Scene Writing

Write or edit scenes while respecting canon, POV discipline, and continuity.

Pre-Writing Checklist (MANDATORY)

Before writing prose:

1. •Load constraints

• •.github/copilot-instructions.md
• •elements/checklist.md
• •elements/pov.md, elements/tone.md
• •voice/style.md, voice/format.md

1. •Load canon needed for THIS scene

• •elements/timeline.md (if present)
• •elements/characters.md (if present)
• •Individual character files for everyone on-page (elements/characters/<name>.md)
• •Relevant setting/event canon (elements/setting.md, elements/events/*.md if used)

1. •Load continuity context

• •The relevant outline for this episode/chapter (elements/outlines/...)
• •Prior scenes that directly connect (same episode/chapter, or latest appearance of key characters)

1. •Verify beat mechanisms (CRITICAL) For each planned beat:

• •HOW does it happen?
• •WHO knows what, and how did they learn it?
• •WHEN does it happen relative to adjacent scenes? If unclear: flag [NEEDS CLARIFICATION: ...] instead of inventing.

1. •Boundary enforcement If working from an outline, define:

• •What must happen in THIS scene
• •What belongs to the NEXT scene Stop at the scene’s button.

During Writing

Non-Negotiables

• •Follow the chosen POV and tense (elements/pov.md).
• •One POV anchor per scene (unless your POV rules allow otherwise).
• •Don’t invent high-specificity details (brands, precise biographical facts, makes/models, addresses) unless canon.

Opening Discipline

• •Don’t open by recapping the last scene.
• •Prefer starting mid-action or mid-conversation.

Scene Structure

• •Hook → Turn → Button

After Writing

• •If new facts were introduced, update the appropriate elements/** canon.
• •If using elements/timeline.md, add/update the timeline entry for the scene.

Bundled References

• •references/mcdonald-rule.md — in-medias-res opening discipline
• •references/king-principles.md — broadly useful craft heuristics (trait-based)