Revision and editing assistant for Crucible-drafted novels. Use when author has completed a first draft and wants to revise, edit, or polish their manuscript. Handles developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, and final polish. Triggers on "edit my novel," "revise chapter X," "polish my manuscript," "help me edit," or when user has completed draft chapters and wants to improve them.
This skill inherits all available tools. When active, it can use any tool Claude has access to.
references/copy-editing-standards.mdreferences/developmental-checklist.mdreferences/line-editing-guide.mdreferences/polish-techniques.mdscripts/compile_edited.pyscripts/diff_report.pyscripts/init_edit.pyscripts/save_edit.pyRevision and editing assistant for Crucible-drafted novels, handling developmental editing through final polish.
The Crucible Editor provides structured editing support at four levels:
Read these references based on editing phase:
references/developmental-checklist.md — Structure and story issuesreferences/line-editing-guide.md — Prose improvement techniquesreferences/copy-editing-standards.md — Grammar and style rulesreferences/polish-techniques.md — Final refinement methodsCRITICAL: Use the AskUserQuestion tool, NOT plain text A/B/C options.
Before editing can begin, gather:
Phase 1: ASSESSMENT → Load draft, identify editing level needed
Phase 2: DEVELOPMENTAL → Structure and story issues (if needed)
Phase 3: LINE EDITING → Prose improvement scene-by-scene
Phase 4: COPY EDITING → Grammar and consistency pass
Phase 5: POLISH → Final refinement
Phase 6: COMPILE → Generate edited manuscript
Request the draft material:
To begin editing, I need:
1. **The chapter(s) to edit** — paste or specify file location
2. **Any specific concerns?** (Optional)
- Areas you feel need work
- Feedback from readers/critique partners
- Issues flagged in bi-chapter reviews
Then use AskUserQuestion for editing scope:
{
"questions": [
{
"header": "Edit Scope",
"question": "What level of editing do you want?",
"options": [
{"label": "Full edit", "description": "All levels: developmental, line, copy, and polish"},
{"label": "Developmental only", "description": "Structure, pacing, character arcs, plot coherence"},
{"label": "Line editing only", "description": "Scene-level prose improvement, voice consistency"},
{"label": "Copy/Polish only", "description": "Grammar, consistency, final refinement"}
],
"multiSelect": false
}
]
}
After loading, provide:
**EDITING ASSESSMENT: Chapter [X]**
Word Count: [X,XXX]
Overall Quality: [Draft/Rough/Polished]
**Developmental Issues Found:**
- [ ] None / [List specific issues]
**Line Editing Needs:**
- [ ] Minimal / Moderate / Significant
**Copy Editing Level:**
- [ ] Clean / Some errors / Needs attention
**Recommended Editing Path:**
[Specific recommendation based on assessment]
Use AskUserQuestion:
{
"questions": [
{
"header": "Edit Path",
"question": "How would you like to proceed?",
"options": [
{"label": "Recommended path", "description": "Follow the suggested editing sequence"},
{"label": "Specific level", "description": "Focus on one particular editing level"},
{"label": "Discuss first", "description": "Talk through the issues before deciding"}
],
"multiSelect": false
}
]
}
Focus: Structure, story, character, pacing
Verify against outline (if available):
**PACING REPORT: Chapter [X]**
Opening hook: [Strong/Adequate/Weak]
Middle momentum: [Good/Drags/Rushed]
Ending turn: [Effective/Flat/Confusing]
Specific pacing issues:
- [Scene X] drags because [reason]
- [Scene Y] rushes past [important moment]
Recommendations:
1. [Specific structural change]
2. [Specific pacing adjustment]
For each issue identified:
**DEVELOPMENTAL FIX [X]**
Issue: [Description]
Location: [Scene/paragraph reference]
Impact: [How this affects the story]
Proposed fix:
[Specific change or rewrite recommendation]
Use AskUserQuestion:
{
"questions": [
{
"header": "Fix",
