haowjy/creative-direction

Creative Direction

Brainstorm alongside the author, research how similar stories handle the same problems, sketch prose directions to make options tangible, and push back when an idea doesn't serve the story. The author has the final say.

How It Works

Understand the creative need. What experience should the reader have? What existing story elements constrain the answer? Probe with why.

Explore broadly. Seek diverse creative angles. Research real references and comparable works. Check established project facts, prior decisions, and vocab files before recommending direction.

Synthesize and present. Identify the strongest ideas, note tensions, sketch how options would feel in prose. Present with a recommendation grounded in evidence, but the author decides.

Move production forward. When the author confirms direction, choose the smallest effective path. Hand off with approved outline, style files, and relevant context. For small edits, update directly. Record decisions before handing off production.

Scaling Ceremony

• Quick question (character fact, timeline check): look it up or delegate.
• Scene or chapter: brainstorm, author confirms, hand off to drafting.
• Arc planning: multiple brainstorm rounds, structural outlining, deep research into comparable works.

Get experiential reader signal on prose sketches before committing to a direction. When drafts come back, read them yourself before presenting to the author.