tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post7531168337230413252..comments2024-03-19T05:54:50.765-04:00Comments on Pimp My Novel: He Said, She SaidUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-35180815040461433612014-11-10T02:09:21.416-05:002014-11-10T02:09:21.416-05:00Agreed. When it’s left to the media to arbitrarily...Agreed. When it’s left to the media to arbitrarily decide which issues deserve attention, it can often encourage conflict between competing “issues” that ultimately serves the status quo. A better approach, of course, would be solidarity between all parties, but that’s easier said than done!<br /><a href="http://www.cleantechcalender.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.cleantechcalender.com</a> | <br><br /><a href="http://www.biotech4business.com" rel="nofollow">www.biotech4business.com</a> | <br><br /><a href="http://www.asheborohomecare.com" rel="nofollow">asheborohomecare.com</a> | <br><br /><a href="http://www.wearecrafthouse.com" rel="nofollow">wearecrafthouse.com</a> | <br><br /><a href="http://www.travelingarmenian.com" rel="nofollow">travelingarmenian</a> | <br><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03412210059279914800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-70524973147922721282014-11-06T02:37:21.736-05:002014-11-06T02:37:21.736-05:00Worry is the fear we manufacture; it is a choice. ...Worry is the fear we manufacture; it is a choice. Conversely, true fear is involuntary; it will come and get our attention if necessary. But if a parent or a child feels fear constantly, there is no signal left for when it’s really needed. Thus, the parent who chooses to worry all the time or […]<br /><a href="http://www.autoshutotaska.com" rel="nofollow">www.autoshutotaska.com</a> | <br><br /><a href="http://www.auto-satisfait.com" rel="nofollow">auto-satisfait.com</a> | <br><br /><a href="http://www.autoinjurywis.com" rel="nofollow">autoinjurywis</a> | <br><br /><a href="http://www.borrisautoparts.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.borrisautoparts.com</a> | <br><br /><a href="http://www.biotech4business.com" rel="nofollow">www.biotech4business.com</a> | <br><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11327586328701768189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-86671722592949333492010-10-19T09:55:15.489-04:002010-10-19T09:55:15.489-04:00Just had this subject come up.
First, I think &quo...Just had this subject come up.<br />First, I think "saying" something and "shouting, grumbling, yelling, growling, etc" are all different things, and while a MAJORITY of things are said, sometimes they NEED to be growled or shouted for the full effect. Example:<br />"You're pathetic." He said.<br />"You're pathetic." He growled.<br />"You're pathetic!" He said.<br />"You're pathetic!" He growled.<br /><br />All four mean completely different things. 1 is just a subdued insult. 2. is an insult in anger/attack 3. is slightly emphatic. 4. is pretty damn emphatic.<br /><br />I have been debating this a lot lately. I think using these things all the time is annoying, but I find the concept that "I can't use these things at all" just plain irritating. They're there, they're fine.Unwashable Mindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03906129345248466033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-52574520213669754952010-09-29T15:43:40.204-04:002010-09-29T15:43:40.204-04:00I believe that there is a difference between;
&qu...I believe that there is a difference between;<br /><br />"'No!' Anthony said."<br /><br />and<br /><br />"'No!' Anothony shouted"<br /><br />I feel that as a reader, the use of the word shouted adds more emphasis to the what the writer is trying to convey. It reaches the writer on a more personal level. I think this because I dont know anyone who can shout (No!) while only saying it.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17481272201360371305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-25490140061044130592010-09-29T15:31:50.151-04:002010-09-29T15:31:50.151-04:00Agree with most of this. I feel that saying he sa...Agree with most of this. I feel that saying he said she said is very boring and doesn’t put any creative work or thinking into your paper and after reading the same two words more than like three times it gets annoying. I feel the beat dialog does provide detail and you can in vision what they are doing. Beat is very creative and makes the dialog easy and fin to read.chelseahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09136252215007692199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-10077251980264224042010-08-16T04:52:13.587-04:002010-08-16T04:52:13.587-04:00I agree with some of this. I agree with many othe...I agree with some of this. I agree with many other comments more though. I think said is over-used, to be honest, and rather blasé. <br /><br />If you're going to argue that you shouldn't follow ? with asked or ! with shouting, then why follow "these" with say? Isn't it just as redundant?<br /><br />I agree with others that say a simple "said" after something that wasn't just stated is more off-putting in its disagreement. I tend to prefer actions too when I tag my dialogue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-62096416904758487132010-08-15T07:17:25.354-04:002010-08-15T07:17:25.354-04:00My preferred style is to mix action and dialog in ...My preferred style is to mix action and dialog in the same paragraph, so tags are usually unnecessary. You can tell who's talking because he's the one acting as well. The only other time for a tag would be to add some flavoring, such as 'with grim humor' or 'without rancor'. I did a post on a topic similar to this one, only about thoughts, tags, and italics, at http://authorguy.wordpress.com/2010/08/07/thinking-about-thinking/<br /><br />Marc Vun Kannon<br />http://authorguy.wordpress.com/Author Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18316825723835547403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-63236070762305835742010-08-14T08:04:55.232-04:002010-08-14T08:04:55.232-04:00Good blog, thank you!
