and turning points
- Writing detailed outlines for the first ten chapters of a new book
- Writing or continuing chapters while keeping characters, foreshadowing and timelines consistent
- Revising or rewriting a specific chapter after the draft is done
Frequently asked questions
Is story-long-write free to use?
The skill is listed under the MIT licence, and the source lists no price. Check the licence file in the repository for the terms that apply to your use.
What do I need to run story-long-write?
You need Python 3, reachable as python3, python or py -3, and a local project folder that contains the skill's workflow reference files and scripts. The skill runs scripts but does not use the network.
How do I install the story-long-write skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder. In the Claude apps you can upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
Can it write a whole novel in one click?
No. The workflow stops at checkpoints and enforces word-count and tracking rules, so you confirm the structure and outlines before chapters are drafted. Chapter output is limited per turn.
Does it work for English or non-Chinese fiction?
It is not a good fit. The references are written for Chinese web-novel conventions and genres, and the skill is poorly suited to short stories or non-Chinese fiction.
What should I do if the skill does not run?
Check that Python 3 is installed and callable as python3, python or py -3, and that the project folder contains the workflow reference files and scripts. If something is missing, the skill reports the exact path it could not read rather than continuing.
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Our verdict
story-long-write suits Chinese web novel authors who are planning a multi-volume serial and want help keeping continuity across many chapters, especially if they prefer to confirm structure before any prose is drafted. If you write short stories, non-Chinese fiction, or want a finished book from one request, pick a different tool.
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