Story Sense: Diagnostic Skill

Identify what state a story is in and what it needs to move forward. This is not a linear process but a diagnostic model: Assess → Diagnose → Intervene → Reassess.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• Writer is stuck and doesn't know why
• Story feels broken but root cause unclear
• Need to evaluate story problems systematically
• Someone asks "what's wrong with my story?"

Do NOT use this skill when:

• Writer wants you to write the story (use story-collaborator)
• Writer wants coaching questions only (use story-coach)
• Publishing/marketing questions (use book-marketing)

Core Principle