Novel-Harness skill
A novel-core skill for Chinese web fiction that plans chapters, gives writing blocks to fill by hand and tracks story memory.
- 132 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
Extended access
Why this level
- The manuscript goes to the model provider selected in Studio.
- Setup runs a local server and installs Python dependencies.
Install
- Works in
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add skills/novel-harnessDetects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Access and checks
How we reviewExtended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.
- The manuscript goes to the model provider selected in Studio.
- Setup runs a local server and installs Python dependencies.
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
Novel-Harness turns an agent into a coach for web-novel authors. The main command is `/novel-core`: it leads from an idea to a plan (genre, hero, world, the first three chapters), then splits a chapter into empty blocks the author fills in. Full text is produced only on explicit request and is marked as a draft for manual polishing. The package has several roles: editor in chief, planning, writing, review and context. They check logic, pacing, setting and language, reduce machine-sounding phrasing and keep templates for character state, chapter summaries and a foreshadowing register. A local Studio Dashboard at `http://127.0.0.1:8765` manages projects, chapters, outlines and Markdown text, and RAG searches knowledge packs.
Who it is for. Authors and readers of Chinese web novels who write with Codex, Claude Code, Cursor or OpenCode and want to keep plot and tone under their control.
Good fit when
- An author is stuck on a chapter and wants guiding questions instead of finished text.
- A long story has accumulated characters and setups and needs a state register.
- A draft should be reviewed for logic, pacing and setting before editing.
- A local Markdown editor for chapters with version history is wanted.
Not a fit when
- You need a finished novel from one prompt: the project is explicitly against that mode.
- You write in another language or for other platforms: roles and knowledge packs target Chinese genre web fiction.
- The manuscript cannot be sent to an external model service.
Example request
/novel-core Split chapter one into 12 writing blocks for me to fill in and ask three questions about the hero motivation.Limitations
The interface, roles and knowledge packs are in Chinese. Python 3.10 or newer and Node.js 20 or newer are required. Studio connects to the chosen model provider (DeepSeek, OpenAI, SiliconFlow, Ollama, LM Studio), and text goes to it unless the model is local. The license is not detected automatically in the repository. The last commit is from 6 August 2026. The knowledge pack market is in test mode: only download and local install, with user uploads closed.
How to disable. Remove the `novel-core` folder from the agent skills directory and stop Studio. Delete `projects/` and the RAG index separately.
FAQ
Does it write a whole novel?
No, by default it returns blocks to fill in yourself. It writes a full chapter only on direct request and marks it as a draft for manual polishing.
How do I start Studio?
Run `python studio/run.py` after installing the dependencies from `studio/backend/requirements.txt`. The first run prepares the frontend and opens the browser.
Which models can Studio use?
DeepSeek, OpenAI, SiliconFlow, Ollama, LM Studio and other OpenAI-compatible services, chosen in the model settings.
What are knowledge packs?
Reference material for RAG: genre topics, basic writing rules and rules for reducing machine tone. Extra packs install through a local MCP.
Which tools are supported?
The install document targets Codex, Claude Code, Cursor and OpenCode. If a tool cannot install skills, open the repository as the working directory and follow `AGENTS.md` or `CLAUDE.md`.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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Comparison with similar tools
Cards that share the main search query, and how they differ.
| Tool | Official | Repository stars | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novel-Harness (this card) | no | 132 | |
| Webnovel Writer | no | 7,939 | a plugin aimed at producing chapters; Novel-Harness by default guides the author with questions and blocks |
| chinese-novelist | no | 4,891 | a skill for writing Chinese fiction; Novel-Harness adds roles, a Studio Dashboard and RAG |
README in short
One-line agent install, `/novel-core` command examples, the Studio Dashboard, RAG over knowledge packs and a test-mode knowledge pack market.