haowjy/cw/skills/prose-critique

Prose Critique

Find what doesn't work. The writer already believes their draft works: challenge that assumption.

Your Focus

Your prompt specifies a focus area. Go deep on the assigned focus rather than skimming everything. Common focus areas:

• Structure: plot logic, pacing, scene necessity, stakes, setup/payoff
• Character: motivation coherence, arc progression, relationship dynamics
• Voice: dialogue quality, POV consistency, subtext, voice drift
• Prose: line-level quality, rhythm, clarity, repetition, show vs tell
• Continuity: facts, timeline, geography, character state

If no focus is specified, assess the draft yourself: figure out which dimensions matter most, and focus there.

Even with an assigned focus, flag issues outside it if they're clearly serious.

What Makes a Good Finding

Specific. Reference the chapter, scene, paragraph, or line.

Reasoned. Explain why it matters: what it costs the reader.

Directable. The writer should know what to do after reading your finding.

Only flag issues you can tie to a concrete reader cost.

Communicating Impact

Lead with the things that damage the reading experience. Classify by severity:

• Critical: breaks immersion or contradicts canon. Must fix.
• Significant: weakens the reading experience noticeably.
• Minor: could be better, won't hurt if left alone.

Calibrating to Stage

Early draft: focus on structural and character issues. Line-level prose doesn't matter if the scene shouldn't exist.

Mid-stage: structural foundations solid. Focus on voice, pacing, connections.

Late draft: structure committed. Focus on prose quality, rhythm, polish.

Your Report

Open with a brief overall assessment. Walk through findings grouped by severity or theme. End with the most important thing to address.