Comments on: Style Checklist http://www.superheronation.com/2006/07/22/style-checklist/ How to write a superhero book, comic book or superhero novel and get it published Mon, 20 May 2013 02:03:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2006/07/22/style-checklist/#comment-91172 B. Mac Fri, 26 Nov 2010 09:49:11 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=19#comment-91172 <br /> Even in dialogue, I would recommend against starting sentences with <a href="http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/14/writing-tip-of-the-day-dont-start-sentences-with-empty-interjections/" / rel="nofollow">empty interjections</a> unless you have a good reason. Fictional dialogue is usually tighter and wastes fewer words than real-life dialogue and empty interjections are one example of words that can usually be cut. (Unless, for example, you're trying to create a brief pause). <br /> MAD SCIENTIST'S GIRLFRIEND: You're plotting to destroy the world again. <br /> MAD SCIENTIST: Absolutely not! What would give you that impression? <br /> (A massive explosion booms from the basement lab). <br /> MAD SCIENTIST, embarrassed: So... How about them Lakers? <br /> ... <br /> "Is there exceptions for the fragment rule when it comes to dialogue? Because normal people don’t typically talk in fully structured sentences." I'd recommend doing what feels natural, but not overdoing it. As long as the author is aware of the fragments, I doubt they'll pose much of a problem. Even in dialogue, I would recommend against starting sentences with empty interjections unless you have a good reason. Fictional dialogue is usually tighter and wastes fewer words than real-life dialogue and empty interjections are one example of words that can usually be cut. (Unless, for example, you’re trying to create a brief pause).

MAD SCIENTIST’S GIRLFRIEND: You’re plotting to destroy the world again.

MAD SCIENTIST: Absolutely not! What would give you that impression?

(A massive explosion booms from the basement lab).

MAD SCIENTIST, embarrassed: So… How about them Lakers?

…

“Is there exceptions for the fragment rule when it comes to dialogue? Because normal people don’t typically talk in fully structured sentences.” I’d recommend doing what feels natural, but not overdoing it. As long as the author is aware of the fragments, I doubt they’ll pose much of a problem.

]]> By: Olivia http://www.superheronation.com/2006/07/22/style-checklist/#comment-91110 Olivia Fri, 26 Nov 2010 01:18:09 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=19#comment-91110 Is there exceptions for the fragment rule when it comes to dialogue? Because normal people don't typically talk in fully structured sentences Another question along the same line, is there exceptions in dialogue when it comes to starting sentences with like, so, by the way, etc? Is there exceptions for the fragment rule when it comes to dialogue? Because normal people don’t typically talk in fully structured sentences

Another question along the same line, is there exceptions in dialogue when it comes to starting sentences with like, so, by the way, etc?

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2006/07/22/style-checklist/#comment-12081 B. Mac Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:11:12 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=19#comment-12081 I highly recommend sticking with the Alex-Karen group. This early on, your readers won't exactly be sure who the main characters are... if you give a chapter about someone else, readers may conclude that those characters are much more important than they actually are. If you'd like to remind us that there are other students here, you could put a third member in the A-K group, ideally someone that makes at least some cameo appearances later. <br /> You could also allude, from A-K's perspective, to the other students so that it doesn't feel like we're in a vacuum. For example, their teacher might run out of the classroom after two of the other students manage to set each other on fire, or something. Or they hear explosions from another room and the teacher tells them to ignore it and keep training. I highly recommend sticking with the Alex-Karen group. This early on, your readers won’t exactly be sure who the main characters are… if you give a chapter about someone else, readers may conclude that those characters are much more important than they actually are. If you’d like to remind us that there are other students here, you could put a third member in the A-K group, ideally someone that makes at least some cameo appearances later.

You could also allude, from A-K’s perspective, to the other students so that it doesn’t feel like we’re in a vacuum. For example, their teacher might run out of the classroom after two of the other students manage to set each other on fire, or something. Or they hear explosions from another room and the teacher tells them to ignore it and keep training.

]]> By: Brett http://www.superheronation.com/2006/07/22/style-checklist/#comment-12077 Brett Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:22:08 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=19#comment-12077 Question. In chapters 3 and 4 (that's during the training) the kids are split into groups to learn their powers. The groups are: April, Kiturah, Joshua Michael, Rachel, Zenobia Alex and Karen Originally they were in groups of two, but switching between 4 stories was difficult and a poor attempt at suspense. You could tell I was tired because by the time I got to Rachel & Kiturah's story it was crap on a stick. So I merged some of the groups. The problem now is that I don't think I can effectively show interaction between three minor characters. They all have defining traits, but it will be difficult. Plus all the stories make the chapter superlong. I ask you, will readers miss those two extra stories if I trash them? The main story is Alex vs Karen. I don't want readers to be distracted from that but at the same time I don't want them wondering, "hey, what about the other kids?" Do you think if I make Alex and Karen's story interesting enough they won't care what's going on with the others? Your thoughts? Question. In chapters 3 and 4 (that’s during the training) the kids are split into groups to learn their powers. The groups are:
April, Kiturah, Joshua
Michael, Rachel, Zenobia
Alex and Karen

Originally they were in groups of two, but switching between 4 stories was difficult and a poor attempt at suspense. You could tell I was tired because by the time I got to Rachel & Kiturah’s story it was crap on a stick. So I merged some of the groups. The problem now is that I don’t think I can effectively show interaction between three minor characters. They all have defining traits, but it will be difficult. Plus all the stories make the chapter superlong. I ask you, will readers miss those two extra stories if I trash them? The main story is Alex vs Karen. I don’t want readers to be distracted from that but at the same time I don’t want them wondering, “hey, what about the other kids?” Do you think if I make Alex and Karen’s story interesting enough they won’t care what’s going on with the others?

Your thoughts?

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