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Craft & Style

Filler Sentences

Flags "throat-clearing" opener sentences at the start of scenes that add no information.

What It Does

Detects weak opening sentences at scene starts and document beginnings: "It was morning.", "Little did she know…", "The day had begun like any other."

Why It Matters

Readers judge openings harshly. A filler opener wastes the most valuable real estate in your scene. Starting with action, a vivid detail, or dialogue hooks the reader immediately.

What Gets Flagged

Severity Example Why Suggested Revision
Hint "It was morning." Zero information — adds nothing Start with action or a specific detail
Hint "Little did she know what was about to happen." Tells the reader to wait for something interesting Just show the interesting thing

Configuration

No configuration options. Only flags sentences at scene/document starts.

Technical Details

  • Source: prose-craft
  • Scope: Scene-opening sentences only
  • Method: Regex pattern matching for 10 common filler patterns