storyboard-manager

Storyboard Manager

Overview

The Storyboard Manager skill equips Claude with specialized knowledge and tools for creative writing workflows. It provides frameworks for character development, story structure patterns, automated timeline tracking, and consistency checking across narrative projects. This skill automatically adapts to various storyboard folder structures while maintaining best practices for novel, screenplay, and serialized fiction writing.

Core Capabilities

The skill provides four main capabilities:

1. Character Development & Management

Support creating deep, consistent character profiles with backstories, arcs, and relationships.

2. Story Planning & Structure

Guide plot development using established frameworks (Three-Act, Hero's Journey, Save the Cat, etc.) and help organize narrative elements.

3. Chapter & Scene Writing

Generate chapter content, scene breakdowns, and dialogue that maintains consistency with established characters and plot.

4. Timeline Tracking & Consistency Checking

Use automated tools to verify chronological consistency, character continuity, and world-building coherence.

Detecting Project Structure

The Storyboard Manager automatically detects and adapts to various folder organizations. Look for these common directory patterns:

Character folders: characters/, Characters/, cast/, Cast/ Chapter folders: chapters/, Chapters/, scenes/, Scenes/, story/ Planning folders: story-planning/, planning/, outline/, notes/ Summary files: summary.md, README.md, overview.md

When triggered, scan the project root to identify the structure and adjust workflows accordingly. If no standard structure exists, recommend organizing files using the pattern: characters/, chapters/, story-planning/, and summary.md.

Workflow Decision Tree

Use this decision tree to determine the appropriate workflow:

User Request
├─ Character-related? ("develop character," "create backstory," "character arc")
│  └─ → Character Development Workflow
│
├─ Planning/Plot? ("outline story," "plan act 2," "plot structure")
│  └─ → Story Planning Workflow
│
├─ Writing content? ("write chapter," "generate scene," "continue story")
│  └─ → Chapter/Scene Writing Workflow
│
└─ Checking/Analysis? ("check consistency," "track timeline," "find contradictions")
   ├─ Timeline? → Use timeline_tracker.py script
   └─ Consistency? → Use consistency_checker.py script

Character Development Workflow

Step 1: Gather Context

Before developing a character, read existing character files to understand:

Established naming conventions and profile format
Existing characters and relationships
Story genre and tone
Character archetypes already in use

Use the Read tool to examine existing character files in the characters directory.

Step 2: Access Character Development Framework

When detailed character guidance is needed, read references/character_development.md which contains:

Core character elements (personality, motivation, goals)
Backstory framework (ghost/wound, formative relationships)
Character arc types (positive change, flat, negative)
Relationship dynamics
Voice development techniques
Consistency guidelines

To efficiently find specific guidance, use Grep to search for relevant sections:

Step 3: Develop Character Profile

Create or enhance character profiles with these essential elements:

Basic Information

Name, age, role, physical appearance
Key personality traits (both positive and negative)

Background

Origin and formative experiences
Ghost/wound that shapes their behavior
Key relationships and family dynamics

Character Arc

Starting belief or flaw
Want vs. Need (external goal vs. internal growth)
Transformation journey
End state

Relationships

Connections to other characters
Dynamic types (ally, rival, mentor, etc.)
How relationships evolve

Unique Elements

Abilities, skills, or special knowledge
Secrets or hidden aspects
Voice/speech patterns
Character-specific quirks

Step 4: Ensure Consistency

Cross-reference with:

Existing character profiles (avoid redundancy in roles/traits)
Story planning documents (ensure alignment with plot needs)
Summary/overview (match genre and tone)

Step 5: Create or Update File

Write the character profile to characters/[character-name].md using markdown format. Match the existing style and structure found in other character files.

Story Planning Workflow

Step 1: Assess Current Planning State

Read existing planning documents to understand:

Story concept and premise
Established plot points or outline
Target audience and genre
Themes and central questions
Planned structure (if any)

Look in folders like story-planning/, outline/, or files like summary.md.

