SoloEnt.md - SoloEnt Hankbook

SOLOENT.md is the Central Control Panel for writing projects in SoloEnt — the AI’s long-term memory that records your story’s DNA, tracks progress, and maintains consistency across tens of thousands of words. It’s optional, designed for medium to long-form writing. Shorter tasks may not need it — enable it when your project calls for it.

Like CLAUDE.md in coding projects, SOLOENT.md is the instruction manual for AI. It tells the AI what this project is about, how to write it, and where you are in the journey.

When to use SOLOENT.md

Good fit:

Medium to long-form writing (novels, series, multi-chapter stories)
Projects spanning multiple writing sessions that need consistency
Stories with complex world-building, multiple characters, or careful foreshadowing

Not necessary for:

Short stories or tasks completed in a single session
Lightweight writing that doesn’t require cross-session context tracking

Long-form writing faces a unique challenge: context drift. The AI might forget:

The magic system rules you established in Chapter 1
A character’s motivation from three chapters ago
The foreshadowing you carefully planted
The tone and style you’ve been building

SOLOENT.md solves this by serving as the Single Source of Truth for your entire project.

The 8 Core Sections

Every SOLOENT.md is structured into 8 sections, each with a specific purpose and lifecycle.

1. Project DNA (Foundation)

Lifecycle: Static (Initialized once)

This section rarely changes after initialization. It defines the soul of your project.

Defines the core identity of your project:

Genre: Sci-fi, Romance, Mystery, etc.
Core Themes: What the story is really about (e.g., “redemption,” “power corrupts”)
Target Audience: Who will read this?
Emotional Promise: What feeling should readers take away?
Word Count / Milestone Plan: Scope and structure

Example:

## 1. Project DNA (Foundation)
- **Genre**: Psychological Horror / Supernatural
- **Core themes**: Paranoia, gaslighting, isolation, unreliable memory
- **Target audience**: Adult horror readers (18+)
- **Emotional promise**: A suffocating descent into madness
- **Word count / milestone plan**: ~20,000 words, 8-10 chapters

2. World System (Rules & Index)

Lifecycle: Semi-static (Updated as world expands)

Add new locations, rules, or systems as your world grows. Core rules should remain stable.

Records the rules of your fictional world to prevent logical conflicts:

Core World Rules: Magic systems, technology levels, social structures
World Index: Links to detailed world-building documents

Example:

## 2. World System (Rules & Index)

### 2.1 Core World Rules (Summary)
> Reality is unstable within the Building. Small changes accumulate. 
> Memory cannot be trusted. Physical evidence disappears or transforms.

### 2.2 World Index (Pointers)
- [The Building] -> `world/the-building.md`
- [Magic System] -> `world/magic-system.md`

Use index pointers for complex settings. Keep SOLOENT.md concise by storing detailed world-building in separate files.

3. Characters (Index & Relations)

Lifecycle: Semi-static (Updated as characters are added)

Add new characters as they appear. Update relationships when dynamics shift significantly.

Tracks not just names, but the dynamic state and relationships of characters:

Character Index: Main and supporting cast with links to detailed profiles
Relationship Network: Visual or text-based relationship map

Example:

## 3. Characters (Index & Relations)

### 3.1 Character Index (Concise)
- **Mei Chen** (32, Translator, Protagonist) -> `characters/mei-chen.md`
- **The Landlord** (Age unknown, Building superintendent)

### 3.2 Relationship Network (Summary)
- Mei Chen → The Landlord: Polite distance, growing unease
- Mei Chen → Previous Tenant: Parasitic connection, identity bleed

4. Plot & Structure (Index)

Lifecycle: Semi-static (Updated if outline changes)

The overall structure is stable, but you may adjust chapter breakdowns as you write.

Provides macro-level control of the story flow:

Story Structure: Three-Act, Hero’s Journey, or custom structure
Outline Index: Links to detailed chapter outlines

Example:

## 4. Plot & Structure (Index)

### 4.1 Story Structure
- **Act I (Ch. 1-3)**: Establishment - Mei moves in, small wrongness begins
- **Act II (Ch. 4-6)**: Escalation - Reality fractures
- **Act III (Ch. 7-8)**: Climax - The horrifying truth emerges

### 4.2 Outline Index (Pointers)
- [Master Outline] -> `outline/master-outline.md`
- [Chapter Breakdown 01] -> `outline/chapter-breakdown-01.md`

5. Stylistic Guidelines (Deep Deconstruction)

Lifecycle: Static (Unless style shifts)

Set this once and adjust only if you need to course-correct the AI’s writing style.

