Craft 9: On Control and the Correct Word

[harmony_bites]

argosy told me, “Hey, you know what it's about time for? A Harmony ‘On Writing’ post…” Like I’m a expert ::rolls eyes:: Nevertheless, for you ArgosySo, looking through that “SNW Manual” I gleaned of writing tips, I looked to see if there was anything not covered so far in my posts on craft, and these snippets are about an issue I’ve seen more than one

Comments

[argosy]

This is interesting, especially the "burly detective" bit. I almost never do that, but then I see people saying things like, "the blond Slytherin" and I wonder if I should be doing that. Guess I've had the right instincts all along. :)

Also, about junk words, I find that (in dialogue) I alway want to write: "well" "umm" "uh" "oh," etc. and then I almost always find I should get rid of these words. Once in a blue moon I decide to keep it, and then half the time I end up getting rid of it later.

[harmony_bites]

The "burly detective" bit always makes me wince in fanfic a lot whenever I see it. It jumps out at me a lot. Though I have to admit I hate repeating "Snape" or "Draco" within the same sentence or close by in the same paragraph. It rather makes me overuse pronouns which can be a fault too, I'm always being corrected for that in beta. So I do rather understand the temptation.

I actually think I might add "well" and the rest to my personal list. You're right, they are junk words of that kind that are too often used, and I do try to remember to cut them, particularly if you're not trying to convey some stuttering awkwardness.

[wolf_moonshadow]

*sigh* Every time I read one of these posts of yours, I find myself simultaneously making notes to myself on what I can-and need-to do in order to improve my writing, and wanting to run away howling, absolutely convinced that I ought never have put quill to parchment, as I always seem guilty of every blunder mentioned

[harmony_bites]

wanting to run away howling, absolutely convinced that I ought never have put quill to parchment, as I always seem guilty of every blunder mentioned.

Oh no! But it is much easier to point out things like this you can look at to avoid the bad, than it is to describe how to do the good. Which, I think is often a matter of talent--which you have. And even rarer, you have comedic talent--which I could wish to have some of.

You're story is rather funny;-) I do try in these posts to keep to things that have wide commonality, that I see a lot of writers, agents, and editors repeating--but every once in a while you do get contradictory advice. And some will warn against descriptions - of the wrong time, while at the same time telling you you must ground the reader in sensory detail. I think that maybe, just maybe, its a matter of POV. Not description for description sake, but that telling detail that brings a scene alive and has emotional meaning for a character. What would your character notice? And why would he notice it?

[saltfish_swims]

Hi harmony,
I hope you don't mind, but I'm taking notes from your posts on writing; they are really useful (although also very scary since I think I do many of these things!)

I'm a HP old dog but fanfic newbie so all is useful.

May I friend you?

[harmony_bites]

I don't mind if anyone takes notes or copies from these posts at all--I posted these excerpts about writing (and added my two cents) in the hope they'd help, if only by making people think.

May I friend you?

Sure;-)