I've learned a lot abou...Good blog, thank you! <br />I've learned a lot about dialogue from masters such as Cormac McCarthy who manages to write pages of dialogue without any tags at all. This is my ultimate aim, if possible. But it has to be clear who is saying what, and if it isn't clear, then it has to not matter if the reader doesn't know (i.e. they feel the gist of the conversation, the emotions flying about etc, these being more important in this case than who said what).<br /><br />I do use whispered, but I might edit it out later; and I also use 'told' and 'asked' sometimes.Sandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07879870635626279036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-82269910069594235252010-08-13T17:09:04.854-04:002010-08-13T17:09:04.854-04:00I'm straddling the line between the first and ...I'm straddling the line between the first and second, but I think dialogue tags should be kept to the minimum required. Constant "said" annoys me just as much as weird dialogue tags. <br /><br />Also, "quipped" should never be used. Ever. I don't want to spend five minutes staring at it trying to figure out how the heck someone "quips" something.Rachaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11918987890132222901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-24596343987124134882010-08-13T13:30:18.150-04:002010-08-13T13:30:18.150-04:00This was a topic at one of our crit group meetings...This was a topic at one of our crit group meetings. I agree with you! Said sort of becomes invisible to me when I'm reading, which I suppose is a good thing.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-42026601804573666092010-08-12T07:55:17.996-04:002010-08-12T07:55:17.996-04:00I agree with just about everything here. I try to ...I agree with just about everything here. I try to minimize the number of tags I use overall (even "saids"). From there I stick to "said" and "asked"--with the possible exception being a "whisper." If I want someone muttering--usually I say he was muttering without indicating what was actually said (if someone's muttering you usually can't understand them anyway), e.g., Dan walked away, muttering. -OR - Dan walked away, muttering something that sounded like "chicken biscuit." ; )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-78196857607890999702010-08-12T01:38:53.841-04:002010-08-12T01:38:53.841-04:00I know I'm a little late on this one, but it a...I know I'm a little late on this one, but it always bothers me when someone says you cannot laugh a word. I come from a family who laughs words. The hahaha-ing is happening during the word(usually "what?"), with the expulsion of breath, and not before or after it.<br /><br />You can't laugh a sentence, but if you don't allow me a laughed "what" or "Yeah" every once in awhile, you're missing a really fun sound/facial expression/tone combo with that single tag.<br /><br />To illustrate, I'm linking Bill Engvall's Dorkfish routine (sorry) where he laughs the word "what" at .35, and then "that" at 1.20. Granted they're at the end of sentences, but this is what I mean.<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH6sE8RMUuUAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-21640354280319069712010-08-10T20:16:53.605-04:002010-08-10T20:16:53.605-04:00Fried chicken, brownies and non-said dialogue tags...Fried chicken, brownies and non-said dialogue tags...everything in moderation.<br /><br />I usually use just said and ask (said with a question phrase just feels so wrong), but occasionally a shout or whisper pops up. Used sparingly, I think they add to the writing. Yes, you could say "she barely heard him"...but is that because he spoke quietly or she's going deaf? Yes, you could clarify "she barely heard him because he spoke so softly," but then why not just cut to the chase and say whisper?<br /><br />Too many shouts and murmurs and a reader would go crazy, but a little can go a long way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-85271373793297209642010-08-10T19:57:01.319-04:002010-08-10T19:57:01.319-04:00As a reader, I very rarely process the 'saids&...As a reader, I very rarely process the 'saids' and 'askeds' - the dialogue will, hopefully, just flow through those words. As a writer, however, I like to shake it up with the shouteds etc.That's probably because I get conscious when examining my work that I am over using certain words.