Step 2: Access Story Structure Reference

For detailed structural guidance, read references/story_structures.md which includes:

Three-Act Structure
Hero's Journey (Campbell's Monomyth)
Save the Cat Beat Sheet
Character arc templates
Scene structure components
Pacing guidelines by genre
Subplot integration techniques
Genre-specific structures

Use Grep to find specific frameworks:

Step 3: Determine Structure Needs

Based on the user's request and story genre, recommend appropriate frameworks:

Thriller/Mystery: Three-Act with strong midpoint reversal
Fantasy/Adventure: Hero's Journey for quest narratives
YA/Contemporary: Save the Cat for tight emotional beats
Literary Fiction: Focus on character arc structure
Romance: Genre-specific structure with relationship beats

Step 4: Develop Planning Document

Create or enhance planning documents with:

Story Overview

Premise in 2-3 sentences
Genre, target audience, tone
Central themes and questions

Plot Structure

Act/chapter breakdown with key events
Inciting incident and plot points
Midpoint twist or revelation
Climax and resolution

Character Arcs

How each main character transforms
Arc integration with plot beats

World-Building Elements (if applicable)

Setting and locations
Magic systems or technology
Social structures or rules
Historical context

Timeline

Story duration
Key event sequence
Pacing considerations

Step 5: Create Planning File

Write planning documents to story-planning/[document-name].md. Use clear hierarchical structure with markdown headers for easy navigation.

Chapter & Scene Writing Workflow

Step 1: Gather Story Context

Before writing any content, comprehensively read:

Character Files: All relevant character profiles to understand voices, motivations, arcs Planning Documents: Story structure, plot points, current story position Previous Chapters: Recent chapters to maintain continuity (read at least 1-2 prior chapters) Summary: Overall story premise and themes

This ensures the new content aligns with established elements.

Step 2: Identify Chapter Requirements

Determine:

Story Position: Where does this fit in the overall structure?
POV Character: Whose perspective?
Scene Goal: What does the POV character want in this scene?
Conflict: What opposes their goal?
Outcome: How does the scene end? (typically with a complication)
Character Development: What arc beats occur here?
Plot Advancement: What story questions are raised or answered?

Step 3: Structure the Chapter

Apply scene structure components:

Scene (Action)

Goal - What the POV character pursues
Conflict - Opposition encountered
Disaster - Negative outcome that propels forward

Sequel (Reaction)

Reaction - Emotional response to disaster
Dilemma - Processing options
Decision - Choice leading to next goal

Alternate between high-tension (action, conflict) and low-tension (reflection, world-building) beats for pacing.

Step 4: Write with Character Consistency

Maintain character voice by referencing:

Established personality traits
Speech patterns and vocabulary
Behavioral patterns (under stress, when happy, decision-making style)
Current position in character arc
Relationships with other characters present

Step 5: Integrate Timeline Markers

Include timeline references to maintain chronological clarity:

Explicit markers: "Day 3," "Two weeks later"
Implicit markers: Time of day, seasonal cues, event references
Format: **Timeline:** Day 5, Evening in chapter header or as section break

Step 6: Create Chapter File

Write chapter content to chapters/chapter-[number].md or chapters/[chapter-name].md. Include:

Chapter Header

Chapter Content

Scene-by-scene breakdown
Dialogue and action
Character thoughts (for POV character)
Descriptive elements

Step 7: Note Continuity Elements

After writing, document any new information introduced:

Character revelations or development
Plot points or clues
World-building details
Timeline events

This helps maintain consistency in future chapters.

Timeline Tracking

When to Use Timeline Tracking

Invoke the timeline tracker when:

User requests timeline analysis or event sequencing
Checking chronological consistency
Planning event order across chapters
Identifying unmarked time periods

Running the Timeline Tracker

Execute the script from the project root:

Output format options:

markdown - Human-readable report (default)
json - Structured data for further processing

Understanding Timeline Output

The script provides:

Statistics

Total events tracked
Total characters appearing
Events per character

Timeline View

Chronological sequence of events
Chapter/scene locations
Characters present in each event
Preview of event content

Warnings

Events without timeline markers
Characters mentioned but not defined in character files

Acting on Timeline Results

After running the tracker:

Review warnings - Address missing timeline markers by adding them to chapters
Check sequence - Verify events occur in logical order
Identify gaps - Look for time periods without events
Character tracking - Ensure characters appear consistently with their arc

Add timeline markers to chapters where missing:

Or use inline markers:

Consistency Checking

When to Use Consistency Checking

Invoke the consistency checker when:

User requests consistency analysis
Before finalizing chapters or acts
After making significant character or plot changes
When tracking contradictions or errors

Running the Consistency Checker

Execute the script from the project root:

Output format options:

markdown - Human-readable report with issue details (default)
json - Structured data for programmatic analysis

Understanding Consistency Output

The script identifies issues in three severity levels:

Critical (🔴)

Major contradictions requiring immediate attention
Character appearing after death
Fundamental plot contradictions

Warning (⚠️)

Potential inconsistencies to review
Age discrepancies
Physical description contradictions
Relationship conflicts

