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Voice consistency check across a long manuscript
I'm worried my protagonist's narrative voice (first person or close third) drifts inconsistently across a long manuscript, sounding different in chapter 1 versus chapter 15 in ways that aren't intentional character growth. I'll give you excerpts from different points.
Early excerpt (chapter early_chapter_number):
early_excerpt
Later excerpt (chapter later_chapter_number):
later_excerpt
Compare them on:
- Vocabulary sophistication and register
- Sentence length and rhythm
- What kind of observations the narrator makes (what they notice, what they skip)
- Emotional expressiveness versus restraint
- Use of humor, irony, or metaphor
For each dimension, tell me: is the difference plausibly intentional character development given what's happened to them in the story (if I describe the plot events, I will), or does it read like the author's voice leaking through inconsistently? Give me a verdict, not just a description of differences. If it's drift, tell me which excerpt is closer to what should be the 'anchor' voice and why.