<br /><br />To look at the Anthony example by itself, shouted is probably the better choice as otherwise Susan's reaction would seem a little over the top.wordsareforwritinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11236493803322451842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-61862179869831438892010-08-10T18:59:33.852-04:002010-08-10T18:59:33.852-04:00As dialogue is the heart and soul of my writing, I...As dialogue is the heart and soul of my writing, I am very aware of the designations of he/she said and their potential modifiers. For a while, in my early writing, I tried to be all Faulkner-esque and leave them out altogether. Yeah...imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but not when it comes to Faulkner's dialogue. I will agree that well written dialogue needs little punctuation and no more than the requisite he said/she said, when appropriate. It should be framed in a context that the readers understand whether the situation calls for shouting, whispering, and despite what Marisa says, even the occasional hissing. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14146202292991788473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-57925855084791576262010-08-10T18:10:18.733-04:002010-08-10T18:10:18.733-04:00I agree with Derek Gentry. There ought not to be a...I agree with Derek Gentry. There ought not to be any absolutes as to whether or not you use a tag. Language evolves. If "said" is the best tag to get the point across in the fewest words, use it. If "shouted" works better in a particular situation, why not use it?<br /><br />In the examples Eric gave, the second option is a giant speed bump. Anthony 'says' a shouted word, Susan reacts, and I get whiplash involuntarily checking to make sure everything jives. Ugh. The first option allows me to continue with the story.<br /><br />Writers are the rule makers, not just the annoying grammar police at family functions. (I've cut way back -- on policing, not family functions.) Do you think Shakespeare stopped to check his Style Guide?Zeifushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14802606901640496044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-44920194067996763192010-08-10T18:02:37.783-04:002010-08-10T18:02:37.783-04:00And this is just one example of why language is an...And this is just one example of why language is an art and not a science. New writers not confident in themselves desperately want rules so they can believe they're on equal footing with the pros as long as they're following the same rules. There is so much gray in writing it can be terrifying to the uninitiated. <br /><br />I also think what tags you use and how you use them helps define your style and voice. Guaranteed that whatever you disparage -- the use of exclams, no variance from "said", too much variance from "said", using "said" in place of "asked", <i>ad infinitum</i> -- someone else will come along and squee all over it. ;o)Phoenix Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03290349031002504007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-65218516802485774632010-08-10T16:30:35.001-04:002010-08-10T16:30:35.001-04:00I'm listening to an audio book in which the au...I'm listening to an audio book in which the author uses, 'speaK' or 'I speak' all the time. eg. Speak. "Open the cage." I speak. "He'll kill me if I do."<br />Also the whole book is in first person, present tense. At first I hated it but kept on listening as I had nothing else in the car with me. Now I'm used to it and will probably continue to the end which I am sure will be very depressing - but maybe not.<br /><br /> I personally use what seems appropriate. Simple 'said' in a normal situation. Nothing if alternating speakers or in the midst of descriptive action. Adverb if I want to impress a mood.Jilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06206343146099915097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-26371462773916097662010-08-10T16:26:43.550-04:002010-08-10T16:26:43.550-04:00Joseph L. Selby above beat me to it. The dialogue ...Joseph L. Selby above beat me to it. The dialogue tag seems unnecessary. Since "she recoiled," we know "he" -- the other participant in the conversation -- spoke. And "said" seems a pretty weak way of describing what he's doing if she's recoiling. <br /><br />That said (um), I pretty much agree with the general point, but of course there are always exceptions.<br /><br />For myself, I mostly do without dialogue tags unless it's necessary to make clear who's speaking or it improves the rhythm of a sentence by adding a necessary beat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-12457473111136408542010-08-10T16:06:37.085-04:002010-08-10T16:06:37.085-04:00Haha, Yodeling!
