storyboard-manager

$28

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:

# Example: Find guidance on character arcs

grep -i "character arc" references/character_development.md

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:

# Example: Find Three-Act Structure details

grep -A 20 "Three-Act Structure" references/story_structures.md

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 [Number]: [Optional Title]

**Timeline:** [When this occurs]

**POV:** [Character name]

**Location:** [Where this takes place]

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:

python3 .claude/skills/storyboard-manager/scripts/timeline_tracker.py . --output markdown

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:

**Timeline:** Day 7, Morning

Or use inline markers:

Three days had passed since the incident...

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:

python3 .claude/skills/storyboard-manager/scripts/consistency_checker.py . --output markdown

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:

Issue: Age inconsistency for Maya

- Profile: 18 years old

- Chapter 3: mentions "21-year-old Maya"

Fix: Edit chapter-3.md to change "21-year-old" to "18-year-old"

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.