md-manuscript/templates/snowflake/{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/03-Story-Bible/README.md

# Story Bible

> **Your single source of truth for all story world information.**

The Story Bible is a comprehensive reference system that helps you maintain consistency, track connections, and ensure continuity across your entire narrative. Every fact about your story world should be documented here.

---

## Structure Overview

```
03-Story-Bible/
├── _index.md                    # Master index and navigation
├── README.md                    # This file
├── CONSISTENCY.md               # Continuity tracking checklist
│
├── 01-Characters/               # All characters
│   ├── _index.md
│   ├── character_grid.md        # Quick reference table
│   └── main_characters/         # Protagonist, antagonist, etc.
│       ├── 01_character_template.md
│       ├── 01_protagonist.md
│       └── 02_antagonist.md
│   └── supporting_characters/    # Secondary characters
│   └── minor_characters/        # Background characters
│
├── 02-Locations/               # World geography
│   ├── _index.md
│   ├── regions/
│   │   └── 01_region_template.md
│   ├── cities/
│   │   └── 01_city_template.md
│   └── buildings/
│       └── 01_building_template.md
│
├── 03-Lore/                    # World-building
│   ├── _index.md
│   ├── history/
│   │   └── 01_history_template.md
│   ├── factions/
│   │   └── 01_faction_template.md
│   └── rules.md                 # Magic, tech, physics, society
│
├── 04-Objects/                 # Important items
│   ├── _index.md
│   ├── artifacts/
│   │   └── 01_artifact_template.md
│   └── weapons/
│       └── 01_weapon_template.md
│
├── 05-Relationships/            # Connections
│   ├── _index.md
│   └── character_relationships.md
│
├── 06-Timeline/                # Chronology
│   └── _index.md
│
└── 07-Themes/                  # Motifs and symbols
    └── _index.md
```

---

## How to Use the Story Bible

### 1. Adding a New Character

1. **Copy the template:**
   ```bash
   cp 01-Characters/main_characters/01_character_template.md 01-Characters/main_characters/03_new_character.md
   ```

2. **Fill in the YAML frontmatter first:**
   ```yaml
   ---
   id: unique_id
   name: Character Name
   summary: "One line the app can show in a hover card"
   slug: character-name
   type: protagonist|antagonist|ally|enemy|mentor
   status: active|draft|deceased|retired
   tags: [tag1, tag2]
   appearances: [chapter_1, chapter_5]
   related_characters: [character_a, character_b]
   ---
   ```

3. **Complete the character sheet** with all known information

4. **Add to index files:**
   - Update `01-Characters/_index.md`
   - Update `01-Characters/character_grid.md`

5. **Create cross-links** from other relevant entries

### 2. Adding a New Location

1. **Choose the type:** Region, City, or Building
2. **Copy the appropriate template**
3. **Fill in details** including relationships to characters
4. **Add to Locations index**
5. **Link from character files** that use this location

### 3. Adding Lore

- **Historical Events:** Copy template from `03-Lore/history/`
- **Factions:** Copy template from `03-Lore/factions/`
- **World Rules:** Edit `03-Lore/rules.md`

### 4. Maintaining Consistency

- **After each writing session:** Update relevant Bible entries
- **Before finalizing a chapter:** Run through `CONSISTENCY.md` checklist
- **Weekly review:** Spend 15 minutes updating and verifying entries

---

## Key Features

### YAML Frontmatter
Every entry starts with YAML metadata for easy filtering and searching:

```yaml
---
id: unique_identifier
name: Display Name
slug: url-friendly-name
type: category
tags: [tag1, tag2, tag3]
related_entities: [entity_a, entity_b]
status: active|draft|archived
created: "2024-01-01"
updated: "2024-01-01"
---
```

### Wiki-Links
Use `[[Link Text|file-name]]` or `[[file-name]]` to create cross-references:

```markdown
- **Current Owner:** [[John Doe]]
- **Location:** [[Castle Black]]
- **Related Event:** [[The War of Ashes|history/war_of_ashes]]
```

### Automatic Linking in the Draft
The app does not require `[[wiki-links]]` to connect a draft to the Story
Bible — a name written in ordinary prose ("**Bixby** stood at the door") is
matched automatically against every entry's `name:` and `aliases:`, as long
as it's spelled and capitalized the same way in both places. Hovering a
matched name shows a card with the entry's `summary:` field and a link that
opens the full sheet; `[[wiki-links]]` and `@mentions` still work too, and
take priority if they ever land on the same word. A character sheet with no
`summary:` still gets matched and links open fine — the card just says so
and lets you add one.

### Mermaid Diagrams
Create visual relationship maps and timelines:

````markdown
```mermaid
graph LR
    A[John] -->|Brother| B[James]
    A -->|Mentor| C[Robert]
```
````

### Tables
Use tables for structured data:

```markdown
| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| Age | 30 |
| Gender | Male |
```

---

## Best Practices

### 1. Start Simple
- Begin with basic information
- Add details as they become relevant
- Don't over-document early drafts

### 2. Stay Current
- Update entries immediately after writing scenes
- Don't let the Bible fall behind
- Small updates are easier than big ones

### 3. Use Cross-Links
- Link characters to locations
- Link locations to events
- Link events to lore
- This creates a web of knowledge

### 4. Tag Everything
- Use consistent tags
- Filter by tags when searching
- Examples: `#protagonist`, `#capital`, `#magic`, `#war`

### 5. Review Regularly
- Weekly: Quick scan for obvious issues
- Monthly: Deep consistency check
- Before publishing: Full verification

---

## Search Tips

Use your editor's search feature:

| Search Term | Finds |
|-------------|-------|
| `[[` | All cross-references |
| `id:` | All YAML IDs |
| `status:` | All status fields |
| `tags:` | All tag lists |
| `#tagname` | All entries with that tag |

---

## Tag Reference

### Character Tags
`#protagonist` `#antagonist` `#ally` `#enemy` `#mentor` `#romantic` `#family` `#deceased` `#noble` `#commoner` `#warrior` `#mage` `#thief`

### Location Tags
`#capital` `#city` `#village` `#fortress` `#tavern` `#temple` `#ruins` `#wilderness` `#underground` `#floating` `#magical`

### Lore Tags
`#magic` `#technology` `#war` `#religion` `#politics` `#history` `#myth` `#legend` `#prophecy` `#culture`

### Object Tags
`#legendary` `#cursed` `#blessed` `#sentient` `#destroyed` `#lost` `#stolen` `#royal` `#sacred` `#ancient`

---

## Tools Integration

If your editor supports it:

- **Obsidian:** Native backlink support, graph view, tag search
- **VS Code:** Extensions for markdown preview and search
- **Typora:** Clean preview with YAML support
- **Any editor:** Basic search and replace works everywhere

---

## Example Workflow

1. **Write Chapter 5** where John visits Castle Black
2. **Update John's entry:** Add Castle Black to `related_locations`
3. **Update Castle Black entry:** Add John to `residents` or `visitors`
4. **Update Timeline:** Add "John visits Castle Black" event
5. **Check Consistency:** Verify travel time and castle description match
6. **Cross-link:** Ensure both entries link to each other

---

## Need Help?

- Check `_index.md` files for navigation
- Use `CONSISTENCY.md` for verification
- Look at existing entries for examples
- Refer to templates for required fields

---

**Remember:** The Story Bible is a living document. Update it as you write, and it will save you hours of continuity fixing later.