The most powerful section for tuning AI writing style:

Base Tone: Overall atmosphere (e.g., “Claustrophobic, oppressive”)
Language & Rhetoric: Sentence structure, word choice, literary devices
Dialogue Style: How characters speak
Pacing Rules: Chapter rhythm and tension management

Example:

## 5. Stylistic Guidelines (Deep Deconstruction)

- **Base Tone**: Claustrophobic, oppressive, quietly unhinged
- **Language & Rhetoric**: Clean, restrained prose that fractures alongside 
  the protagonist's mind. Short sentences during panic.
- **Dialogue Style**: Sparse. Conversations feel slightly off—people almost 
  say what they mean.
- **Pacing Rules**: Slow burn with sudden stabs of terror. Each chapter 
  ends on a hook.

Be specific in this section. “Write beautifully” is vague. “Use short, punchy sentences under 15 words” is actionable.

6. Key Notes & Soft Constraints

Lifecycle: Auto-Updated + User Updated (Hybrid)

Auto-Updated: The Agent learns from your feedback and revision requests, automatically extracting your preferences and constraints.User Updated: You can also manually add constraints anytime to steer the AI.

Your direct instructions to the AI:

Narrative Taboos: What NOT to write (e.g., “No romance subplot”)
User Constraints: Specific requirements you care about

Use this section to fix recurring issues. If the AI keeps adding romance when you don’t want it, add “No romantic subplots” to Narrative Taboos.

Example:

## 6. Key Notes & Soft Constraints

### Narrative Taboos
- No jump scares as primary horror device
- No excessive gore (psychological horror is the focus)
- Avoid explaining too much—ambiguity is the weapon

### User Constraints
- Psychological horror focus: paranoia, gaslighting, mind games
- Reader should question what's real alongside protagonist

🧠 Intelligent Learning SystemThis section has a special power: it learns from your feedback automatically.When you ask the Agent to revise something:

“Make the dialogue less formal” → Adds constraint: “Keep dialogue casual and natural”
“Remove excessive descriptions” → Adds taboo: “No purple prose or over-description”
“The pacing is too slow” → Adds guideline: “Tighten pacing, cut unnecessary scenes”

Over time, SOLOENT.md becomes a personalized style guide that captures YOUR unique writing preferences.

7. Active Writing State (Dynamic Context)

Lifecycle: Auto-Updated (After every writing session)

The Agent automatically updates this section as you write. You rarely need to touch it manually.

The most dynamic section, updated by the Agent after every writing session:

Current Status: Where are we in the story?
Character Snapshot: Current physical/mental state of characters
Recent Plot Flow: Summary of what just happened
Pending Threads: Open plot hooks and foreshadowing to remember
Execution Review: Quality check for the latest chapter

Example:

## 7. Active Writing State (Dynamic Context)

### 7.1 Current Status
- **Current Chapter**: Chapter 2 - "Moving In" (Completed)
- **Story Time**: November 1st, 3:17 AM (first night in apartment)
- **Current Location**: Apartment 4C, bedroom
- **Immediate Atmosphere**: Terror, sleeplessness, questioning sanity

### 7.2 Character Snapshot
- **Mei Chen**: Terrified, sleep-deprived, finding notes in her own 
  handwriting, fearing she's inherited her grandmother's mental illness

### 7.3 Recent Plot Flow
- **Ch.1**: Mei viewed 4C, met Mr. Kadir, signed lease
- **Ch.2**: Moving day—elevator broken, lost time, duplicate cup appeared

### 7.4 Pending Threads
- **Urgent Hooks**: The note from her dream, the duplicate cups
- **Active Foreshadowing**: The closet door that won't latch
- **Next Chapter Goal**: The notes continue and escalate

This section is why SOLOENT.md works. It gives the AI perfect memory of where you left off.

8. Project Roadmap & Milestones

Lifecycle: Auto-Updated (As tasks complete)

The Agent checks off tasks and logs milestones as you progress. You can manually add new tasks anytime.

