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Prop Permanence (Coffee Cup Tracker)
Flags objects that characters pick up but never put down within a scene.
What It Does
Tracks pickup verbs (grabbed, took, lifted) and release verbs (dropped, set, placed) per scene. When a character picks up an object but the scene ends without a corresponding release, the diagnostic fires.
Why It Matters
Objects don't vanish from characters' hands. If a character grabs a sword and then has a two-page conversation, they're still holding it. Experienced editors call this the "coffee cup problem" — characters pick up coffee at the start of a scene and it disappears into narrative limbo.
What Gets Flagged
| Severity | Example | Why | Suggested Revision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hint | "She grabbed the lantern." (never released) | Object held indefinitely | Add "She set the lantern on the table." |
Configuration
No configuration options.
Technical Details
- Source:
prose-craft - Scope: Scene-level
- Method: Pickup/release verb + object noun tracking with 4-token lookahead