You wrote a beautiful book. Your readers wrote angry reviews about the dog's name changing.
The misdiagnosisThe misdiagnosis is that continuity is for nitpickers.
The real diagnosisContinuity is for everyone. The reader who notices is the reader who loved the book enough to be paying attention. You owe them a clean draft.
Cleanup Targets
| Target | How To Catch | Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Character names | Search each | Find/replace audit |
| Eye color, hair, scars | Search 'eyes,' 'hair' | Tag in Continuity Bible |
| Dates and ages | Build a timeline | Spreadsheet |
| Possessions | Search the item | Track scene-by-scene |
| Magic / tech rules | Test each rule against itself | Rules sheet |
Three Continuity Errors Readers Catch Loudest
- Name spellings changing.
- Character ages that don't add up.
- Geography that contradicts itself.
Continuity is not about being right. It is about not breaking the spell.
Do this on the second-to-last pass. Print and search.
The dare (not assignment)Pick three continuity targets above. Audit them today. Fix what you find.
Image promptA ledger with neat columns of dates and notes, a pen in the gutter. Painterly. Cream and dark blue. No people.
— The Book Maven
