原始内容
Crucible Suite
A Claude Code plugin for writing epic fantasy novels using the Crucible Structure--a 36-beat narrative framework with three interwoven story strands.
Overview
Crucible Suite guides authors through the complete novel-writing process:
- Planning - Interactive questionnaire generates 9 comprehensive planning documents
- Outlining - Transform planning documents into detailed chapter-by-chapter outlines
- Writing - Scene-by-scene drafting with style matching and anti-hallucination protocols
- Editing - Multi-level revision from developmental editing to final polish
Features
- 36-Beat Narrative Framework - Structured story beats ensure compelling pacing
- Three Interwoven Strands - Quest (external), Fire (internal), Constellation (relationships)
- Four Forge Points + Apex - Critical convergence moments where all strands collide
- Mercy Engine - Track acts of mercy that pay off in the climax
- Bi-Chapter Reviews - Automated quality checks every 2 chapters
- Anti-Hallucination Protocols - Strict verification against planning documents
- Automatic Backups - Never lose your work
Installation
From GitHub (Recommended)
# Add the marketplace
/plugin marketplace add https://github.com/forsonny/The-Crucible-Writing-System-For-Claude.git
# Install the plugin
/plugin install crucible-suite@crucible-writing-system
# Restart Claude Code to activate
Manual Installation
- Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/forsonny/The-Crucible-Writing-System-For-Claude.git - Add as local marketplace:
/plugin marketplace add ./The-Crucible-Writing-System-For-Claude - Install:
/plugin install crucible-suite@crucible-writing-system - Restart Claude Code
Quick Start
Start a New Project
/crucible-suite:crucible-plan [your premise]
Example:
/crucible-suite:crucible-plan A young blacksmith discovers she can forge weapons that steal memories. When her village is destroyed by a memory-hunting cult, she must master her forbidden gift to save the last people who remember the old ways.
Continue Where You Left Off
/crucible-suite:crucible-continue
Check Project Status
/crucible-suite:crucible-status
Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/crucible-suite:crucible-plan [premise] |
Start planning with a premise |
/crucible-suite:crucible-outline [book#] |
Create chapter outlines |
/crucible-suite:crucible-write [chapter#] |
Draft prose scene-by-scene |
/crucible-suite:crucible-edit [chapter#|all] |
Revision and editing |
/crucible-suite:crucible-status |
Show project progress |
/crucible-suite:crucible-continue |
Resume from any phase |
/crucible-suite:crucible-review [range] |
Trigger manual review |
/crucible-suite:crucible-restore [timestamp] |
Restore from backup |
The Crucible Structure
Three Strands
- Quest Strand - The external mission, burden, or objective
- Fire Strand - Internal power, curse, or transformation
- Constellation Strand - Relationships, community, bonds that anchor or break
Six Movements
| Movement | Name | % of Book | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Ignition | 10% | Light the forge |
| II | First Tempering | 20% | Shape through failure |
| III | Scattering | 25% | Expand, harden, fragment |
| IV | Brightest Burning | 25% | Master, gather, choose |
| V | Final Forging | 15% | Converge, fail, transcend |
| Coda | Tempered Blade | 5% | Reveal what was made |
Forge Points
Critical moments where all three strands collide:
| Forge Point | Location | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Ignition Forge | ~10% (Beat 6) | Threshold destroyed; no return |
| First Crucible | ~25% (Beat 11) | All strands in crisis; one sacrificed |
| Second Crucible | ~50% (Beat 21) | Harder choice, higher stakes |
| Third Crucible | ~75% (Beat 28) | Deepest sacrifice before finale |
| Apex Willed Surrender | ~90% (Beat 33) | Essential thing given up by choice |
Review Agents
Five specialized agents analyze your prose during bi-chapter reviews:
| Agent | Focus |
|---|---|
| voice-checker | Style and voice consistency |
| continuity-checker | Plot and character continuity |
| outline-checker | Adherence to chapter outlines |
| timeline-checker | Chronological consistency |
| prose-checker | Craft-level feedback |
Planning Documents
The planning phase generates 9 documents:
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Crucible Thesis | Core forging question and strand summaries |
| Quest Strand Map | External mission beats and progression |
| Fire Strand Map | Internal transformation arc |
| Constellation Strand Map | Relationship dynamics and bonds |
| Forge Points | Detailed convergence scenes (5 files) |
| Dark Mirror Profile | Antagonist as shadow of protagonist |
| Constellation Bible | Character relationships and dynamics |
