Book Requirements Document (BRD) Creation

This skill provides comprehensive guidance for creating a complete Book Requirements Document through systematic interviewing and structured analysis.

BRD Template Structure

A complete BRD captures everything needed before task generation:

# Book Requirements Document

## Core
- **Working Title**:
- **Genre/Category**:
- **Target Word Count**:
- **Target Audience**:

## Thesis/Premise
- **One-Sentence Summary**:
- **Core Argument/Narrative Question**:
- **Reader Takeaway**:

## Structure
- **Format**: (chapters, parts, sections)
- **POV**: (first, third, omniscient)
- **Tense**: (past, present)
- **Timeline**: (linear, non-linear, multiple)

## Voice
- **Tone**: (academic, conversational, literary, journalistic)
- **Comparable Titles**: ("X meets Y")
- **Sample Passage**: (if available)

## Characters (Fiction) / Key Concepts (Non-Fiction)
| Name | Description | Relationships |
|------|-------------|---------------|
|      |             |               |

## Research Sources
### Primary Sources
-

### Secondary Sources
-

### URLs for Ingestion
-

## Constraints
### Must Include
-

### Must Avoid
-

### Sensitivity Considerations
-

## Milestones
- [ ] BRD Complete
- [ ] Initial Corpus Ingested
- [ ] Research Complete
- [ ] Outline Approved
- [ ] First Draft Complete
- [ ] Edit Pass Complete
- [ ] Final Draft

Systematic Question Framework

Ask questions in this order to build a complete picture. Each section builds on previous answers.

1. Core Questions

Purpose: Establish the fundamentals that guide all other decisions.

• "What's your working title, or what would you like to call this project for now?"
• "What genre or category does this fall into?" (fiction, nonfiction, memoir, technical, hybrid)
• "What's your target word count?" (helps determine scope and structure)
• "Who is your target audience?" (age, background, interests, reading level)

Follow-up probes:

• If audience unclear: "Who needs this book? What problem does it solve for them?"
• If word count vague: "Are you thinking novella (20-40k), standard novel (60-90k), epic (100k+), or something else?"

2. Thesis/Premise Questions

Purpose: Clarify the central idea that holds the book together.

• "Can you summarize this book in one sentence?"
• For fiction: "What's the central question or conflict your protagonist faces?"
• For nonfiction: "What's the core argument or thesis you're making?"
• "What should readers take away after finishing?"

Follow-up probes:

• If summary too detailed: "What's the elevator pitch version?"
• If takeaway unclear: "If readers remember only one thing, what should it be?"
• "What makes this different from similar books?"

3. Structure Questions

Purpose: Determine the organizational framework.

• "How will you structure this?" (chapters, parts, acts, sections, essays)
• Fiction-specific: "What POV?" (first person, third limited, omniscient, multiple POVs)
• Fiction-specific: "What tense?" (past, present, future)
• "Is the timeline linear, or will you use flashbacks, multiple timelines, or non-chronological structure?"

Follow-up probes:

• If structure uncertain: "Do you have a natural breaking point in mind, like acts or major sections?"
• For multiple POVs: "Which characters get POV chapters?"
• For complex timelines: "How many timelines, and how will you signal shifts?"

4. Voice Questions

Purpose: Define the style and tone.

• "How would you describe the tone?" (academic, conversational, literary, journalistic, humorous, dark, lyrical)
• "What books are comparable in style or approach?" (use "X meets Y" format)
• "Do you have any sample passages that capture the voice you're aiming for?"

Follow-up probes:

• If tone vague: "Is it formal or casual? Technical or accessible? Serious or playful?"
• "How much authorial presence do you want? Invisible narrator or strong voice?"
• For nonfiction: "Will you use 'I', 'we', or stay third-person objective?"

5. Characters/Concepts Questions

Purpose: Identify key entities (people for fiction, ideas for nonfiction).

