Line Edit Assessment

Conduct a **line edit assessment** of this fiction manuscript. Evaluate the work at the **paragraph and scene level**, focusing on how the prose flows, how scenes are constructed, consistency issues, and mid-level craft elements.

**Prerequisites:** This assessment assumes the manuscript is **structurally sound**. Major plot, character arc, and pacing issues should be resolved before line editing. If you encounter fundamental structural problems, note them and recommend returning to developmental editing first.

**This is not the stage for grammar and typo correction.** That comes in copyediting. Focus on how scenes read, how paragraphs flow, and whether the prose serves the story effectively.

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## Instructions

1. **Review the manuscript** in `Manuscript Material/` with supporting context from `Supporting Material/`.

2. **Assess the manuscript** across each domain listed below.

3. **Produce a structured report** with:
   - A brief summary of findings for each domain
   - Identification of strengths
   - Identification of weaknesses or areas needing work
   - Specific examples from the manuscript (with locations)

4. **Conclude with**:
   - An overall assessment of line-level readiness
   - The three most critical line-level issues requiring attention
   - The three greatest line-level strengths

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## Assessment Domains

### Scene Construction

- **Scene focus** — Does each scene have a clear purpose? Entry and exit points?
- **Scene beats** — Are beats within scenes clear and well-paced?
- **Transitions** — Are transitions between beats, scenes, and chapters smooth or jarring?
- **Scene length** — Are scenes appropriately sized for their content? Any overstaying their welcome?

### Paragraph Flow

- **Paragraph unity** — Does each paragraph have a coherent focus?
- **Paragraph transitions** — Do paragraphs flow logically into each other?
- **Paragraph length variation** — Is there rhythmic variety, or monotonous uniformity?
- **White space and density** — Are there walls of text? Overly choppy sections?

### Dialogue Craft

- **Dialogue authenticity** — Does dialogue sound natural and speakable?
- **Character voice distinction** — Can you tell who's speaking without tags?
- **Subtext** — Is there meaning beneath the surface, or is dialogue too on-the-nose?
- **Dialogue tags and beats** — Are tags invisible and beats purposeful? Overuse of said-bookisms?
- **Talking heads** — Are characters grounded in action and setting during dialogue, or floating in white space?

### Description and Exposition

- **Sensory grounding** — Are scenes anchored in sensory detail (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)?
- **Exposition integration** — Is information delivered organically or in chunks that stop the narrative?
- **Show vs. tell balance** — Is the manuscript showing when it should show and telling when efficient?
- **Description density** — Over-described? Under-described? Appropriately varied?

### Narrative Voice and Tone

- **Voice consistency** — Is the narrative voice consistent throughout?
- **Tone appropriateness** — Does tone match content? Are tonal shifts intentional and effective?
- **Narrative intrusion** — Does the narrator comment unnecessarily? Break immersion?

### Consistency and Continuity

- **Character consistency** — Names, appearances, speech patterns, established facts
- **Timeline consistency** — Do events occur in logical sequence? Time passage clear?
- **World consistency** — Do established rules and details remain consistent?
- **Naming conventions** — Are character names distinct? Place names consistent? Terminology stable?
- **Factual consistency** — Any contradictions in stated facts?

### Clarity and Reader Orientation

- **Scene grounding** — Does the reader know where they are and who's present?
- **Action clarity** — Can the reader follow what's physically happening?
- **Pronoun clarity** — Are pronoun referents always clear?
- **Chronology clarity** — Is it clear when events are happening relative to each other?

### Repetition (Macro)

- **Scene-level repetition** — Are similar scenes repeated unnecessarily?
- **Information repetition** — Is the same information conveyed multiple times?
- **Pattern repetition** — Do scenes follow the same structure repeatedly?
- **Emotional repetition** — Are the same emotional beats hit redundantly?

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## Output Format

```
# Line Edit Assessment

## Executive Summary
[2-3 paragraphs: Overall impression of the manuscript's line-level craft. Is the prose serving the story? What patterns need addressing? Is it ready for copyediting, or does it need another pass?]

## Structural Check
[Brief confirmation that the manuscript is structurally sound, or note if developmental issues remain that should be addressed first.]

## Domain Assessments

### Scene Construction
**Strengths:**
**Weaknesses:**
**Examples:** [Include chapter/scene references]

### Paragraph Flow
**Strengths:**
**Weaknesses:**
**Examples:**

### Dialogue Craft
**Strengths:**
**Weaknesses:**
**Examples:**

### Description and Exposition
**Strengths:**
**Weaknesses:**
**Examples:**

### Narrative Voice and Tone
**Strengths:**
**Weaknesses:**
**Examples:**

### Consistency and Continuity
**Strengths:**
**Weaknesses:**
**Specific Issues:** [List any continuity errors found with locations]

### Clarity and Reader Orientation
**Strengths:**
**Weaknesses:**
**Examples:**

### Repetition (Macro)
**Strengths:**
**Weaknesses:**
**Examples:**

---

## Line-Level Readiness

[Needs Significant Work / Needs Targeted Revision / Ready for Copyedit]

**Needs Significant Work** — Multiple domains require substantial revision; another line edit pass recommended after changes.
**Needs Targeted Revision** — Specific issues to address, but most of the manuscript is solid.
**Ready for Copyedit** — Line-level craft is strong; proceed to sentence-level polish.

---

## Top Three Line-Level Priorities
1.
2.
3.

## Top Three Line-Level Strengths
1.
2.
3.

## Continuity Issues Log
[If continuity errors were found, list them here with locations for easy correction]

| Issue | Location | Notes |
|-------|----------|-------|
| Character eye color changes | Ch. 3, Ch. 7 | Blue in Ch. 3, green in Ch. 7 |
| ... | ... | ... |

## Recommended Next Steps
[Concrete, actionable recommendations for line-level revision. Which issues are most pervasive? Which are quick fixes?]
```

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## Tone

Be **specific, practical, and constructive**. Line editing is detail work—vague feedback isn't useful. Point to specific passages, name specific patterns. The goal is to give the author a clear map of what needs attention at this level.

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## Important Notes

- **Do not catalog grammar, spelling, or typos** — That's copyediting. If the manuscript has significant mechanical issues, note it generally and recommend a copyedit pass, but don't list individual errors.
- **Do not re-litigate structural issues** — If you see a structural problem (plot hole, arc issue), note it briefly and recommend revisiting developmental editing, but don't conduct a full structural assessment here.
- **Be specific with locations** — Reference chapters, scenes, or page/paragraph numbers so the author can find issues.