# Structural Style Guide

Technical prose conventions for this project. The **Copy Editor** agent and
`novel-writer analyze style` consult these. Replace the <choices> below with
your own; the numeric counterparts live in `style-targets.yml`.

## Sentence & Paragraph
- Mean sentence length: see `style-targets.yml` (`meanSentenceWords`).
- Vary length deliberately — short sentences for impact, long for atmosphere.
- Paragraphs: 3–6 sentences typical; single-sentence paragraphs for emphasis.

## Punctuation
- Em dash: <—no spaces | — with spaces> (choose one, apply consistently)
- Ellipsis: <…> — dialogue only
- Serial (Oxford) comma: <yes / no>
- Quotation marks: <double / single>

## Spelling & Mechanics
- Spelling: <American / British>
- Numbers: <spell out one–nine, numerals for 10+>
- Contractions: <narrative: rare / natural; dialogue: natural>

## Tense & POV
- Primary tense: past
- POV: <first / third; deep / limited>
- Minimise filter words ("saw", "felt", "noticed") — show directly.