Run line-level editing across chapters. Catches spelling, grammar, awkward phrasing, and word echoes.
View on GitHubhowells/fiction
fiction
skills/edit/SKILL.md
January 25, 2026
Select agents to install to:
npx add-skill https://github.com/howells/fiction/blob/main/skills/edit/SKILL.md -a claude-code --skill editInstallation paths:
.claude/skills/edit/Run the editor agent to polish your manuscript at the line level.
## What This Does
1. Processes chapters looking for mechanical issues
2. Flags spelling, grammar, awkward phrasing, word echoes
3. Identifies manuscript-wide patterns (overused words, crutch phrases)
4. Offers to apply mechanical fixes automatically
5. Updates `progress.md` with findings
## Usage
```
/fiction:edit # Edit most recent chapter
/fiction:edit 5 # Edit chapter 5
/fiction:edit all # Edit all drafted chapters
/fiction:edit 3-7 # Edit chapters 3 through 7
```
If arguments provided: $ARGUMENTS
## Parallel Processing (Important for Large Manuscripts)
When editing multiple chapters ("all" or a range), **spawn editor agents in parallel** for efficiency:
1. Identify all chapters to process
2. Launch one editor agent per chapter simultaneously using the Task tool
3. Each agent processes its chapter independently
4. After all complete, aggregate manuscript-wide patterns from all reports
5. Update `progress.md` with combined findings
**Example parallel approach for `/fiction:edit all` with 20 chapters:**
- Spawn 20 editor agents in a single message (one Task call per chapter)
- Agents run concurrently, each producing its own report
- Main conversation aggregates: common crutch words, repeated issues across chapters
- Total time ~ time for 1 chapter instead of 20x
## What It Catches
- **Spelling & typos** — Including wrong-word errors (their/there)
- **Grammar** — Agreement, punctuation, comma splices
- **Awkward phrasing** — Confusing syntax, unclear references
- **Word echoes** — Repetition in close proximity
- **Overused words** — Filter words, weak verbs, crutch words
- **Formatting** — Inconsistent dashes, ellipses, quotes
## Output
A report per chapter with:
- Issues by category with line numbers
- Suggested fixes
- Manuscript-wide patterns (when editing multiple chapters)
## When to Use
- After completing a chapter