STYLE-GUIDE-EXCERPT.md

STYLE-GUIDE Excerpt

Source: data/demo/.manuscript/STYLE-GUIDE.md

Narrative perspective

• POV: Close third person
• Narrator distance: Intimate

Sentence architecture

• Average sentence length: 14 words
• Sentence variation: High variation
• Sentence music: Lyrical

Figurative language

• Metaphor density: Moderate
• Metaphor style: Grounded and sensory
• Recurring image systems: Clocks, gears, tides, ocean, hands, touch

Dialogue voice

• Tag style: Action beats preferred over tags
• Subtext level: Moderately subtextual

Physicality

• Body awareness: High
• Place: Strong
• Time of day/weather: Present in every scene

Always

• Ground every emotion in a physical sensation.
• Let silence speak.
• Give every clock its own character.

Never

• Explain emotions directly.
• Use cliches about time healing.
• Rush the quiet moments.