# Writing

A story is a single `.md` or `.mdx` file. With the deck format, every scene is a slide:

1. an optional **front matter** block (title, author, aspect ratio, theme…);
2. **scenes** separated by `---` lines, each one optionally carrying its own options
   (`--- layout=grid cols=3`);
3. inside each scene, regular Markdown plus **directives** (`:::card`, `:::step`, `:::notes`…).

This syntax is shared by every format: the [formats overview](/formats/overview) shows how the same
scenes will become video shots, report sections or webtoon panels.

<FeatureGrid cols={3}>
  <FeatureCard icon="✂️" title="Slides" description="Separators, front matter, slide options and inline elements." href="/documentation/writing/scenes" />
  <FeatureCard icon="🧱" title="Layouts" description="Grid, columns, image left / right, background image, cover." href="/formats/deck/layouts" />
  <FeatureCard icon="🧮" title="Code, math & diagrams" description="Shiki highlighting, tabbed code, KaTeX and Mermaid." href="/documentation/writing/code-math-diagrams" />
  <FeatureCard icon="🗒️" title="Notes & steps" description="Speaker notes and progressive reveal." href="/documentation/writing/notes-and-steps" />
  <FeatureCard icon="⚛️" title="MDX" description="JSX components and expressions in your slides." href="/documentation/writing/mdx" />
  <FeatureCard icon="🧩" title="Components" description="The full component catalog, on components.recit.dev." site="components" />
</FeatureGrid>