story-analysis

SKILL.md

Story Analysis Diagnostic

Purpose

Systematically evaluate completed short stories or novel chapters to identify strengths, weaknesses, and improvement opportunities. Use after drafting to assess whether the piece achieves its narrative goals.

Quick Reference

Mode
Use For
Key Focus

Short Story
Complete standalone pieces
Unity, shattering moment, resolution

Chapter
Sections within larger work
Continuity, momentum, arc contribution

Short Story Analysis

SA1: Narrative Foundation
Evaluate:

Single clear premise or conflict driving the story

Scope appropriate for length

Premise integrated with plot and character

Clear implications that matter to the story

Questions:

Can you state the core conflict in one sentence?

Is the scope right for the word count?

Does the premise connect to character stakes?

Are the implications explored within the story?

SA2: Character Construction

Evaluate:

One or two main characters with clear stakes

Efficient characterization through actions/choices

Character arcs intersecting with premise

Limited but purposeful supporting cast

Distinct voice and perspective

Questions:

Who is the story about and what do they want?

Is character revealed through action, not description?

Does the character change in response to events?

Does every character serve a purpose?

Red Flags:

Character described but never demonstrated

Supporting characters who don't affect anything

Stakes unclear or abstract

SA3: Story Environment

Evaluate:

Details woven into action, not exposition

Each element serves multiple purposes (setting/plot/theme)

Clear rules and limitations

Environment revealed through character interaction

Effective atmosphere and tone

Questions:

Is worldbuilding shown through action or told in blocks?

Does each setting detail do double duty?

Are the story's rules clear and consistent?

Does the environment affect character choices?

Red Flags:

Info-dump paragraphs

Details that never matter again

Setting that doesn't influence events

SA4: The Shattering Moment

Definition: The pivotal point that transforms everything—a moment that cannot be undone.

Must function through one approach:

Personal revelation that transforms understanding

External event that forces change

Relationship transformation that shifts dynamics

Internal realization that cannot be undone

Cultural/social collision that demands response

For Science Fiction:

Technology IS the shattering moment

Technology ENABLES the shattering moment

Technology PREVENTS recovery

Shattering moment CHANGES relationship with technology

Questions:

Is there a clear turning point?

Is it connected to the core conflict?

Does it change the character irreversibly?

Does everything after feel different?

SA5: Scene Structure

Evaluate:

Scenes maximize both character and premise

Strategic balance of scene and summary

Opening hook establishes character, situation, conflict

Focused conflict from the core premise

Resolution addresses conflict while suggesting broader implications

Questions:

Does every scene advance character AND plot?

Is the opening hook doing its job?

Is the conflict focused or diffuse?

Does the resolution satisfy while resonating beyond?

SA6: Technical Execution

Economy of Detail:

Every element serves multiple purposes

No extraneous background or world info

Exposition integrated into action

Clear connection between details and story purpose

Point of View:

Consistent and purposeful POV choice

Viewpoint optimal for revealing character and premise

Minimal POV shifts

Clear character perspective on events

Effective narrative distance

Language and Voice:

Consistent tone throughout

Purposeful dialogue

Effective subtext

Style serves story purpose

Distinct narrative voice

SA7: Emotional Architecture

Tension Management:

Clear emotional throughline

Strategic building and release

Effective pacing of reveals

Balance of explicit and implicit

Reader Engagement:

Clear emotional stakes

Strategic use of empathy

Meaningful emotional payoff

Effective use of subtext

Questions:

Is there a clear emotional journey?

Does tension build appropriately?

Is the emotional payoff earned?

What remains unspoken but felt?

SA8: Thematic Resolution

Evaluate:

Character arc completion

Premise implications addressed

Immediate conflict resolved

Larger questions remain thought-provoking

Questions:

Is the character arc complete?

Are the premise implications explored?

Is the immediate conflict resolved?

Does the story linger in the mind?

Novel Chapter Analysis

CA1: Position in Narrative Arc

Evaluate:

Chapter's specific role in overall structure

Contribution to plot progression

Advancement of character development arcs

Thematic development within larger work

Questions:

What is this chapter's job in the novel?

What plot progress happens here?

What character progress happens here?

How does it develop the theme?

CA2: Narrative Momentum

Evaluate:

Opening hook's connection to previous chapter

Tension management across chapter breaks

Balance of resolution and open questions

Strength of chapter ending propulsion

Questions answered vs. questions raised

Questions:

Does the opening connect to what came before?

