Add structural comments to manuscripts
AI analyzes narrative structure and adds inline comments about pacing, transitions, scene development, and arc progression for revision guidance.
Add structural comments to manuscripts
River's Structural Comments tool analyzes manuscript drafts and adds inline editorial feedback about structure rather than line-level editing. It identifies pacing issues (sections moving too fast or too slow), weak transitions between scenes or time periods, scenes that need more development versus those that drag, narrative arc problems where tension doesn't build appropriately, and structural patterns that could strengthen storytelling. Comments appear inline showing exactly where structural issues occur with specific suggestions for improvement.
Unlike general writing feedback that focuses on grammar or word choice, this tool specifically addresses structural craft: the architecture of narrative. It identifies where backstory interrupts forward momentum, where summary should become scene or vice versa, where emotional beats are missing, where cause-and-effect chains break down, and where chapter or section breaks would improve readability. The AI understands narrative principles: stories need rising action, emotional variety, strategic pacing, and clear structure that readers can follow.
This tool is perfect for ghostwriters reviewing their own drafts before showing clients, writers stuck mid-manuscript who sense something is wrong with structure but cannot identify what, or anyone wanting systematic structural feedback without hiring developmental editors. If you know the manuscript has structural problems but struggle articulating specifically what and where, or if you want to catch issues before client review, this provides systematic analysis. Use it on complete chapter drafts or full manuscript sections when you're past initial drafting but before final polish.
Why Structure Matters More Than Prose
Beautiful prose cannot save fundamentally broken structure. You can write gorgeous sentences, but if your narrative arc is flat, pacing drags, or scenes don't connect logically, readers won't finish. Conversely, strong structure keeps readers engaged even through imperfect prose. Professional ghostwriters understand this hierarchy: get structure right first, then polish language. Structural problems are expensive to fix—they require substantial rewriting. Line-level prose problems are cheap—they require editing. Fix structure in draft phase before investing time in prose polish.
Common structural problems ghostwriters face: opening chapters that spend too long on backstory before plot begins, middle sections that meander without clear direction or rising stakes, climactic moments that arrive without sufficient buildup or feel unearned, resolution that comes too abruptly without processing, and pacing that exhausts readers with relentless intensity or bores them with uniform speed. These issues are difficult to spot when you're deep in manuscript—you know what you intended, making it hard to see what's actually on page. External perspective (human editor or AI analysis) reveals patterns you miss.
Structural feedback at draft stage prevents wasted revision time. If chapter 8 needs complete restructuring, better to discover that before polishing every sentence. If three chapters should become one, or one chapter should expand to three, knowing early saves enormous time. Systematic structural review after first draft identifies these large-scale issues before you invest in line-level polish. Think of it as architectural inspection before interior decorating—make sure walls and foundation are sound before choosing paint colors.
What You Get
Inline structural comments identifying pacing issues, weak transitions, and scene development needs
Chapter or section-level assessment of narrative arc and tension progression
Specific suggestions for improving structure: expand here, compress there, add transition
Pattern identification showing repeated structural issues across manuscript
Prioritized feedback distinguishing critical structural problems from minor refinements
Guidance on backstory placement, flashback handling, and timeline management
How It Works
- 1Paste manuscript sectionUpload complete chapter or section (1,000-10,000 words) for structural analysis
- 2AI analyzes structureSystem evaluates pacing, transitions, scene development, arc progression, and structural patterns (10-15 minutes)
- 3Review inline commentsRead structural feedback showing exactly where issues occur with specific improvement suggestions
- 4Revise with guidanceUse comments as roadmap for structural revision, addressing major issues before line-level polish
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from regular editing feedback?
Regular editing focuses on sentences: grammar, word choice, clarity, style. Structural feedback focuses on narrative architecture: pacing, scene structure, tension progression, transitions, narrative arc. You might have perfect sentences arranged in wrong order, or beautifully written scenes that drag because they're too long. Structural feedback addresses these bigger-picture issues that sentence-level editing doesn't touch. Use structural feedback first (draft phase), line editing later (polish phase).
Should I fix structural issues before or after showing client?
Generally before, but depends on draft stage. If this is very rough first draft, show structural issues to client—they might want different structural choices than you'd make. If this is supposedly polished draft, fix obvious structural problems before client review. Sending manuscript with glaring pacing issues or weak transitions suggests you didn't do professional work. However, major structural disagreements (should this chapter exist? Should timeline be chronological vs flashbacks?) involve client in decision before investing revision time.
Can I use this on full book manuscripts or just chapters?
Analyze in manageable chunks: chapter by chapter or sections of 5,000-10,000 words. Analyzing entire 60,000-word manuscript at once produces overwhelming feedback volume difficult to process. Work systematically: analyze and revise chapter 1, then chapter 2, etc. This also lets you apply learnings from early chapters to later ones, improving as you go. Once individual chapters have strong structure, you can assess manuscript-level arc separately: does overall narrative build appropriately across all chapters?
What if I disagree with the structural feedback?
Trust your judgment as the ghostwriter who knows client, full manuscript context, and intended audience. AI provides pattern identification and structural principles, but you make creative decisions. If AI says 'this scene is too long' but you know that slow pacing serves emotional purpose here, keep it. However, when you disagree with feedback, explicitly consider why—sometimes we defend choices because we're attached to them, not because they serve the story. Ask: would an objective reader experience this the way I intended, or the way AI analysis suggests?
Does this replace developmental editors?
No—it provides initial structural analysis but lacks human judgment about whether choices serve specific creative purposes. Developmental editors understand market expectations for genres, reader psychology, and whether rule-breaking serves story or undermines it. AI applies structural principles without understanding when breaking those principles is exactly right. Use AI for systematic first-pass structural review, catching obvious issues. For high-stakes projects (seeking traditional publishing, major client investment), human developmental editor still valuable after you've addressed AI-identified issues.
How detailed are the structural comments?
Comments identify specific issues with brief explanations and suggestions. Example: 'This backstory interrupts forward momentum. Consider moving to chapter 2 after establishing present-day stakes' or 'This scene summary would be more powerful shown in real-time with dialogue and action. Expand to 800-1000 words.' Comments are actionable guidance, not just criticism. Each comment includes what's wrong and how to fix it. Expect 10-20 comments per chapter identifying key structural opportunities, not exhaustive annotation of every sentence.
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