| Mercy Ledger | Acts of mercy that pay off in climax |
| World Forge | Worldbuilding tied to theme |
Project Structure
When you start a Crucible project, it creates:
your-project/
+-- CLAUDE.md # Project memory
+-- .crucible/
| +-- state/
| +-- planning-state.json # Session state
+-- planning/
+-- CLAUDE.md # Planning context
+-- strand-maps/ # Generated strand documents
+-- forge-points/ # Forge point details
As you progress through phases, additional directories are created:
+-- outline/ # Added during outlining
| +-- CLAUDE.md
| +-- by-chapter/
+-- draft/ # Added during writing
| +-- CLAUDE.md
| +-- chapters/
+-- story-bible.json # Generated during writing
+-- style-profile.json # Captured from samples
Requirements
- Claude Code (latest version recommended)
- Python 3.8+ (for automation scripts)
Documentation
Learn the Crucible Structure
The The-Crucible-Structure/ folder contains comprehensive documentation for learning the framework -- whether you use the plugin or write by hand:
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Overview and philosophy |
| Quick Start | Five-minute overview |
| Tutorial Walkthrough | Step-by-step planning guide |
| Visual Diagrams | ASCII diagrams of the structure |
| FAQ & Troubleshooting | Common questions and solutions |
Core Concepts:
- The Three Strands - Quest, Fire, Constellation
- The 36 Beats - Complete beat breakdown
- Forge Points - The five crisis moments
- The Mercy Engine - Compassion that pays off
- The Dark Mirror - Antagonist design
Worksheets: Printable planning templates in worksheets/
Examples: Completed worksheets based on a sample story in worksheets/examples/
Plugin Reference
Technical reference documentation for plugin developers:
| Skill | Reference Files |
|---|---|
| crucible-planner | crucible-structure.md, dark-mirror-guide.md, forge-point-rules.md, mercy-engine-guide.md, question-key-mapping.md, question-sequences.md |
| crucible-outliner | beat-to-chapter-mapping.md, narrative-craft.md, outline-templates.md |
| crucible-writer | anti-hallucination.md, bi-chapter-review.md, context-management.md, prose-craft.md, story-bible-commands.md, style-capture.md, writing-process.md |
| crucible-editor | copy-editing-standards.md, developmental-checklist.md, line-editing-guide.md, polish-techniques.md |
Access these via the skills/[skill-name]/references/ directories.
FAQ
Q: Can I use Crucible Suite for non-fantasy genres? A: The 36-beat structure works well for any genre with strong character arcs. The terminology is fantasy-flavored, but the underlying principles--external goal, internal transformation, relationship dynamics--are universal.
Q: How long should my novel be? A: Crucible Suite is optimized for epic fantasy (120,000-180,000 words). The 36 beats map to approximately 40-50 chapters at 3,000-4,000 words each.
Q: Can I modify the beat structure? A: The planning documents you generate are fully editable. Adjust beat placement, merge beats, or split them as needed for your story.
Q: What if I already have a partial draft?
A: Use /crucible-suite:crucible-continue to detect your project state. You can generate planning documents retroactively or start outlining from any point.
Q: How do bi-chapter reviews work?
A: Every two chapters, the system automatically runs five review agents (voice, continuity, outline, timeline, prose) to catch issues early. You can also trigger reviews manually with /crucible-suite:crucible-review.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Commands not recognized | Ensure plugin is installed: check ~/.claude/plugins/crucible-suite/ exists |
| Python scripts fail | Verify Python 3.8+ is installed and in PATH |
| Session state lost | Run /crucible-suite:crucible-restore to recover from automatic backups |
| Review agents timeout | Large chapters may need more time; break into smaller scenes |
| Planning seems stuck | Use /crucible-suite:crucible-status to check progress, /crucible-suite:crucible-continue to resume |
Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Here's how to help:
- Report Issues - Found a bug or have a feature request? Open an issue
- Submit PRs - Fork the repo, make changes, and submit a pull request
- Share Feedback - Tell us about your writing experience with Crucible Suite
- Spread the Word - Star the repo and share with other fantasy writers
Development Setup
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/forsonny/The-Crucible-Writing-System-For-Claude.git
cd The-Crucible-Writing-System-For-Claude
# Test scripts
python scripts/detect_project.py
License
MIT License - See LICENSE for details.
Support
- GitHub Issues: Report bugs or request features
- Documentation: Reference files in
skills/*/references/directories - Changelog: See CHANGELOG.md for version history