Novel Creator Skill
Transform story ideas into complete novels with EPUB output through an interactive RPG-style workflow.
Features
- Interactive Story Building: Guide users through key plot decisions using an RPG-style choice system
- Structured Writing Process: 5-phase workflow from concept to finished ebook
- Professional EPUB Generation: Auto-converts markdown chapters to beautifully formatted ebooks
- Chinese Novel Optimization: Built-in support for Chinese typography, poetry pairings, and literary styles
- Customizable Writing Styles: Support for various genres and literary influences (e.g., 琼瑶, 张爱玲)
Workflow Overview
[Story Concept] → [Interactive RPG] → [Writing Plan] → [Chapters] → [EPUB]
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5
Phase 1: Story Setup
Gather core story elements through interactive questions:
- Genre (穿越/Fantasy/Romance/Mystery)
- Setting (Ancient palace/Modern city/Fantasy world)
- Protagonist details
- Story goals and length
Phase 2: Interactive RPG
Run 10-15 decision points where the user makes meaningful choices:
- Present vivid scene descriptions
- Offer 3-4 choices via
AskUserQuestion
- Track consequences and plot development
- Weave in romance, conflict, and character growth
Phase 3: Writing Plan
Generate a comprehensive task_plan.md including:
- Character profiles and arcs
- Foreshadowing matrix
- Chapter-by-chapter outline
- Poetry/lyrics pairings (for Chinese novels)
- Progress tracking table
Phase 4: Chapter Writing
Write each chapter (~4000-5500 words) with:
- Opening and closing song lyrics/poetry
- Vivid sensory descriptions
- Character internal monologue
- Proper pacing and chapter-end hooks
- Consistent file naming:
[##]_[章节标题].md
Phase 5: EPUB Generation
Auto-generate professional ebook with:
- Cover page with title/author
- Table of contents
- Chinese typography CSS
- Proper chapter formatting
Installation
Prerequisites
- Python 3.7+
- Claude Code CLI
Install from Marketplace
# Add the marketplace
/plugin marketplace add mave99a/novel-skill
# Install the plugin
/plugin install novel-creator
Manual Setup
# Install required Python package
pip install ebooklib
# Clone and add as local plugin
git clone https://github.com/mave99a/novel-skill.git
/plugin add ./novel-skill
Usage
Quick Commands
| User Request | Action |
|---|
写一部小说 / Write a novel | Full workflow (Phase 1-5) |
根据大纲写小说 + outline | Start from Phase 3 |
把章节转成epub | Phase 5 only |
继续写下一章 | Resume Phase 4 |
Example Session
User: 写一部小说
Claude: [Asks about genre, setting, protagonist...]
User: [Makes choices]
Claude: [Runs interactive RPG scenes, user makes plot decisions]
Claude: [Creates writing plan, writes chapters, generates EPUB]
Output: novel_title.epub
EPUB Generator CLI
python3 scripts/create_epub.py [options]
Options:
--title TITLE Book title (auto-detects from task_plan.md)
--author AUTHOR Author name (default: "Claude AI")
--path PATH Chapter directory (default: current)
--output OUTPUT Output filename (default: [title].epub)
--subtitle SUBTITLE Book subtitle/tagline
File Structure
novel-skill/
├── .claude-plugin/
│ ├── plugin.json # Plugin manifest for Claude Code
│ └── marketplace.json # Marketplace catalog
├── skills/
│ └── novel-creator/
│ ├── SKILL.md # Skill definition
│ ├── scripts/
│ │ └── create_epub.py
│ └── references/
│ ├── personas.md
│ └── poetry_pairs.md
├── samples/ # Example novel outputs
├── README.md # This file
├── LICENSE # MIT License
├── CHANGELOG.md # Version history
└── requirements.txt # Python dependencies
Output Structure
When a novel is created, the following files are generated:
your-project/
├── task_plan.md # Writing plan with outlines
├── 01_章节标题.md # Chapter 1
├── 02_章节标题.md # Chapter 2
├── ...
├── 10_章节标题.md # Chapter 10
└── 书名.epub # Final EPUB ebook
Writing Style Guidelines
The skill supports customizable writing styles:
Supported Influences
- 琼瑶 (Chiung Yao): Romantic, emotional dialogues, dramatic conflicts
- 张爱玲 (Eileen Chang): Rich imagery, psychological depth, subtle emotions
- 金庸 (Jin Yong): Martial arts, chivalry, intricate plots
- Custom: Any style specified by user
Key Writing Elements
- Long, flowing paragraphs (avoid excessive short sentences)
- Deep psychological descriptions
- Sensory-rich scene setting
- Romantic tension in ambiguous scenes
- Proper use of Chinese literary devices
Customization
Adding New Genres
Edit skill.md to add new genre options in Phase 1.