Tracks the project’s progress and next steps:

Current Focus: What is the immediate task?
Todo List: Checklist of upcoming chapters or tasks
Milestone Log: History of completed major goals

Example:

## 8. Project Roadmap & Milestones

### 8.1 Current Focus & Next Steps
- **Phase**: First Draft Sprint
- **Core Task**: Writing Chapter 3 - "The Notes"
- **Todo List**:
  - [x] Initialize SOLOENT.md
  - [x] Write Chapter 1
  - [x] Write Chapter 2
  - [ ] Write Chapter 3
  - [ ] Write Chapters 4-9

### 8.2 Milestone Log
- [Completed] Project initialized with psychological horror focus
- [Completed] Chapter 1 completed - Established unsettling atmosphere
- [Completed] Chapter 2 completed - First major horror beats delivered

How SOLOENT.md is Generated

Manual Initialization (/init)

SOLOENT.md is not generated automatically. You can create it at any stage of your project using the /init command:

Type /init in the chat

Send the /init command at any point in a writing session, regardless of the project stage.

Agent gathers project info

The Agent organizes information about genre, themes, characters, and plot — based on existing content or by asking questions.

SOLOENT.md is generated

Based on the current project state, SOLOENT.md is created with all 8 sections and saved in the project root.

You don’t have to create it at the start. Running /init later — once you feel the project needs context tracking — works just as well.

Automatic Updates

Once SOLOENT.md exists, the Agent automatically maintains it as you write:

Trigger	What Gets Updated
Finish a chapter	Section 7 (Active Writing State) - Recent Plot Flow, Character Snapshot
Complete a task	Section 8 (Project Roadmap) - Todo List, Milestone Log
Add new character	Section 3 (Characters) - Character Index
Establish new rule	Section 2 (World System) - Core World Rules
Request revisions	Section 6 (Key Notes & Constraints) - Learns your preferences and adds constraints

The Agent updates SOLOENT.md silently in the background. Once the file exists, you don’t need to ask for updates — they happen automatically.

How to Maintain SOLOENT.md

Agent Maintenance (Automatic)

The Agent handles routine updates:

✅ Summarizing completed chapters
✅ Tracking pending plot threads
✅ Updating character states
✅ Checking off completed tasks

User Maintenance (Manual)

You control the creative direction:

Refine Style

Edit Section 5 to adjust tone, pacing, or dialogue style if the AI’s writing feels off.

Set Boundaries

Update Section 6 to add narrative taboos or constraints when the story drifts.

Steer Direction

Modify Section 7.4 (Pending Threads) to prioritize certain plot lines.

Add New Ideas

Insert new characters, locations, or rules into Sections 2-3 as inspiration strikes.

Best Practices

1. Keep it Fresh

A stale SOLOENT.md leads to poor AI performance. If Section 7 (Active Writing State) is outdated, the AI will write as if you’re still in Chapter 2 when you’re actually on Chapter 8.

How to keep it fresh:

Let the Agent update it after each chapter
Review Section 7 at the start of each writing session
Manually sync if you skip chapters or rewrite sections

2. Be Explicit About What You Don’t Want

The AI is eager to please, which sometimes means adding things you didn’t ask for. Use Section 6 (Narrative Taboos) to set hard boundaries:

### Narrative Taboos
- No sudden superpowers for the protagonist
- No deus ex machina rescues
- No romantic subplot
- No excessive exposition dumps

3. Use Indexes for Complex Settings

Don’t bloat SOLOENT.md with 10 pages of magic system details. Instead, use pointers:

### 2.2 World Index (Pointers)
- [Magic System] -> `world/magic-system.md`
- [Political Structure] -> `world/politics.md`
- [Geography] -> `world/map.md`

The Agent can read these files when needed, keeping the main control panel clean.

4. Load Context at Session Start

At the beginning of each writing session, mention SOLOENT.md in your prompt (e.g., “Let’s continue writing. Check SOLOENT.md for context.”). This ensures the AI loads the latest state.

5. Review Before Major Decisions

Before writing a climactic chapter or making a major plot decision:

Read through SOLOENT.md yourself
Check if pending threads from Section 7.4 need resolution
Verify character states in Section 7.2 match your intent

Maintenance Workflow

Write a chapter

Work with the Agent to draft your chapter.

Agent auto-updates

After completion, the Agent updates Section 7 (Active Writing State) and Section 8 (Roadmap).

Review updates

Quickly scan the updates to ensure accuracy.

Manual adjustments (optional)

If you want to steer the next chapter differently, edit Section 7.4 (Pending Threads) or Section 6 (Constraints).

Start next session

Begin your next writing session by referencing SOLOENT.md for context.

