I must respectfully disagree about the 'said/smirked' bit. I think using a different verb for the speech attribute is an excellent way to keep the writing moving along, to avoid verbal boredom, and to convey emotions without having to spell it all out (literally!).
And it's peals of laughter, unless you're a banana :D
Ah, I knew I'd end up making some stupid typo. Thanks for catching the peels/peals for me. I've changed. On the other hand, I'm wearing yellow right now so maybe I am a banana. *splits
( ... )
You keep editing your literary journal, the rest of us will keep writing fiction. Pick up any random novel, on any random page,and see attributes other than 'said' and 'asked'.
I get your point that lack of characterisation or scene development will not be rectified with an attribute, but you really should make yourself clearer. Please show me a book that has no other attribute than said?
Why did this devolve to name calling? I thought we were just having a conversation here. I don't see any need for either of us to be offensive.
I'll edit this literary journal for another seven months until I graduate with PhD, and then I'll move on to teaching creative writing as a professor. I write creative nonfiction and fiction, and I've published one short memoir.
Also, I said a book on writing not a book that just includes writing.
I'm sorry that you disagree with me, but name calling won't change my mind. Please confine your arguments to reason, logic, and research, or to opinions. As stated in the orginal post, I was expressing my opinions. You are free to disagree and express this also, but I'd appreicate it if personal attacks were left out of the discussion.
Ah well, so you'd be rejecting Terry Pratchett then. Shame. You just missed out on one of the bestselling authors in the UK. And it's not as if he's a bad author either.
Never mind, eh?
If you use hard and fast rules like that to filter writing then you run the risk of missing a little gem. Sometimes it's perfectly acceptable to use an emotional tag like that so you can vary the pace of a scene. If you put in all detail, all of the time, you also run the risk of losing the reader's interest.
I've heard Terry Pratchett is an excellent writer. He may be on my personal list of writers to check out, but I'd have to go look. I think Nightwatch was recommended to me by someone who knows my tastes
( ... )
Well then you need to edit your post for clarity, because that isn't what you said. You said that all usage of that sort was bad.
Besides, it's not a question of dull. It's a question of pace, of drawing people's attention to particular aspects of a scene and passing over others. This is particularly true of comic writing, but can be applied in other fields. You want the particularly clever bit in the previous paragraph to stand out, so you don't make the following one so ornate and simply have a he said X-ily. It's not that the second paragraph is dull or needs work, but that it needs to be simple, unadorned and straight to the point because that's what the rhythm of the writing requires.
If you have this rule that it is never correct, no matter where it appears, you're going out to mend a leak and leaving your monkey wrench behind. It's a crude tool, but on occasion it's the tool for the job.
Right, so now we are getting to the crux of the matter. If the writer turns around their woeful attribute, they improve their story telling.
Whining, Mark said, "I'm hungry." Jeff (something physical) and sneered (adjective). "So..." Showing his obviously lack of manners, Mark complained, "There isn't anything to eat." ETC
This is a copy editor's job IMO. Addressing the masses, as you are, your point isn't being made well. In fact, you run the risk of being taken literally and having new writers just use the attribute, 'he said' verbatim.
I too have a teaching qualification, and am concerned that in this forum you are unable to check the understanding of the very people you are trying to help. Beta, woman, beta!
And it's peals of laughter, unless you're a banana :D
Perhaps we must agree to disagree about this?
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Reply
You keep editing your literary journal, the rest of us will keep writing fiction. Pick up any random novel, on any random page,and see attributes other than 'said' and 'asked'.
I get your point that lack of characterisation or scene development will not be rectified with an attribute, but you really should make yourself clearer. Please show me a book that has no other attribute than said?
Twit!
Reply
Why did this devolve to name calling? I thought we were just having a conversation here. I don't see any need for either of us to be offensive.
I'll edit this literary journal for another seven months until I graduate with PhD, and then I'll move on to teaching creative writing as a professor. I write creative nonfiction and fiction, and I've published one short memoir.
Also, I said a book on writing not a book that just includes writing.
I'm sorry that you disagree with me, but name calling won't change my mind. Please confine your arguments to reason, logic, and research, or to opinions. As stated in the orginal post, I was expressing my opinions. You are free to disagree and express this also, but I'd appreicate it if personal attacks were left out of the discussion.
Reply
Never mind, eh?
If you use hard and fast rules like that to filter writing then you run the risk of missing a little gem. Sometimes it's perfectly acceptable to use an emotional tag like that so you can vary the pace of a scene. If you put in all detail, all of the time, you also run the risk of losing the reader's interest.
Reply
Reply
Besides, it's not a question of dull. It's a question of pace, of drawing people's attention to particular aspects of a scene and passing over others. This is particularly true of comic writing, but can be applied in other fields. You want the particularly clever bit in the previous paragraph to stand out, so you don't make the following one so ornate and simply have a he said X-ily. It's not that the second paragraph is dull or needs work, but that it needs to be simple, unadorned and straight to the point because that's what the rhythm of the writing requires.
If you have this rule that it is never correct, no matter where it appears, you're going out to mend a leak and leaving your monkey wrench behind. It's a crude tool, but on occasion it's the tool for the job.
Reply
Whining, Mark said, "I'm hungry."
Jeff (something physical) and sneered (adjective). "So..."
Showing his obviously lack of manners, Mark complained, "There isn't anything to eat." ETC
This is a copy editor's job IMO. Addressing the masses, as you are, your point isn't being made well. In fact, you run the risk of being taken literally and having new writers just use the attribute, 'he said' verbatim.
I too have a teaching qualification, and am concerned that in this forum you are unable to check the understanding of the very people you are trying to help. Beta, woman, beta!
Reply
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