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Writing Methods

What are writing methods?

Section titled “What are writing methods?”

Writing methods are optional structured approaches that guide the AI agent as you develop your story. Each method breaks the creative process into stages — from defining your premise to mapping scenes to writing your draft. The agent adapts its questions, suggestions, and crystallization cards based on which stage you’re on.

Think of a writing method as a creative roadmap. You can follow it closely, skip stages, or remove it entirely. The agent is useful with or without a method active.

Do I have to use a writing method?

Section titled “Do I have to use a writing method?”

No. You can use Wonderthrough without ever selecting a method. The agent will still help you explore your story, build characters, develop your world, and write scenes. Writing methods add optional structure on top of that.

What methods are available?

Section titled “What methods are available?”

Wonderthrough ships with six built-in methods:

  • 15-Beat Story Structure — Map your story to 15 emotional beats. Based on Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. Best for plotters who want clear structural scaffolding.
  • Iterative Expansion — Start with one sentence and expand outward layer by layer. Based on the Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson. Best for planners who like to build from the top down.
  • Character-First Development — Start with your protagonist’s internal misbelief and let the plot emerge from character. Based on Story Genius by Lisa Cron. Best for writers who think character-first.
  • Midpoint-First Structure — Find the emotional heart of your story at the midpoint, then build in both directions. Based on Write Your Novel from the Middle by James Scott Bell. Best for writers who already have an idea but need structure.
  • Discovery Writing — Write first, find structure later. The agent analyzes what you’ve written and helps you discover the patterns that emerged. Best for pantsers and discovery writers.
  • Practical Novel Roadmap — A practical 9-step path from idea to polished manuscript. Based on The Novel Factory Roadmap by Katja Kaine. Best for first-time novelists who want step-by-step guidance.

How do I select a method?

Section titled “How do I select a method?”

Two ways:

  1. From your Book Overview page — scroll to the “Writing Method” section and click “Choose a method.”
  2. The agent may suggest one — after a few turns of conversation, the agent might offer to suggest a method based on what you’ve discussed.

Can I switch methods?

Section titled “Can I switch methods?”

Yes. Click “Change method” on your checklist page or the Book Overview section. Your progress in the current method is preserved — if you switch back later, you’ll pick up where you left off.

Can I remove a method?

Section titled “Can I remove a method?”

Yes. Click “Remove” on the checklist page. The method disappears, but your entities and book fields are untouched — they were created by you, not by the method. If you re-add the same method later, it will recognize what already exists and mark completed stages accordingly.

What happens when I complete a stage?

Section titled “What happens when I complete a stage?”

Stages complete automatically based on what exists in your project. For example, a “Define your premise” stage completes when your book has a premise. A “Create characters” stage completes when you have the required number of characters with the right fields filled in. You don’t need to manually check things off (except for the “Write your draft” stage, which you mark as done yourself).

Can I skip a stage?

Section titled “Can I skip a stage?”

Yes. Each stage has a “Skip” option. Skipped stages count as done for dependency purposes, so later stages can unlock. You can unskip a stage at any time.

Does the method change how the AI talks to me?

Section titled “Does the method change how the AI talks to me?”

Yes. When a method is active, the agent knows which stage you’re on and adjusts its questions and suggestions accordingly. For example, during a “Character Arcs” stage, the agent will ask about your protagonist’s flaw, motivation, and transformation. During a “Scene Mapping” stage, it will help you link scenes to structural beats.

The agent’s tone and pacing also adapt. Early stages use more exploratory conversation before proposing anything concrete. Later stages are more direct.

What is the checklist page?

Section titled “What is the checklist page?”

When a method is active, a “Writing Method” item appears in your navigation sidebar. Clicking it opens the checklist page, which shows all stages with their completion status. Completed stages show what was created (your premise, characters, etc.). The current stage is highlighted with a link to continue the conversation.

Can I create my own method?

Section titled “Can I create my own method?”

Not yet. This is a planned feature. For now, the six built-in methods cover a range of approaches from highly structured (15-Beat) to completely unstructured (Discovery Writing).

The agent suggested a method I’m not sure about. Can I say no?

Section titled “The agent suggested a method I’m not sure about. Can I say no?”

Absolutely. When the agent suggests a method, you can dismiss it with “Not now.” The agent won’t bring it up again in the same session. You can always select a method later from the Book Overview page if you change your mind.

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