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.

Modifying Chapter Structure

The default structure includes:

• Opening lyrics/poetry quote
• 3 main scenes per chapter
• Closing lyrics/poetry quote
• Chapter-end hook

Modify skill.md Phase 4 section to customize.

Styling EPUB Output

Edit scripts/create_epub.py function get_css_style() to customize:

• Fonts
• Line spacing
• Quote styling
• Chapter heading appearance

Examples

Generated Novel Sample

• Title: 《误入心扉》
• Genre: Modern Urban Romance
• Length: 10 chapters, ~50,000 words
• Features: Office romance, family revenge, identity mystery, dramatic twists

Chapter Naming Convention

01_当女孩遇见男孩.md
02_月光下的三明治.md
03_流言蜚语飞满天.md
...

Troubleshooting

EPUB Generation Fails

# Ensure ebooklib is installed
pip install ebooklib

# Check chapter file naming (must match patterns):
# - XX_title.md (e.g., 01_chapter.md)
# - 第X章_title.md
# - chapter_X.md

No Chapters Found

Ensure your markdown files follow the naming convention and are in the correct directory.

Chinese Characters Display Issues

The EPUB uses fallback fonts. Ensure your ebook reader supports Chinese fonts:

• Songti SC
• SimSun
• Noto Serif CJK SC

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Areas for improvement:

• Additional genre templates
• More reference materials (personas, poetry)
• Enhanced EPUB styling
• Multi-language support
• Cover image generation

License

MIT License - Feel free to use and modify for your projects.

Credits

• Created with Claude Code
• EPUB generation powered by ebooklib