plot-consistency-checker

What this skill does

# Plot Consistency Checker

## Purpose

This skill helps authors maintain narrative consistency by tracking plot points, character actions, timelines, and world-building details. It identifies contradictions, plot holes, and pacing problems that could confuse readers or break story immersion.

## When to Use

- User has written multiple chapters and wants to check for continuity errors
- User is concerned about timeline inconsistencies
- User wants to verify character motivations remain consistent
- User needs help identifying plot holes
- User requests a pacing analysis
- User is revising their manuscript and wants to catch errors

## Instructions

### Step 1: Gather Story Information

Ask the user to provide:

- **Story Synopsis**: Brief overview of the main plot
- **Chapters/Scenes**: The content to analyze (can be full manuscript or specific sections)
- **Character List**: Main and supporting characters
- **World Rules**: Any magical systems, technology, or world-specific rules
- **Timeline**: Story duration and key event dates/times
- **Point of View (POV)**: Who tells the story and how (first person, third limited, omniscient)

### Step 2: Create a Story Tracking System

Build comprehensive trackers for:

#### A. Timeline Tracker

```markdown
| Event               | Chapter | Time/Date         | Duration   | Notes         |
| ------------------- | ------- | ----------------- | ---------- | ------------- |
| [Event description] | Ch. X   | [When it happens] | [How long] | [Key details] |
```

#### B. Character Action Tracker

```markdown
| Character | Location | Action          | Chapter | Consequences    |
| --------- | -------- | --------------- | ------- | --------------- |
| [Name]    | [Where]  | [What they did] | Ch. X   | [What resulted] |
```

#### C. Plot Thread Tracker

```markdown
| Plot Thread   | Introduced | Developments | Resolution | Status        |
| ------------- | ---------- | ------------ | ---------- | ------------- |
| [Thread name] | Ch. X      | Ch. Y, Z     | Ch. XX     | Open/Resolved |
```

#### D. World Rules Tracker

```markdown
| Rule/Law           | Established | Used     | Broken? | Chapter References |
| ------------------ | ----------- | -------- | ------- | ------------------ |
| [Rule description] | Ch. X       | Ch. Y, Z | Yes/No  | [List chapters]    |
```

### Step 3: Analyze for Inconsistencies

Check the following categories:

#### A. Timeline Inconsistencies

- Events happening out of order
- Impossible timeframes (character travels 100 miles in 1 hour without explanation)
- Age/birthday contradictions
- Seasonal discrepancies
- Day/night continuity errors

#### B. Character Inconsistencies

- Motivations changing without explanation
- Skills appearing/disappearing randomly
- Physical descriptions contradicting earlier mentions
- Knowledge they shouldn't have (or forgetting what they should know)
- Personality shifts that aren't part of character arc
- Characters being in two places at once

#### C. Plot Holes

- Unresolved plot threads (Chekhov's gun fired but never established)
- Questions raised but never answered
- Easy solutions the characters should have tried but didn't
- Coincidences that are too convenient
- Missing cause-and-effect connections

#### D. World-Building Contradictions

- Magic/technology working differently in different scenes
- Geography changes (forest becomes desert with no explanation)
- Rules established then broken without acknowledgment
- Historical events contradicting each other

#### E. POV Violations

- First person narrator knowing things they couldn't know
- Third limited showing thoughts of non-POV characters
- Omniscient narrator suddenly not knowing something
- Head-hopping mid-scene

#### F. Pacing Issues

- Too much time on minor events, rushing major ones
- Long stretches with no conflict or tension
- Too many events crammed into short timeframes
- Uneven chapter lengths without stylistic purpose

