Prose Editor — The Three Passes
Edit existing prose using the professional editing hierarchy. The cardinal rule: work from macro to micro. Fix structure before fixing sentences, because structural changes render sentence-level polish moot.
How to Run
Input
The user provides:
- Text — the prose to edit (inline, file path, or clipboard)
- Pass type (optional) — which editing pass to run:
structural — organization, arc, scene logic, sectionsline — rhythm, diction, syntax, voice consistencycopy — grammar, punctuation, spelling, consistencyfull — all three in sequence (default if unspecified)
- Focus (optional) — a specific concern ("it's too wordy," "the dialogue feels off," "tighten this")
- Constraints — word count targets, voice register to preserve, anti-patterns
Steps
Structural Pass (loads: narrative-arc, scene-craft, argument-structure as appropriate)
- Read the full text. Identify the form (fiction, essay, nonfiction).
- Assess the macro structure: Is it organized effectively? Are sections in the right order? Are there missing or redundant sections?
- For fiction: Does every scene turn a value? Is the arc working? Is there a sagging middle?
- For essays: Is the argument structured? Where is the volta/turn? Are counterarguments addressed?
- Report structural findings. Suggest cuts, reorders, or additions. Do not line-edit during this pass.
Line Pass (loads: prose-rhythm, diction, syntax-patterns, concrete-detail)
- Read paragraph by paragraph. Apply the diagnostic protocol from
sentence-craft:
- Sentence length map — is there rhythmic variety?
- First-word audit — is there opener variety?
- Diction check — any vague words, dead metaphors, register breaks, filler?
- Syntax check — any structural monotony?
- Check voice consistency. Flag register breaks.
- Check concrete detail. Flag passages that tell when they should show.
- Edit the prose. Show changes with brief rationale.
Copy Pass
- Grammar, punctuation, spelling, consistency.
- Intentional style choices (fragments, comma splices, non-standard punctuation) are preserved — route to the line pass if uncertain.
Output
Edited prose with change rationale. For the structural pass: a diagnostic report with recommendations rather than direct edits.
Editing Principles
- Diagnose before treating. Read the full text before making any changes. Understand what the writer is trying to do before deciding what they should change.
- Macro before micro. Never start a line pass on structurally broken prose.
- Preserve voice. The editor's job is to make the writer sound more like themselves, not to impose a different voice.
- Explain the why. Every significant change should have a brief rationale. This builds the writer's craft intuition.
- Kill your darlings — but they're the writer's darlings, not yours. Flag passages that don't serve the piece, but let the writer decide whether to cut.
- Style choices are not errors. Fragments, one-sentence paragraphs, non-standard punctuation, register breaks — these may be intentional. Ask before "fixing" them.
Common Diagnoses
| Symptom |
Likely Problem |
Pass |
Treatment |
| "It's too long" |
Redundancy, over-description, scenes that don't turn |
Structural + Line |
Cut redundant sections; tighten diction |
| "It doesn't flow" |
Rhythm problems, monotonous syntax |
Line |
Apply rhythm and syntax diagnostics |
| "The dialogue feels off" |
On-the-nose dialogue, undifferentiated voices |
Line |
Route to dialogue knowledge skill |
| "It's boring in the middle" |
Sagging middle — unclear goals in Act Two |
Structural |
Give the protagonist a concrete problem |
| "It feels vague" |
Abstract diction, lack of concrete detail |
Line |
Apply diction and concrete-detail diagnostics |
| "The argument doesn't land" |
Missing warrant, weak structure |
Structural |
Route to argument-structure |
Scope Boundaries
This skill handles: Editing and revising existing prose — structural assessment, line editing, and copy editing.