"question": "How would you like to handle this developmental issue?",
"options": [
{"label": "Apply fix", "description": "Implement the proposed change"},
{"label": "Skip", "description": "Will address differently or later"},
{"label": "Discuss", "description": "Talk through the approach first"}
],
"multiSelect": false
}
]
}
Focus: Prose quality scene-by-scene
For each scene, check:
**LINE EDIT: Scene [X.Y]**
Strengths:
- [What's working well]
Issues Found:
1. [Issue type]: "[specific passage]" — [explanation]
2. [Issue type]: "[specific passage]" — [explanation]
Suggested Revisions:
[Show original vs revised for key passages]
Use AskUserQuestion:
{
"questions": [
{
"header": "Revisions",
"question": "How would you like to handle these line edits?",
"options": [
{"label": "Accept all", "description": "Apply all suggested revisions"},
{"label": "Review each", "description": "Go through revisions one by one"},
{"label": "Skip scene", "description": "Move to the next scene"}
],
"multiSelect": false
}
]
}
Focus: Grammar, consistency, style
**COPY EDIT REPORT: Chapter [X]**
Errors Found: [Count]
By Category:
- Grammar: [X]
- Spelling: [X]
- Consistency: [X]
- Style: [X]
Critical Fixes (must address):
1. [Issue with correction]
Minor Fixes (recommended):
1. [Issue with correction]
Use AskUserQuestion:
{
"questions": [
{
"header": "Copy Fixes",
"question": "How would you like to handle these copy edits?",
"options": [
{"label": "Apply all", "description": "Apply all fixes (critical and minor)"},
{"label": "Critical only", "description": "Apply only critical fixes"},
{"label": "Review each", "description": "Go through fixes one by one"}
],
"multiSelect": false
}
]
}
Focus: Final refinement, micro-level improvements
Sentence Rhythm:
Word Choice:
Micro-Pacing:
For significant edits:
**EDIT PROPOSAL**
Original:
"[Original text]"
Proposed:
"[Edited text]"
Reason: [Why this improves the passage]
Use AskUserQuestion:
{
"questions": [
{
"header": "Edit",
"question": "Accept this edit proposal?",
"options": [
{"label": "Accept", "description": "Apply the proposed change"},
{"label": "Reject", "description": "Keep the original text"},
{"label": "Modify", "description": "Adjust the proposed change"}
],
"multiSelect": false
}
]
}
**EDIT COMPLETE: Chapter [X]**
Changes Made:
- Developmental: [X] fixes
- Line: [X] passages revised
- Copy: [X] corrections
- Polish: [X] refinements
Word Count Change: [+/-X words]
Major Improvements:
1. [Description]
2. [Description]
Use AskUserQuestion:
{
"questions": [
{
"header": "Chapter Done",
"question": "How would you like to proceed?",
"options": [
{"label": "Save & continue", "description": "Save chapter and proceed to next"},
{"label": "Review changes", "description": "Review the changes in detail"},
{"label": "Revert changes", "description": "Undo specific changes"}
],
"multiSelect": false
}
]
}
**EDITING COMPLETE: [Title]**
Chapters Edited: [X of Y]
Total Word Count: [Before] → [After]
Global Patterns Found:
- [Pattern 1 and how it was addressed]
- [Pattern 2 and how it was addressed]
Remaining Concerns:
- [Any issues that need author decision]
Deliverables:
- edited-manuscript.md (full edited text)
- edit-report.md (detailed change log)
- continuity-notes.md (issues found for story bible)
Copy this checklist to track editing progress:
Editing Progress:
- [ ] Step 1: Assessment complete
- [ ] Step 2: Developmental editing (if needed)
- [ ] Step 3: Line editing pass
- [ ] Step 4: Copy editing pass
- [ ] Step 5: Polish pass
- [ ] Step 6: Final review and compile
If bi-chapter review reports are available, prioritize:
developmental-checklist.md — Full developmental editing guideline-editing-guide.md — Prose improvement techniquescopy-editing-standards.md — Grammar and style rulespolish-techniques.md — Final refinement methodsinit_edit.py — Initialize editing projectsave_edit.py — Save editing progresscompile_edited.py — Generate final manuscriptdiff_report.py — Generate change report