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Theme, controlling idea and character arcs v1.0.0

Use this resource to design and audit your story's theme, from the controlling idea to the character arcs

New

  • 355 downloads
  • 152 likes
  • 225 saves

Free

Install with the CLI

In a terminal, from the folder you want:

npx --yes palatekit@latest install theme-and-character-arc-design

With no option, the skill goes to ~/.agents/skills/; add --agent claude-code (or codex, cursor…) to target an agent.

First time: connect the CLI with

npx --yes palatekit@latest login

The agent defines the controlling idea, each character's lie and truth, the arc types and the antagonist as counter-argument, then audits the theme after a complete draft. You get a thematic sheet and a list of motifs to track.

Mostly picked by

Updated November 2, 2026

Card for the “Theme, controlling idea and character arcs” skill

Details

Works in
Install guides
Generates with
Your agent's model
Licence
MIT

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What you get

  • SKILL.md: working method and theme conventions
  • references/controlling-idea.md and lie-truth.md: controlling idea, lie and truth
  • references/antagonist-design.md and theme-audit.md: antagonist design and theme audit

Good fit for

  • You want thematic coherence in your story
  • Your characters do not change as planned

Not for

    Tags

    • theme
    • characters
    • narrative arc
    • motifs

    About

    You say

    “Define the controlling idea of my novel and the lie my main character believes, based on their story.”

    Card for the “Theme, controlling idea and character arcs” skill

    Skill published by danjdewhurst under the MIT license, delivered in its original version.

    Show more

    How to use it

    1. Install the skill in your agent's skills folder
    2. Ask your agent to design and audit your story's theme, from the controlling idea to the character arcs
    3. Review and adjust the result

    Content preview

    Files

    • LICENSE1 KB
    • NOTICE-PALATEKIT.md0.5 KB
    • references/antagonist-design.md3.2 KB
    • references/controlling-idea.md3.3 KB
    • references/lie-truth.md3.8 KB
    • references/motif-symbolism.md2.7 KB
    • references/theme-audit.md3.4 KB
    • SKILL.md7.3 KB

    Origin and licence

    Listed unmodified

    Author
    danjdewhurst
    Source
    github.com/danjdewhurst/story-skills/tree/e44c97ce8eee4db3bbc82db05c4f7982e470e2bd/skills/theme-craft
    Licence
    MIT

    Notice

    « theme-craft » (danjdewhurst, MIT) livré dans sa version d'origine : fiche en français et en anglais par PalateKit.

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