diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/create.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/create.ts
index 59146969..b171a7e5 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/create.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/create.ts
@@ -9,18 +9,17 @@ export function registerCreate(program: Command): void {
     .requiredOption("-t, --title <title>", "Storyline title")
     .requiredOption("-f, --file <path>", "Path to content file (plain text)")
     .requiredOption("-g, --genre <genre>", "Genre label")
-    .option("-d, --deadline", "Enable sunset deadline", false)
-    .action(async (opts: { title: string; file: string; genre: string; deadline: boolean }) => {
+    .action(async (opts: { title: string; file: string; genre: string }) => {
       try {
         const content = readFileSync(opts.file, "utf-8");
         const client = buildClient({ ipfs: true });
 
-        console.log(`Creating storyline "${opts.title}"...`);
+        console.log(`Creating storyline "${opts.title}" (7-day deadline)...`);
         const result = await client.createStoryline(
           opts.title,
           content,
           opts.genre,
-          opts.deadline,
+          true,
         );
 
         console.log("Storyline created!");
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/status.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/status.ts
index ae9a15e5..62cc346c 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/status.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/status.ts
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ export function registerStatus(program: Command): void {
 
           // Deadline remaining (72h from last plot)
           if (dbRow.has_deadline && dbRow.last_plot_time && !dbRow.sunset) {
-            const DEADLINE_HOURS = 72;
+            const DEADLINE_HOURS = 168;
             const deadlineMs =
               new Date(dbRow.last_plot_time).getTime() + DEADLINE_HOURS * 60 * 60 * 1000;
             const remainingMs = deadlineMs - Date.now();
diff --git a/packages/sdk/src/client.ts b/packages/sdk/src/client.ts
index 8e1b8481..d0df7320 100644
--- a/packages/sdk/src/client.ts
+++ b/packages/sdk/src/client.ts
@@ -194,14 +194,14 @@ export class PlotLink {
    * @param title - Storyline title
    * @param content - Opening plot content (plain text)
    * @param genre - Genre label (stored off-chain; used for agent URI composition)
-   * @param hasDeadline - Whether the storyline has a sunset deadline (default: false)
+   * @param hasDeadline - Whether the storyline has a sunset deadline (default: true, mandatory 7-day)
    * @returns The storyline ID, transaction hash, and IPFS CID
    */
   async createStoryline(
     title: string,
     content: string,
     genre: string,
-    hasDeadline = false,
+    hasDeadline = true,
   ): Promise<CreateStorylineResult> {
     this.requireFilebase();
     validateNonEmpty("title", title);
diff --git a/src/app/create/page.tsx b/src/app/create/page.tsx
index e54f60f1..3e1c1554 100644
--- a/src/app/create/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/create/page.tsx
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export default function CreateStorylinePage() {
   const { isConnected } = useAccount();
   const [title, setTitle] = useState("");
   const [content, setContent] = useState("");
-  const [hasDeadline, setHasDeadline] = useState(false);
+  const hasDeadline = true; // mandatory 7-day deadline for all storylines
 
   const { state, error, execute, reset } = usePublish();
   const { valid, charCount } = validateContentLength(content);
@@ -134,22 +134,10 @@ export default function CreateStorylinePage() {
           </div>
         </div>
 
-        {/* Deadline toggle */}
-        <label className="flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-3">
-          <input
-            type="checkbox"
-            checked={hasDeadline}
-            onChange={(e) => setHasDeadline(e.target.checked)}
-            disabled={busy}
-            className="accent-accent h-4 w-4"
-          />
-          <span className="text-foreground text-sm">
-            Enable 72h deadline
-          </span>
-          <span className="text-muted text-xs">
-            Story sunsets if no new plot within 72 hours
-          </span>
-        </label>
+        {/* Deadline info */}
+        <p className="text-muted text-xs">
+          All storylines have a 7-day deadline — the story sunsets if no new plot is added within 7 days.
+        </p>
 
         {/* Status */}
         {state === "error" && (
diff --git a/src/app/dashboard/writer/page.tsx b/src/app/dashboard/writer/page.tsx
index 678e2785..03f5fe2b 100644
--- a/src/app/dashboard/writer/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/dashboard/writer/page.tsx
@@ -131,11 +131,9 @@ function StorylineDetail({ storyline, writerAddress }: { storyline: Storyline; w
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      {!storyline.sunset &&
-        storyline.has_deadline &&
-        storyline.last_plot_time && (
-          <DeadlineCountdown lastPlotTime={storyline.last_plot_time} />
-        )}
+      {!storyline.sunset && storyline.last_plot_time && (
+        <DeadlineCountdown lastPlotTime={storyline.last_plot_time} />
+      )}
 
       {storyline.token_address && (
         <>
diff --git a/src/app/story/[storylineId]/page.tsx b/src/app/story/[storylineId]/page.tsx
index e25828eb..2f2ac8f9 100644
--- a/src/app/story/[storylineId]/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/story/[storylineId]/page.tsx
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ function StoryHeader({
             {storyline.plot_count} {storyline.plot_count === 1 ? "plot" : "plots"} total
           </span>
         </div>
-      ) : storyline.has_deadline && storyline.last_plot_time ? (
+      ) : storyline.last_plot_time ? (
         <DeadlineCountdown lastPlotTime={storyline.last_plot_time} />
       ) : null}
     </header>
diff --git a/src/components/DeadlineCountdown.tsx b/src/components/DeadlineCountdown.tsx
index 07cb5a9b..133423d8 100644
--- a/src/components/DeadlineCountdown.tsx
+++ b/src/components/DeadlineCountdown.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 import { useState, useEffect } from "react";
 
-const DEADLINE_HOURS = 72;
+const DEADLINE_HOURS = 168;
 
 export function DeadlineCountdown({ lastPlotTime }: { lastPlotTime: string }) {
   const [remaining, setRemaining] = useState<number | null>(null);