Does the ending make readers want to continue?

What questions does this chapter answer?

What new questions does it raise?

Red Flags:

Chapter ends at natural stopping point (too easy to put down)

Opening ignores previous chapter's energy

All questions answered, no forward pull

CA3: Plot Threading

Evaluate:

Ongoing plot threads advanced

New plot threads introduced

Plot elements resolved

Setup for future chapters

Connection to primary and secondary arcs

Track:

Thread
Status This Chapter

Main plot
Advanced / Setup / Resolved

Subplot A
Advanced / Setup / Resolved

Subplot B
Advanced / Setup / Resolved

CA4: Character Continuity

Evaluate:

Progress on character arcs from previous chapters

New character aspects revealed

Relationship evolution

Setup for future development

Consistency with established traits

Questions:

How has this character changed since chapter 1?

What new facets are revealed here?

How do relationships shift?

Is the character consistent with who they've been?

CA5: POV and Voice

Evaluate:

Consistency with established POV patterns

Effective transitions between viewpoints (if multiple)

Depth of penetration into character perspective

Balance of internal and external narrative

Voice and tone alignment with overall narrative

CA6: Information Flow

Evaluate:

Balance of new and established information

Strategic revelation of background elements

Management of reader vs. character knowledge

Setup of future revelations

Integration of necessary exposition

CA7: Pacing Elements

Evaluate:

Chapter's pace relative to surrounding chapters

Internal pacing structure

Tension development and release

Scene length and rhythm

Strategic use of time

CA8: Connection Tracking

Previous Chapter:

Immediate continuity elements

Tension carryover

Question resolution

Thread advancement

Next Chapter:

Setup elements planted

Tension building toward

Questions raised

Threads advanced

Broader Novel:

Major arc advancement

Theme development

Character arc progression

World development contribution

Evaluation Checklists

Short Story Checklist

 Single clear premise/conflict

 Appropriate scope for length

 Characters with clear stakes

 Characterization through action

 Environment serves multiple purposes

 Clear shattering moment

 Every scene advances character AND plot

 Consistent POV

 Emotional arc present

 Resolution satisfies while resonating

Chapter Checklist

 Clear role in overall novel

 Opening connects to previous chapter

 Ending creates forward pull

 Plot threads advanced

 Character development progresses

 Consistent with established elements

 Sets up future developments

 Appropriate pacing for position in novel

Anti-Patterns

1. The Checklist Tyranny

Pattern: Treating all checklist items as equally important. Flagging every missed item as a problem requiring fix.
Why it fails: Not all issues matter equally. A missing shattering moment is critical; a slight POV wobble might be stylistic choice. Checklists identify possibilities, not mandates.
Fix: Prioritize by impact. Ask "Does this actually hurt the story?" before recommending changes. Some rules can be broken effectively.

2. The Genre Blindness

Pattern: Applying one genre's standards to all stories. Evaluating literary fiction by thriller pacing standards, or action stories by literary depth requirements.
Why it fails: Genres have different contracts with readers. What's a flaw in one genre is a feature in another.
Fix: Identify genre expectations first. Evaluate against what the story is trying to be, not a universal standard.

3. The Nitpick Cascade

Pattern: Focusing on micro-issues while missing macro problems. Catching comma splices while the story has no conflict.
Why it fails: Sentence-level perfection can't save structural failure. Fixing small things first is procrastination from hard work.
Fix: Diagnose at structure level first. Only move to prose-level analysis after structure is sound.

4. The Comparison Trap

Pattern: Evaluating against published bestsellers or classics. "This isn't as good as [famous work]."
Why it fails: Drafts aren't finished works. Different stories serve different purposes. Unfair comparison discourages rather than guides.
Fix: Evaluate against the story's own goals. What is this trying to do? Does it succeed at that?

5. The Fix-Everything Dump

Pattern: Delivering a comprehensive list of all issues without prioritization or encouragement.
Why it fails: Overwhelming. Writers shut down when facing 50 problems. No sense of what matters most.
Fix: Identify 3-5 highest-impact issues. Note what's working. Create actionable, prioritized guidance.

Integration Points

Inbound:

From drafting: After completing draft

From revision: As part of revision process

Outbound:

To revision: For identified issues

To scene-sequencing: For pacing problems

To dialogue: For conversation issues

To character-arc: For character problems

Complementary:

flash-fiction: For stories under 1500 words

prose-style: For sentence-level issues

story-sense: For diagnosing what's wrong

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