Developmental Edit Assessment

Conduct a **developmental edit assessment** of this fiction manuscript. Evaluate the work at the **structural and story level**, as a professional developmental editor would. This assessment focuses on big-picture elements: plot architecture, character arcs, pacing, theme, and narrative strategy.

**This is not the stage for sentence-level polish or grammatical corrections.** Those come later. Focus on whether the story works.

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## Instructions

1. **Review all material** in `Manuscript Material/` and `Supporting Material/` to understand the project's current state.

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 development
   - Specific examples from the manuscript where relevant

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

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## Assessment Domains

### Structure & Plot

- **Narrative architecture** — Does the story have a clear, effective structure (three-act, five-act, nonlinear, etc.)? Does the chosen structure serve the story?
- **Plot coherence and causality** — Do events follow logically? Does each scene cause or enable the next?
- **Subplot integration** — Are subplots woven into the main narrative? Do they enhance or distract?
- **Central conflict clarity** — Is the core conflict clear to the reader? Is it sustained throughout?
- **Stakes and escalation** — Are stakes established early and raised progressively? Does tension build?
- **Resolution** — Does the ending satisfy the narrative promises made? Are threads resolved appropriately?

### Character

- **Protagonist arc** — Does the protagonist change, grow, or fail to grow in a meaningful way? Is the arc earned?
- **Antagonist/opposition** — Is the opposing force credible, dimensional, and sufficient to challenge the protagonist?
- **Supporting cast** — Do secondary characters have distinct purposes? Are there too many, too few, or redundant characters?
- **Motivation clarity** — Are character motivations clear and consistent? Do actions follow from established wants and needs?
- **Backstory integration** — Is backstory revealed organically or dumped? Does it serve present-story tension?

### Point of View

- **POV choice** — Is the chosen POV (first, third limited, omniscient, multiple) the right choice for this story?
- **POV consistency** — Are there unintentional POV violations or head-hopping?
- **Narrative distance** — Is the narrative distance appropriate? Too close? Too distant?

### Pacing

- **Overall pacing** — Does the manuscript drag anywhere (sagging middle)? Rush anywhere (compressed climax)?
- **Act/section balance** — Are the major sections proportionate to their narrative importance?
- **Scene-sequel rhythm** — Is there appropriate alternation between action/tension and reflection/processing?
- **Chapter structure** — Do chapters end with momentum? Are there dead spots?

### Theme

- **Thematic coherence** — Is there a discernible thematic through-line? Does the story have something to say?
- **Subtlety vs. heavy-handedness** — Is theme embedded in action and character, or stated didactically?
- **Thematic resonance** — Do plot and character arcs reinforce theme?

### Tension & Conflict

- **Scene-level conflict** — Does each scene have conflict or tension driving it?
- **Macro tension** — Is there a sustained sense of uncertainty and stakes across the manuscript?
- **Predictability balance** — Are there surprises? Are twists earned or arbitrary?

### Opening & Hook

- **First pages effectiveness** — Do the opening pages establish voice, character, and situation compellingly?
- **Inciting incident** — Is the inciting incident placed effectively? Does it disrupt the status quo clearly?
- **Narrative promise** — Does the opening establish what kind of story this will be?

### World-Building (if applicable)

- **Internal consistency** — Do the world's rules hold up? Are there contradictions?
- **Integration** — Is world-building woven into narrative or delivered as exposition dumps?
- **Depth** — Is the world developed enough for the story's needs? Overdeveloped in irrelevant areas?

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## Output Format

```
# Developmental Edit Assessment

## Executive Summary
[2-3 paragraphs: Overall impression of the manuscript's structural health. What's working at the story level? What fundamental issues need addressing before line-level work makes sense?]

## Domain Assessments

### Structure & Plot
**Strengths:**
**Weaknesses:**
**Specific Examples:**

### Character
**Strengths:**
**Weaknesses:**
**Specific Examples:**

### Point of View
**Strengths:**
**Weaknesses:**
**Specific Examples:**

### Pacing
**Strengths:**
**Weaknesses:**
**Specific Examples:**

### Theme
**Strengths:**
**Weaknesses:**
**Specific Examples:**

### Tension & Conflict
**Strengths:**
**Weaknesses:**
**Specific Examples:**

### Opening & Hook
**Strengths:**
**Weaknesses:**
**Specific Examples:**

### World-Building
**Strengths:**
**Weaknesses:**
**Specific Examples:**

---

## Structural Readiness

[Foundational / Early Draft / Structurally Sound / Ready for Line Edit]

**Foundational** — Major structural work needed; plot or character architecture requires rethinking.
**Early Draft** — Core story present but significant structural revision needed.
**Structurally Sound** — Architecture works; ready for paragraph and scene-level refinement.
**Ready for Line Edit** — Structure is solid; proceed to line editing.

---

## Top Three Structural Priorities
1.
2.
3.

## Top Three Structural Strengths
1.
2.
3.

## Recommended Next Steps
[Concrete, actionable recommendations for structural revision. What should the author tackle first? What can wait?]
```

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## Tone

Be **direct, professional, and constructive**. Developmental editing requires honesty about fundamental issues—but the goal is to help the author see the story clearly and know what to fix, not to discourage. Identify what's broken and what's working.

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## Important Note

**Do not address prose-level or grammatical issues in this assessment.** Those are for later passes. If you notice sentence-level problems, you may note in the executive summary that a line edit will be needed, but do not catalog them here. Stay focused on structure and story.