Craft & Style
Body Language Clichés
Flags overused physical reactions that every author defaults to when showing emotion.
What It Does
Matches 20 common body language clichés — rolled eyes, clenched jaw, racing heart, etc. — and suggests character-specific alternatives.
Why It Matters
Clichéd body language is invisible to the writer but repetitive to the reader. Every character ends up rolling their eyes and clenching their fists the same way. Unique physical reactions build distinct characters.
What Gets Flagged
| Severity | Example | Why | Suggested Revision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hint | "She rolled her eyes" | Most overused body language cliché | Show dismissal through dialogue or action unique to this character |
| Hint | "His heart raced" | Generic fear/excitement response | Show specific symptoms — trembling hands, tight chest, dry mouth |
| Hint | "He ran a hand through his hair" | Ubiquitous stress gesture | Give this character a unique stress tell |
Configuration
No configuration options. 20 cliché patterns are built-in.
Technical Details
- Source:
prose-craft - Scope: Line-level
- Method: Regex pattern matching against 20 body language cliché templates