Canonical dates, ages, seasons, and elapsed time.
HTML template
Manuscript continuity worksheet
A crawlable HTML worksheet for reviewing timeline, character, location, object, worldbuilding, and unresolved-reference continuity.
Template
What this worksheet captures
Use this worksheet after major revisions to record the continuity facts that need checking before readers, editors, copyedit, or publication.
HTML
This template is plain crawlable HTML, with the full worksheet visible on the page.
Download HTMLPart 1
Story facts
Capture the facts that should stay stable across the manuscript.
Character names, titles, relationships, knowledge, and motivations.
Locations, travel constraints, room layouts, and object placement.
Part 2
Revision risk
Record places where recent edits could have introduced contradictions.
Moved scenes or combined chapters.
Cut subplot, clue, character, or payoff.
Changed backstory, world rule, title, or relationship state.
Part 3
Decision log
Keep author decisions separate from uncertain findings.
Accepted finding and fix made.
Dismissed finding and reason.
Follow-up needed for beta reader, editor, or series bible.
Worksheet table
Fillable structure
Field
Prompt
Finding
What continuity issue needs review?
Evidence
Which chapters or passages disagree?
Canonical version
Which fact should the manuscript preserve?
Fix
What needs to change in the text or support notes?
Status
Open, fixed, dismissed, or needs human review.
Workflow
How to use it
The template works best as a decision record, not a substitute for reading the manuscript.
01
Run one category at a time
Work through timeline, character, location, object, reference, and worldbuilding categories separately.
02
Write the decision
Record the chosen canonical version before changing related passages.
03
Recheck after large fixes
Major continuity repairs can create new downstream effects.
Related
Related pages
More context for this template.