For Fiction:

• "Who are your main characters?"
• For each character: "What's their role, motivation, and key relationships?"
• "Are there important secondary characters?"

For Nonfiction:

• "What are the key concepts or ideas you'll explore?"
• For each concept: "How does it relate to your thesis?"
• "Are there case studies, examples, or recurring themes?"

Follow-up probes:

• "Who changes the most over the course of the book?"
• "Are there antagonistic forces (characters, systems, ideas)?"
• "What relationships drive the narrative/argument?"

6. Research Sources Questions

Purpose: Identify existing knowledge and gaps.

• "What research have you already done?"
• "Do you have primary sources?" (interviews, documents, firsthand experience)
• "What secondary sources will you draw from?" (books, articles, papers)
• "Are there URLs, PDFs, or files you want to ingest as starting material?"

Follow-up probes:

• "What areas do you still need to research?"
• "Are there specific experts, archives, or databases you plan to consult?"
• "For fiction: What factual elements need research?" (historical periods, technical details, locations)

7. Constraints Questions

Purpose: Clarify boundaries and sensitivities.

• "Is there anything you must include?" (themes, scenes, arguments, acknowledgments)
• "Is there anything you want to avoid?" (clichés, topics, approaches)
• "Are there sensitivity considerations?" (trauma, cultural representation, controversial topics)

Follow-up probes:

• "Who might critique this work, and what concerns might they raise?"
• "Are there legal, ethical, or personal boundaries?"
• "Do you have publisher requirements or format constraints?"

Best Practices for Thorough Interviewing

Ask Open-Ended Questions First

Start broad ("Tell me about this book") before narrowing ("What's the inciting incident?").

Listen for Gaps

If an answer is vague, probe deeper. "Can you say more about that?" is your friend.

Reflect Back

Paraphrase answers to confirm understanding: "So you're saying the protagonist's core conflict is..."

Watch for Contradictions

If structure says "linear" but plot summary jumps timelines, ask which is correct.

Don't Rush

A complete BRD may take 15-20 questions. Incomplete BRDs lead to poor task generation.

Confirm Key Details

Before finalizing, summarize the BRD and ask: "Does this capture your vision?"

Genre-Specific Considerations

Fiction

• Plot arc: Three-act structure, hero's journey, episodic?
• Character development: Who has the most significant arc?
• Setting: Time period, location, world-building needs
• Subplots: Romance, mystery, secondary character arcs?
• Tone consistency: Comic relief in thriller? Dark humor in literary fiction?

Nonfiction

• Argument structure: Thesis-driven, exploratory, case study-based?
• Evidence types: Academic research, interviews, personal narrative, data?
• Reader engagement: Prescriptive (how-to) or descriptive (analysis)?
• Authority: How do you establish credibility?
• Examples: Will you use anecdotes, case studies, statistics?

Memoir

• Truth vs narrative: How will you balance factual accuracy with story?
• Privacy: Whose stories are you telling, and do you have permission?
• Time span: Entire life or focused period?
• Thematic focus: What's the through-line beyond chronology?

Technical/Reference

• Audience expertise: Beginner, intermediate, expert?
• Completeness: Comprehensive reference or focused guide?
• Examples: Code samples, diagrams, step-by-step tutorials?
• Updates: How will you handle changing information?

Validation Criteria for Complete BRD

Before marking a BRD complete, verify:

• All core fields populated (title, genre, word count, audience)
• Clear one-sentence summary exists
• Structure is defined (format, POV/approach, timeline)
• Voice/tone is described with examples
• Key entities (characters/concepts) are named with descriptions
• Research sources are identified (even if "none yet")
• Constraints section addresses must-include, must-avoid, sensitivities
• No contradictions between sections (e.g., POV vs sample passage)
• User confirms BRD captures their vision

Storage

Once complete:

1. Generate

   BRD.md

   file in project root
2. Store in database with

   CREATE brd SET content=$brd_content, version=1

3. Confirm file creation and database entry to user