### Step 4: Generate Consistency Report

Present findings in this format:

```markdown
# Plot Consistency Analysis Report

## Executive Summary

- **Total Issues Found**: [Number]
  - Critical: [X] (breaks story logic)
  - Moderate: [Y] (confusing but fixable)
  - Minor: [Z] (easily overlooked)
- **Overall Consistency Score**: [X/10]
- **Most Common Issue Type**: [Category]

---

## Critical Issues

### 1. [Issue Title]

**Type**: Timeline Inconsistency / Character Error / Plot Hole / etc.

**Location**: Chapter [X], pages/paragraphs [reference]

**Problem**:
[Clear description of the inconsistency]

**Evidence**:

- Chapter X, para Y: "[Quote or description]"
- Chapter Z, para W: "[Contradicting quote or description]"

**Impact**: [Why this matters to the reader/story]

**Suggested Fix**:
[Specific recommendation on how to resolve]

---

### 2. [Next Issue]

...

## Moderate Issues

[Same format as Critical]

## Minor Issues

[Same format, can be more brief]

---

## Timeline Visualization
```

Week 1:
Day 1: [Events] - Ch. 1-2
Day 2: [Events] - Ch. 3
[ISSUE: Character teleports from City A to City B instantaneously]
Day 3: [Events] - Ch. 4-5

Week 2:
[etc.]

```

---

## Character Tracking Summary

### [Character Name]
**Chapters Present**: [List]
**Key Actions**: [Brief list]
**Inconsistencies Found**: [X]
  - Chapter Y vs. Chapter Z: [Description]

---

## Unresolved Plot Threads

1. **[Thread Name]** (Introduced: Ch. X)
   - Status: Dangling
   - Last Mention: Ch. Y
   - Reader Expectation: [What readers will expect resolution of]
   - Recommendation: [Resolve in Ch. Z or remove setup in Ch. X]

---

## Pacing Analysis

### Chapter-by-Chapter Breakdown
| Chapter | Word Count | Events | Tension Level | Pacing |
|---------|------------|--------|---------------|--------|
| 1 | 3,500 | Setup, inciting incident | Medium | Good |
| 2 | 5,000 | Travel, conversation | Low | Too slow |
| 3 | 2,000 | Major revelation, action | High | Too rushed |

**Pacing Recommendations**:
- Chapter 2: Consider cutting 1,000 words of exposition; add minor conflict
- Chapter 3: Expand action scene by 1,000 words to give proper weight

---

## World-Building Consistency

### Magic System: [Name]
**Established Rules**:
1. [Rule 1] - Ch. [X]
2. [Rule 2] - Ch. [Y]

**Violations**:
- Ch. [Z]: Character does [action] which violates rule #1
  - FIX: Either establish exception or revise action

---

## POV Consistency Check

**Declared POV**: Third Person Limited (Character A's perspective)

**Violations**:
- Ch. [X], para [Y]: Narrator reveals Character B's thoughts
  - Quote: "[Example]"
  - FIX: Show Character B's feelings through actions/dialogue only

---

## Positive Observations

[List things that are working well]
- Timeline for Chapters 1-5 is perfectly consistent
- Character X's arc is well-maintained
- World rules are clearly established in Ch. 2

---

## Priority Fixes (Top 5)

1. **[Most critical issue]** - Breaks story logic
2. **[Second most critical]** - Major reader confusion
3. [etc.]

---

## Questions for Author

[List ambiguities or decisions the author needs to make]
1. In Chapter X, is [event] supposed to be a dream sequence? Current text is unclear.
2. Character Y seems to change motivation in Chapter Z—is this intentional character development or an error?
```

## Examples

### Example 1: Fantasy Novel Timeline Issue

**User**: "Can you check my first 5 chapters for consistency? My beta readers said something felt off with the timeline."

**Analysis Output**:

```markdown
# Plot Consistency Analysis Report

## Executive Summary

- **Total Issues Found**: 8
  - Critical: 2 (breaks story logic)
  - Moderate: 4 (confusing but fixable)
  - Minor: 2 (easily overlooked)
- **Overall Consistency Score**: 6/10
- **Most Common Issue Type**: Timeline Inconsistencies

---

## Critical Issues

### 1. Impossible Travel Time

**Type**: Timeline Inconsistency

**Location**: Chapter 2 (para 15) to Chapter 3 (para 1)

**Problem**:
Kael travels from Riverhold to the Capital (established a