This skill does NOT:
- Draft new prose (that's
prose-writer)
- Analyze style without editing (that's
style-analyzer)
- Make creative decisions for the writer (it diagnoses and suggests; the writer decides)
1---2name: prose-editor3description: Revise existing prose using the professional editing-pass hierarchy — structural, then line, then copy. Use when the user has a draft that needs improvement, wants a specific editing pass, or asks to "make this better." Diagnoses before treating.4---56# Prose Editor — The Three Passes78Edit existing prose using the professional editing hierarchy. The cardinal rule: **work from macro to micro.** Fix structure before fixing sentences, because structural changes render sentence-level polish moot.910## How to Run1112### Input1314The user provides:151. **Text** — the prose to edit (inline, file path, or clipboard)162. **Pass type** (optional) — which editing pass to run:17 - `structural` — organization, arc, scene logic, sections18 - `line` — rhythm, diction, syntax, voice consistency19 - `copy` — grammar, punctuation, spelling, consistency20 - `full` — all three in sequence (default if unspecified)213. **Focus** (optional) — a specific concern ("it's too wordy," "the dialogue feels off," "tighten this")224. **Constraints** — word count targets, voice register to preserve, anti-patterns2324### Steps2526**Structural Pass** (loads: `narrative-arc`, `scene-craft`, `argument-structure` as appropriate)271. Read the full text. Identify the form (fiction, essay, nonfiction).282. Assess the macro structure: Is it organized effectively? Are sections in the right order? Are there missing or redundant sections?293. For fiction: Does every scene turn a value? Is the arc working? Is there a sagging middle?304. For essays: Is the argument structured? Where is the volta/turn? Are counterarguments addressed?315. Report structural findings. Suggest cuts, reorders, or additions. **Do not line-edit during this pass.**3233**Line Pass** (loads: `prose-rhythm`, `diction`, `syntax-patterns`, `concrete-detail`)341. Read paragraph by paragraph. Apply the diagnostic protocol from `sentence-craft`:35 - Sentence length map — is there rhythmic variety?36 - First-word audit — is there opener variety?37 - Diction check — any vague words, dead metaphors, register breaks, filler?38 - Syntax check — any structural monotony?392. Check voice consistency. Flag register breaks.403. Check concrete detail. Flag passages that tell when they should show.414. Edit the prose. Show changes with brief rationale.4243**Copy Pass**441. Grammar, punctuation, spelling, consistency.452. Intentional style choices (fragments, comma splices, non-standard punctuation) are preserved — route to the line pass if uncertain.4647### Output4849Edited prose with change rationale. For the structural pass: a diagnostic report with recommendations rather than direct edits.5051## Editing Principles52531. **Diagnose before treating.** Read the full text before making any changes. Understand what the writer is trying to do before deciding what they should change.542. **Macro before micro.** Never start a line pass on structurally broken prose.553. **Preserve voice.** The editor's job is to make the writer sound more like themselves, not to impose a different voice.564. **Explain the why.** Every significant change should have a brief rationale. This builds the writer's craft intuition.575. **Kill your darlings — but they're the writer's darlings, not yours.** Flag passages that don't serve the piece, but let the writer decide whether to cut.586. **Style choices are not errors.** Fragments, one-sentence paragraphs, non-standard punctuation, register breaks — these may be intentional. Ask before "fixing" them.5960## Common Diagnoses6162| Symptom | Likely Problem | Pass | Treatment |63|---------|---------------|------|-----------|64| "It's too long" | Redundancy, over-description, scenes that don't turn | Structural + Line | Cut redundant sections; tighten diction |65| "It doesn't flow" | Rhythm problems, monotonous syntax | Line | Apply rhythm and syntax diagnostics |66| "The dialogue feels off" | On-the-nose dialogue, undifferentiated voices | Line | Route to `dialogue` knowledge skill |67| "It's boring in the middle" | Sagging middle — unclear goals in Act Two | Structural | Give the protagonist a concrete problem |68| "It feels vague" | Abstract diction, lack of concrete detail | Line | Apply diction and concrete-detail diagnostics |69| "The argument doesn't land" | Missing warrant, weak structure | Structural | Route to `argument-structure` |7071## Scope Boundaries7273**This skill handles**: Editing and revising existing prose — structural assessment, line editing, and copy editing.7475**This skill does NOT**:76- Draft new prose (that's `prose-writer`)77- Analyze style without editing (that's `style-analyzer`)78- Make creative decisions for the writer (it diagnoses and suggests; the writer decides)
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