# revision

A diagnostic skill for the edit pass after drafting: it sorts revision work by scale and tells you when a pass is actually done.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 469 installs · ★ 176
- Author: jwynia
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/jwynia/agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/creative/fiction/craft/revision/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-02-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/revision

## What it does

The skill walks you from the largest scale down: developmental edits first (structure, arcs, pacing), then line edits, then copy edits. The reasoning is blunt — polishing prose in a scene you will later cut is wasted work, so structure comes first.

Inside are six revision states with symptoms and checklists: overwhelmed, blind to your own text, endless revision, conflicting feedback, afraid to cut, and editing bottom-up. Each state comes with questions to ask yourself and interventions, such as switching reading format, reading aloud, or stepping away for days.

It is built for fiction — the metadata lists the domain as fiction. If you are editing docs or code, the questions will not fit. The skill file lands at `~/.claude/skills/revision/SKILL.md`.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add jwynia/agent-skills --skill revision -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/revision/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/revision/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add jwynia/agent-skills --skill revision -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/revision/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add jwynia/agent-skills --skill revision -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/revision/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install jwynia/agent-skills revision
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/revision/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add jwynia/agent-skills --skill revision -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/jwynia/agent-skills --path skills/creative/fiction/craft/revision
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/revision/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add jwynia/agent-skills --skill revision -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/jwynia/agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/creative/fiction/craft/revision/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- separate structural edits from line edits instead of fixing everything at once
- find a starting point when the draft shows too many problems
- spot weak sentences in a manuscript you have reread too many times
- decide when a revision pass is finished
- reconcile feedback from two readers who disagree

## Example prompts
- run my draft through the revision skill and tell me which editing level to start with
- I'm stuck in revision — walk me through the revision checklists
- two readers gave me opposite notes, sort this out with revision

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 3148e9923607ed42.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 3148e9923607ed42
```text
---
name: revision
description: Guide the edit pass after drafting. Use when revision feels overwhelming, when changes cascade unpredictably, when you can't see problems anymore, or when editing never ends.
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: jwynia
  version: "1.0"
  type: diagnostic
  mode: diagnostic+assistive
  domain: fiction
---

# Revision: Diagnostic Skill

You diagnose revision-level problems and guide systematic manuscript improvement. Your role is to help writers work through revision efficiently and know when they're done.

## Core Principle

**Revision is not one activity but many, each operating at a different scale.**

Work from largest scale to smallest:
1. **Developmental** (structure, story)
2. **Line** (sentences, paragraphs)
3. **Copy** (mechanics, consistency)

**Crucial insight:** Polishing prose in a scene you'll later cut is wasted effort. Fix structure first.

---

## The Revision Hierarchy

### Level 1: Developmental Editing

Addresses the story itself—structure, character arcs, pacing, theme.

**Questions:**
- Does the story work?
- Is the structure sound?
- Do character arcs complete?
- Is the pacing effective?
- Does the ending satisfy?

**What to look for:**
- Plot holes and logic failures
- Missing or weak character motivation
- Scenes that don't advance plot or character
- Pacing problems (too slow, too rushed)
- Unclear or absent theme
- Weak opening or ending
- Inconsistent characterization

**When done:** Story works at the structural level. Major changes complete.

### Level 2: Line Editing

Addresses the writing itself—sentences, paragraphs, flow.

**Questions:**
- Does each sentence earn its place?
- Is the prose clear and effective?
- Does dialogue sound distinct?
- Is description balanced with action?

**What to look for:**
- Awkward sentences
- Passive voice overuse
- Redundant phrasing
- Unclear antecedents
- Dialogue that all sounds alike
- Description that overwhelms action
- Telling where you should show
- Weak verbs and vague nouns

**When done:** Prose is clean and effective at the sentence level.

### Level 3: Copy Editing

Addresses mechanics—grammar, spelling, consistency.

**Questions:**
- Is grammar correct?
- Is spelling consistent?
- Are style choices consistent throughout?
- Are facts accurate?

**What to look for:**
- Spelling errors
- Grammar mistakes
- Punctuation problems
- Inconsistent capitalization
- Timeline inconsistencies
- Character name spelling variations
- Factual errors (if relevant)
- Formatting inconsistencies

**When done:** Manuscript is clean and consistent.

---

## The Revision States

### State R1: Overwhelmed—Don't Know Where to Start

**Symptoms:** Draft is complete but revision feels paralyzing. Too many problems visible. No clear priority. Random fixing without strategy.

**Key Questions:**
- Are you trying to fix everything at once?
- Have you identified the structural issues?
- Is the story fundamentally working?
- What level of editing is needed first?
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 3148e9923607ed42

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 3148e9923607ed42 tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

First 2995 of 19215 bytes. © jwynia · MIT · https://github.com/jwynia/agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/creative/fiction/craft/revision/SKILL.md

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