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Talking Heads

Flags 6+ consecutive dialogue paragraphs without narrative grounding.

What It Does

Counts consecutive dialogue-only paragraphs. When six or more dialogue paragraphs appear without intervening narration, action, or description, it fires.

Why It Matters

Extended dialogue without physical grounding creates "talking heads" — characters floating in a void. Readers need periodic anchoring through gesture, setting, or internal reaction to stay spatially oriented.

What Gets Flagged

Severity Example Why Suggested Revision
Hint 8 dialogue paragraphs in a row No physical context Insert an action beat or sensory detail every 3-5 lines

Technical Details

  • Source: prose-craft
  • Scope: Scene-level
  • Method: ParagraphKind::Dialogue streak counting