Story Critic is an AI skill for ChatGPT and Claude, developed by Mountain Goat Software, that coaches teams on writing better product backlog items. It evaluates each item on two dimensions: a headline coaching assessment (six levels from 'Not Yet a Story' to 'Ready for Implementation') and backlog placement guidance (whether the detail level is appropriate for near-term or lower-backlog items). The skill focuses on outcome clarity, scope focus, testability, and backlog fit rather than rigid formatting rules. It supports quick critique, full critique, batch review, and rewrite-only output modes. Teams can customize the skill by editing its rubric, adding domain-specific examples, and tuning vocabulary, strictness, and story-splitting preferences. It is available as a downloadable zip for ChatGPT/Claude or through a free Mountain Goat Essentials account.