I agree with you on the tags. I t...Haha, Yodeling!<br /><br />I agree with you on the tags. I try not to use exclamation points in my ms, either, unlike in my blog and my comments!!!<br /><br />I try to keep conversations to two people, which cuts down on the number of tags needed. But you still need some or people lose track.Terry Stonecrophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03726985400500572770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-83762535346777510212010-08-10T15:00:32.626-04:002010-08-10T15:00:32.626-04:00I prefer to leave out dialogue tags and make the d...I prefer to leave out dialogue tags and make the dialogue and action clearly show whom is doing/saying what...but since I'm all wet behind the ears, is this a bad thing? Anyone?JC Danielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00721559702587189584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-39205091801945228352010-08-10T14:55:22.800-04:002010-08-10T14:55:22.800-04:00I really don't mind tags other than said/asked...I really don't mind tags other than said/asked (and do think "asked" should be used for questions, from a grammatical point of view), but like anything else, they have to be used in moderation. Too many "intoned"s or "pontificated"s can easily be distracting, but a sprinkling throughout may add flavor.<br /><br />I agree with the posters above that "'No!' he said" and "'No!' he shouted" are different. The first is forceful, the second is loud and forceful, and the change in volume can indicate a lot: that the character either keeps his cool when angry or loses his temper, that the character is controlled vs. irrational, etc. Volume isn't always obvious from context, at least without a lot of extra words to give that little part more context.<br /><br />And what if the way the character says something, or at least the volume at which they say it, is meant to be surprising? What if you expect the character to react forcefully but she whispers her reply? Yes, these things can be shown by action, and I'm also a big fan of dropping dialogue tags and expanding the character through their physical reactions, but a couple of "whispered"s aren't going to pull me out of the story either, and might make it flow more smoothly or quickly.Kristin Laughtinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01536556357622503501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-57929046669166855432010-08-10T14:26:27.738-04:002010-08-10T14:26:27.738-04:00On my first pass through a book, I use tags willy-...On my first pass through a book, I use tags willy-nilly. Then I do a search for them and see which ones I think can be safely eliminated and/or changed to include movement or change the wording to emphasize something.<br /><br />I agree with others: "Sue recoiled..." should start a new sentence in Sue's POV. Otherwise it gets messy.J Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04016624838926050085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-33416740680638977362010-08-10T13:34:44.955-04:002010-08-10T13:34:44.955-04:00Can't an exclamation point be used for more th...Can't an exclamation point be used for more than just indicating shouting? <br /><br />To me:<br /><br />"No!" Anthony said.<br /><br />and<br /><br />"No!" Anthony shouted. <br /><br />are different. The first indicates emphasis. The second, volume only.<br /><br />"I just love exclamation points!" Jane said. <br />"I just love exclamation points." Jane said.<br /><br />Does the first really mean Jane was shouting at the top of her lungs about her adoration of the exclamation point?<br /><br />Also, I just used the tag "intoned" in a chapter I wrote recently, and I know that I'm probably going to have to take it out, but I really like it. I'm leaving it in as long as possible. Or...I'm leaving it in as long as possible! I wonder if my writing group (who will definitely tell me to take it out) can hear me from here?Kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02189885439561806664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-54105625063114107952010-08-10T13:03:40.181-04:002010-08-10T13:03:40.181-04:00As with most things, the answer is always found th...As with most things, the answer is always found through context. Writing dialog tags can be confusing for a beginner and these rules reflect how it can be done without boring the reader. In practice, however, there are plenty of circumstances where a non-said or asked tag can be useful to the scene. Asked instead of said is useful when a pattern of dialog is in progress and the author needs to create a reference point but wants to keep the focus on the dialog. Even excessive use of said can be problematic. I recently listened to an audio book where "he said", "she said" was so overused it became a distraction.<br /><br />Reading aloud will usually give you a clue where these problems exist and it is easy to fix.T.N. Tobiashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06542724172604760509noreply@blogger.com