Comments on: 5 More Mistakes of First-Time Novelists (#6-10)

By: esnipplee

esnipplee — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:32:21 +0000

i disagree with 6. i’ve heard its an american thing that amkes it incorrect. but i’ll still follow.
its okay if your charries speak a language that /sounds/ like -whatever-ing?
i’m always on a desperate search to find something less bland than “said”
i sometimes end up with “replied” in a conversation.

i write in third person anyways, for seven.

my niceities don’t currently go that much further than “”hello” she said casually but quietly”but i’ll keep it in mind.

9 and ten i will remember.

By: Steampossum

Steampossum — Mon, 24 May 2010 02:35:49 +0000

While niceties shouldn’t be OVERUSED, I believe that they can play an important role in padding a story with a touch of relatable humanity and making it seem less robotic and pushed along. Of course you don’t want them in every conversation, and you shouldn’t have a conversation consisting entirely of them, but a “Hey, how are you? Can I get you anything?” can be a good, humanizing “cushion” in a plot advancing conversation.

By: The ReTARDISed Whovian

The ReTARDISed Whovian — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:49:50 +0000

6. I never do that. The only ways I really show who is speaking are with “said”, “exclaimed” or saying the character’s name, followed by something like “Wendy spoke first, breaking the silence”.

7. Doesn’t apply.

8. Oops. I have made a few mistakes in that category. I shall embark on a nicety hunt.

9. Its obvious that misusing “it’s” and “its” is a big problem. I would think its enough to make a manuscript get thrown out on it’s butt. Haha.

10. No Unnecessary Capitalization for Me. Haha.