Update Frequency by Section

Section	Update Frequency	Who Updates
1. Project DNA	Once at initialization	User (rarely changes)
2. World System	When world expands	Agent + User
3. Characters	When characters are added	Agent + User
4. Plot & Structure	If outline changes	User
5. Stylistic Guidelines	If style needs correction	User
6. Key Notes & Constraints	After revisions + Anytime	Agent (learns from feedback) + User
7. Active Writing State	After every chapter	Agent (auto)
8. Project Roadmap	As tasks complete	Agent (auto)

Common Pitfalls

Letting Section 7 get outdated

Problem: You write 3 chapters without updating Active Writing State.Result: The AI forgets recent plot developments and writes inconsistently.Solution: Let the Agent update after each chapter, or manually sync before starting a new session.

Vague style guidelines

Problem: Section 5 says “Write beautifully” or “Make it exciting.”Result: The AI doesn’t know what you mean and defaults to generic prose.Solution: Be specific. “Use sentences under 15 words. Focus on tactile sensory details. Avoid adverbs.”

Forgetting to use indexes

Problem: You paste 20 pages of world-building directly into SOLOENT.md.Result: The file becomes bloated and hard to navigate.Solution: Keep summaries in SOLOENT.md, store details in linked files.

Not setting narrative taboos

Problem: You don’t explicitly state what you don’t want.Result: The AI adds a romance subplot you hate, or resolves tension too quickly.Solution: Use Section 6 to clearly state “No romance,” “No easy solutions,” etc.

Advanced Tips

For Multi-POV Stories

Create character snapshots for each POV in Section 7.2:

### 7.2 Character Snapshot
- **Protagonist A** (POV 1): Currently in the castle, unaware of the betrayal
- **Protagonist B** (POV 2): Just discovered the truth, planning revenge

For Non-Linear Narratives

Track story time vs. narrative time in Section 7.1:

### 7.1 Current Status
- **Current Chapter**: Chapter 5 (Flashback)
- **Story Time**: 1995 (20 years before main timeline)
- **Narrative Time**: Revealing why the protagonist fears water

For Series or Sequels

Link to previous books’ SOLOENT.md files:

## 1. Project DNA (Foundation)
- **Series**: Book 2 of "The Dark Trilogy"
- **Previous Book**: [Book 1 SOLOENT.md] -> `../book-1/SOLOENT.md`

​When to use SOLOENT.md

​The 8 Core Sections

​1. Project DNA (Foundation)

​2. World System (Rules & Index)

​3. Characters (Index & Relations)

​4. Plot & Structure (Index)

​5. Stylistic Guidelines (Deep Deconstruction)

​6. Key Notes & Soft Constraints

​7. Active Writing State (Dynamic Context)

​8. Project Roadmap & Milestones

​How SOLOENT.md is Generated

​Manual Initialization (/init)

​Automatic Updates

​How to Maintain SOLOENT.md

​Agent Maintenance (Automatic)

​User Maintenance (Manual)

Refine Style

Set Boundaries

Steer Direction

Add New Ideas

​Best Practices

​1. Keep it Fresh

​2. Be Explicit About What You Don’t Want

​3. Use Indexes for Complex Settings

​4. Load Context at Session Start

​5. Review Before Major Decisions

​Maintenance Workflow

​Update Frequency by Section

​Common Pitfalls

​Advanced Tips

​For Multi-POV Stories

​For Non-Linear Narratives

​For Series or Sequels

​More Advanced Tips

Plan Mode

Commands

When to use SOLOENT.md

The 8 Core Sections

1. Project DNA (Foundation)

2. World System (Rules & Index)

3. Characters (Index & Relations)

4. Plot & Structure (Index)

5. Stylistic Guidelines (Deep Deconstruction)

6. Key Notes & Soft Constraints

7. Active Writing State (Dynamic Context)

8. Project Roadmap & Milestones

How SOLOENT.md is Generated

Manual Initialization (/init)

Automatic Updates

How to Maintain SOLOENT.md

Agent Maintenance (Automatic)

User Maintenance (Manual)

Best Practices

1. Keep it Fresh

2. Be Explicit About What You Don’t Want

3. Use Indexes for Complex Settings

4. Load Context at Session Start

5. Review Before Major Decisions

Maintenance Workflow

Update Frequency by Section

Common Pitfalls

Advanced Tips

For Multi-POV Stories

For Non-Linear Narratives

For Series or Sequels

More Advanced Tips