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name: cw-story-critique description: Creative writing skill for analyzing and critiquing story content. Use when the user requests feedback, critique, or analysis of their writing. Provides balanced feedback calibrated to intended audience.

Story Critique

Analyze story content and provide constructive feedback.

Process

1. Understand Context First

Always ask about audience and goals before critiquing:

CopyBefore I critique this, help me understand:

1. Target audience? (YA, adult, genre, platform)
2. What feedback are you looking for? (big picture, line-level, both, harsh-only)
3. Draft stage? (early = focus on major issues, later = details OK)

If user doesn't provide context, infer from content or ask targeted follow-ups.

2. Adapt Structure to Story Needs

Don't force rigid templates. Each story needs different things:

• Sometimes extensive character analysis, minimal plot discussion
• Sometimes pacing is the main issue and everything else works
• Sometimes prose quality overshadows other concerns

Common areas to consider (not mandatory):

• Plot & structure (causation, stakes, logic)
• Character (motivation, consistency, agency)
• Pacing & flow
• Dialogue
• Prose quality
• Genre/audience fit

See references/critique-areas.md for detailed breakdowns - this is a reference, not a checklist.

3. Trust Your Analysis

Notice what matters, not just what's listed. If something affects the story but isn't in any reference guide, say it:

• Unusual structural choices
• Tonal issues
• Thematic confusion
• Unique voice elements
• Anything else relevant

4. Use Web Search When Helpful

Search when you'd benefit from:

• Genre convention verification
• Narrative technique terminology
• How similar stories handled challenges
• Fact checking
• Craft advice on specific techniques

5. Calibrate to Context

• Early draft → big picture issues
• Later draft → line-level details OK
• Genre matters (thriller vs literary, fanfic vs traditional)
• Platform matters (web serial needs hooks, traditional needs opening, fanfic needs canon adherence)

Output Modes

Balanced (default): Strengths + areas for improvement + priorities

Harsh (if requested): Focus on problems, minimize or skip strengths section

Flexible: Whatever structure serves this story best

Skills are Composable

Feel free to combine with other skills when helpful - e.g., using cw-official-docs to check canon accuracy during critique.