Why do people have a problem with using the word "said" in attributing words to a speaker?
I used to use all sorts of words to get around having to use that boring, dry word we call "said." For a 500 page book, I hardly used the word.
In reality, there are some good reasons for using that word. Number one, people skip right by that word so they don't care how fancy or creative it is. You can use all sorts of words like "mumbled" or "bark" but people won't see it. It's a waste of effort.
Secondly, it calls attention to the writing when all the reader wants to know is who is talking.
Thirdly, you shouldn't need to say someone "snipped" or something like that. The dialogue ought to reveal the speaker's feeling.
Lastly, Jerry Jenkins said something to the effect that people don't, "bark, yawn, cough, or howl. They say things."
The word said is great time saver on top of all that! How many words do you think you've used for the word "said"?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
He said/She said
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6 comments:
I have always tried to use word instead of "said". But then again, it was on a "banded list of words" in a writing class I took a couple years ago.
Dude, actually, I always use the word 'said'. I use mumbled or yelled, but rarely anything else.
-Judi
I usually try not to use any word that could take the place of "said", including "said" itself, unless I really want to convey how someone is saying something. I mean, it's pretty obvious that someone says something...so why would you always need to use a word to tell the reader?
:)Ian(:
Sounds like I'm talking to the quire here! I personally like using beats in attributing who's speaking.
"Sara slammed the books on the table. 'It's not fair!'"
I remember reading a book that listed all the alternative words for said...it makes me cringe to think about someday removing all those little creeps from the writing! :)
I try to use action tags instead of speaker attributions.
Well, are you ever going to update?
-Judi
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