Info (ℹ️)

Minor issues or variations
Name capitalization inconsistencies
Stylistic variations

Acting on Consistency Results

For each issue reported:

Read flagged locations - Review the specific files mentioned
Determine truth - Decide which version is correct (usually character profile is authoritative)
Update files - Fix contradictions using the Edit tool
Re-run checker - Verify fixes resolved the issues

Example workflow for character age inconsistency:

Consistency Checking Limitations

The automated checker catches:

Physical attribute contradictions
Age discrepancies
Name variations
Basic world-building facts

The checker cannot catch:

Subtle personality inconsistencies
Complex plot logic errors
Thematic contradictions
Nuanced relationship changes

Manual review is still essential for deep consistency.

Best Practices

Progressive Context Loading

Don't load all reference files at once. Instead:

Scan project structure first
Read only relevant character files for the current task
Access reference documentation only when specific guidance is needed
Use Grep to find specific sections in large reference files

Maintaining Genre Voice

Match the story's established tone:

YA: Present tense, immediate emotional connection, contemporary language
Fantasy: Rich descriptive language, world-building integration
Thriller: Short sentences, high tension, sensory details
Literary: Complex prose, internal reflection, symbolic elements

Reference the summary.md to identify target audience and adjust accordingly.

Character Arc Integration

Every chapter should serve character arcs:

Track where each character is in their arc
Show incremental change, not sudden transformation
Use plot events to test character beliefs
Demonstrate growth through choices and behavior

Balancing Show vs. Tell

For narrative writing:

Show emotions through actions, dialogue, physical reactions
Tell to compress time, provide necessary information efficiently
Use character-filtered description (what would this POV character notice?)

Handling Multiple POV

When stories have multiple perspectives:

Create distinct voices for each POV character
Ensure each POV section advances both that character's arc and the plot
Vary sentence structure and vocabulary by character
Track what each character knows vs. doesn't know

Common User Requests & Responses

"Help me develop a character backstory"

Read existing character files for context
Read the character profile (if exists) to enhance
Access character_development.md reference for backstory framework
Create detailed backstory covering: ghost/wound, formative relationships, key history
Integrate with their character arc and story role

"Write the next chapter"

Read summary.md and story planning documents
Read all character profiles for characters appearing in chapter
Read previous 2 chapters for continuity
Identify chapter position in story structure
Write chapter with scene/sequel structure
Include timeline markers and POV/location headers

"Outline Act 2"

Read summary and any existing planning documents
Access story_structures.md for structural guidance
Identify act 2 requirements (complications, midpoint, rising tension)
Create beat-by-beat outline aligned with character arcs
Note how plot and character arcs intersect

"Check my story for consistency"

Run consistency_checker.py script
Review output identifying issues
Read flagged files to understand contradictions
Recommend specific fixes for each issue
Offer to make edits if user confirms

"Track the timeline of my story"

Run timeline_tracker.py script
Review output showing event sequence
Identify gaps or inconsistencies in chronology
Recommend adding timeline markers where missing
Provide timeline summary organized by character or chapter

"What structure should I use for my thriller?"

Access story_structures.md reference
Recommend Three-Act Structure or Save the Cat
Explain thriller-specific requirements (escalating tension, ticking clock)
Provide beat sheet adapted to their story concept
Offer to create detailed planning document

Resources

scripts/timeline_tracker.py

Python script that analyzes markdown files to extract and organize timeline events. Tracks character appearances, identifies time markers, groups events chronologically, and flags consistency issues.

Usage: Run from project root with python3 .claude/skills/storyboard-manager/scripts/timeline_tracker.py .

scripts/consistency_checker.py

Python script that detects inconsistencies in character details, physical descriptions, ages, names, and world-building facts across all story files. Outputs severity-ranked issues with file locations.

Usage: Run from project root with python3 .claude/skills/storyboard-manager/scripts/consistency_checker.py .

references/character_development.md

Comprehensive framework for creating multi-dimensional characters including core elements, backstory structure, arc types, relationship dynamics, voice development, and consistency guidelines.

Load when: Developing new characters, enhancing existing profiles, resolving character consistency issues, or planning character arcs.

references/story_structures.md

Detailed reference covering major story structures (Three-Act, Hero's Journey, Save the Cat), character arc templates, scene structure, pacing guidelines, plot development techniques, and genre-specific structures.

Load when: Planning story outline, structuring acts, organizing plot beats, determining pacing, or applying specific narrative frameworks.

Documentation

Documentation