Sort Inbox Scenes into Manuscript

Move scenes from `Manuscript Material/Inbox/` into their proper places within the organized manuscript structure (e.g., `Manuscript Material/Manuscript/` chapter folders).

---

## Instructions

### Phase 1: Confirm Understanding

Before proceeding, repeat your understanding of this task back to the user and wait for confirmation. Your summary should cover:
- What you will move and where
- Your approach for clear placements
- Your approach for ambiguous placements
- How you will handle dramatic pacing
- What you will do with scenes that don't fit anywhere

**Do not proceed until the user confirms your understanding is correct.**

---

### Phase 2: Read and Catalog Inbox Scenes

Review every scene in the Inbox folder(s). For each scene, note:
- **Content summary** — What happens in this scene?
- **Characters involved** — Who appears?
- **Emotional tone** — Is it tense, light, sad, funny, romantic, action-heavy, quiet?
- **Timeline clues** — Any indicators of when this occurs relative to other events?
- **Dependencies** — Does it reference or require events from other scenes?

---

### Phase 3: Read the Existing Manuscript Structure

Review the current manuscript organization to understand:
- Chapter/section breakdown and what each contains
- The narrative timeline as currently structured
- The emotional arc and pacing of each chapter
- Where there are gaps, clusters of similar tone, or natural insertion points

---

### Phase 4: Place Scenes

For each Inbox scene, determine placement using this hierarchy:

#### 1. Clear and Obvious Placement
If a scene **obviously belongs** in a specific chapter:
- It directly continues or sets up events in that chapter
- It takes place in the same location during the same story beat
- Characters are doing exactly what that chapter depicts

→ **Place it there.**

#### 2. Chronological Placement
If the scene doesn't have an obvious home but has temporal/contextual clues:
- Place it in the **general time period** when those characters are active or those events are occurring
- Look for chapters where the characters are mentioned doing similar things
- Find the narrative neighborhood where it fits

→ **Place it in the most logical chronological location.**

#### 3. Dramatic Pacing Placement
When choosing between multiple valid locations, consider **emotional rhythm**:
- If a chapter has many heavy, tense, or sad scenes clustered together → place a lighter, funny, or hopeful scene to provide contrast and breathing room
- If a chapter is all lightness → a scene with tension or weight can add depth
- Vary the emotional texture to maintain reader engagement

→ **Choose the placement that best serves dramatic pacing.**

#### 4. Flag as Orphan
If a scene **truly does not fit anywhere**:
- It contradicts established events
- It involves characters or situations with no clear timeline anchor
- Forcing it in would be awkward or confusing

→ **Do not force it.** Flag it for author decision.

---

### Phase 5: Execute Moves with Git

Use `git mv` to preserve version history:

```bash
git mv "Manuscript Material/Inbox/scene-file.md" "Manuscript Material/Manuscript/07-chapter-name/03-scene-file.md"
```

Rename files as needed to fit the numbering scheme of the destination folder.

---

### Phase 6: Commit and Document

Commit your changes:
```bash
git commit -m "Sort Inbox scenes into manuscript chapters"
```

---

## Output

Produce a **scene placement log**:

```
# Inbox Scene Placement Log

## Summary
- Total Inbox scenes reviewed: [X]
- Scenes placed (clear fit): [X]
- Scenes placed (chronological fit): [X]
- Scenes placed (pacing consideration): [X]
- Scenes flagged as orphans: [X]

---

## Placements

### Clear Fit

| Scene | Placed In | Rationale |
|-------|-----------|-----------|
| `safehouse-breakfast.md` | `07-Safehouse/03-safehouse-breakfast.md` | Direct continuation of safehouse arrival |
| ... | ... | ... |

### Chronological Fit

| Scene | Placed In | Rationale |
|-------|-----------|-----------|
| `team-argument.md` | `08-Planning/02-team-argument.md` | Characters are in planning phase; argument fits this period |
| ... | ... | ... |

### Pacing-Based Placement

| Scene | Placed In | Rationale |
|-------|-----------|-----------|
| `comic-relief-dinner.md` | `06-Aftermath/02-comic-relief-dinner.md` | Chapter 6 had three heavy scenes in a row; this provides tonal contrast |
| ... | ... | ... |

---

## Orphaned Scenes (Require Author Decision)

| Scene | Issue | Suggestion |
|-------|-------|------------|
| `mystery-flashback.md` | No clear timeline anchor; could be chapter 2 or chapter 9 | Author to clarify when this memory occurs |
| `deleted-character-scene.md` | Features a character not in current draft | May be from earlier version; author to decide if character is restored |
| ... | ... | ... |

---

## Pacing Notes

[Any observations about the manuscript's emotional rhythm and how placements address it]

- Chapter 7 was tension-heavy; added two lighter transitional scenes
- Chapter 4 had no quiet moments; inserted reflective scene between action beats
- ...
```

---

## Notes

- **Confirm understanding first** — Do not begin work until the user approves your approach.
- **Read everything before moving anything** — You need full context to make good placement decisions.
- **Clear fit > Chronological fit > Pacing fit** — Use this hierarchy, but pacing should influence choices between otherwise equal options.
- **Don't force it** — If a scene doesn't belong anywhere, flag it. An awkward insertion harms the manuscript more than an honest "I don't know where this goes."
- **Renumber as needed** — When inserting into an existing chapter folder, adjust sequence numbers so files sort correctly.
- **Dramatic pacing is real editorial work** — Varying emotional tone is not arbitrary; it serves reader engagement. Take it seriously.

How to use this prompt