Comments on: The Dread “Said” Bookism & the uses of speaking verbs http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs/ Writing and Reading. Commerce and Art. Fantasy and Science Fiction. Discuss. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:24:06 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Superhero Nation: a superhero writing advice site » Don’t Overuse Exotic Substitutes for “Said” http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs/comment-page-1/#comment-2511 Superhero Nation: a superhero writing advice site » Don’t Overuse Exotic Substitutes for “Said” Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:44:11 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/kevinamurphy/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs#comment-2511 [...] ejaculated– I haven’t seen this one in print, but I’ve heard horror stories. [...] [...] ejaculated– I haven’t seen this one in print, but I’ve heard horror stories. [...]

]]> By: Eternal Blog Reborn » Submission Day http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs/comment-page-1/#comment-2512 Eternal Blog Reborn » Submission Day Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:46:52 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/kevinamurphy/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs#comment-2512 [...] level is decent.  The prose flows reasonably well, I’ve mostly avoided “said bookisms” and the use of adverbial dialogue tags.  The dialogue is at times a bit forced and the [...] [...] level is decent.  The prose flows reasonably well, I’ve mostly avoided “said bookisms” and the use of adverbial dialogue tags.  The dialogue is at times a bit forced and the [...]

]]> By: David Keck http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs/comment-page-1/#comment-2510 David Keck Mon, 14 Aug 2006 21:10:07 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/kevinamurphy/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs#comment-2510 {Butting in from the Ether} I've been teaching middle school for a while now, and I feel it my sad duty to confirm that "he ejaculated" seems to have been lost to us forever as a serious dialogue tag. I'm told that Doctor Ruth lives near my building -- I may place the blame at her door. {Butting in from the Ether}

I’ve been teaching middle school for a while now, and I feel it my sad duty to confirm that “he ejaculated” seems to have been lost to us forever as a serious dialogue tag.

I’m told that Doctor Ruth lives near my building — I may place the blame at her door.

]]> By: Kit Retterson http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs/comment-page-1/#comment-2509 Kit Retterson Sat, 12 Aug 2006 01:42:18 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/kevinamurphy/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs#comment-2509 Pynchon uses those constructions almost exclusively. I wonder if there is an author who predates him in using them or if he pioneered them. Does anyone know? It's been a long time since I read either V or Gravity's Rainbow, but I don't recall that Pynchon ever used the word "said" in the context described here. Would that make him a Sans-Said Saint? Pynchon uses those constructions almost exclusively.

I wonder if there is an author who predates him in using them or if he pioneered them. Does anyone know?

It’s been a long time since I read either V or Gravity’s Rainbow, but I don’t recall that Pynchon ever used the word “said” in the context described here. Would that make him a Sans-Said Saint?

]]> By: Erin Underwood http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs/comment-page-1/#comment-2508 Erin Underwood Sat, 12 Aug 2006 00:48:44 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/kevinamurphy/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs#comment-2508 Can we stop eating babies now? I'm stuffed. Can we stop eating babies now? I’m stuffed.

]]> By: David Louis Edelman http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs/comment-page-1/#comment-2507 David Louis Edelman Sat, 12 Aug 2006 00:43:48 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/kevinamurphy/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs#comment-2507 Okay, maybe the Pynchonisms aren't exactly unique. Just unusual. Okay, maybe the Pynchonisms aren’t exactly unique. Just unusual.

]]> By: Kit Retterson http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs/comment-page-1/#comment-2506 Kit Retterson Sat, 12 Aug 2006 00:40:27 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/kevinamurphy/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs#comment-2506 Eh, my example was meant to be bad. Eh, my example was meant to be bad.

]]> By: Kevin Andrew Murphy http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs/comment-page-1/#comment-2505 Kevin Andrew Murphy Sat, 12 Aug 2006 00:12:30 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/kevinamurphy/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs#comment-2505 Those are unique? Nicely used, yes, but I've seen and used the like a lot before. Those are unique? Nicely used, yes, but I’ve seen and used the like a lot before.

]]> By: David Louis Edelman http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs/comment-page-1/#comment-2504 David Louis Edelman Fri, 11 Aug 2006 23:58:18 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/kevinamurphy/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs#comment-2504 <blockquote>To be sure, everything in moderation — saids, thoughts, smiles, nods, whatnots and whosamagiggies.</blockquote> I have to admit that I quickly get bored of moderation. You just gotta branch out. I like some of the unique constructions Thomas Pynchon uses, things like: She hadn't moved from the car. "Benny," one fingernail touched his face. Or: "All right--" he was mad-- "show me the difference." (Both from <em>V.</em>, 1961, picked at pseudo-random.)

To be sure, everything in moderation — saids, thoughts, smiles, nods, whatnots and whosamagiggies.

I have to admit that I quickly get bored of moderation. You just gotta branch out. I like some of the unique constructions Thomas Pynchon uses, things like:

She hadn’t moved from the car.
“Benny,” one fingernail touched his face.

Or:

“All right–” he was mad– “show me the difference.”

(Both from V., 1961, picked at pseudo-random.)

]]> By: Madeleine Robins http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs/comment-page-1/#comment-2503 Madeleine Robins Fri, 11 Aug 2006 23:33:18 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/kevinamurphy/craft/the-dread-said-bookism-the-uses-of-speaking-verbs#comment-2503 The tone of the writer's voice has a lot to do with how many speech tags you can get away with--and of what sort. I favor as few as possible (taking into account that if you don't use enough, the reader is going to be sitting there wondering who is saying what). I like indicating the speaker by action, but (as mentioned above) that can be a staging nightmare. Ava peered into the mirror and groomed her eyebrow. "Where's Lobelia?" "Um." Rolf glanced around the room as if seeking his infant daughter. "Rolf?" "It was dinner time. You didn't leave anything in the refrigerator." "There was a casserole in the microwave." Ava put down the eyebrow comb and turned to face her husband. "Rolf. You ate the baby." He nodded, shamefaced. "What are we going to serve the Prenderghasts when they come for dinner next week? Really, dear, it was so thoughtless." Ava shook her head and turned back to the mirror. Sorry, this is too much fun. The tone of the writer’s voice has a lot to do with how many speech tags you can get away with–and of what sort. I favor as few as possible (taking into account that if you don’t use enough, the reader is going to be sitting there wondering who is saying what). I like indicating the speaker by action, but (as mentioned above) that can be a staging nightmare.

Ava peered into the mirror and groomed her eyebrow. “Where’s Lobelia?”

“Um.” Rolf glanced around the room as if seeking his infant daughter.

“Rolf?”

“It was dinner time. You didn’t leave anything in the refrigerator.”

“There was a casserole in the microwave.” Ava put down the eyebrow comb and turned to face her husband. “Rolf. You ate the baby.”

He nodded, shamefaced.

“What are we going to serve the Prenderghasts when they come for dinner next week? Really, dear, it was so thoughtless.” Ava shook her head and turned back to the mirror.

Sorry, this is too much fun.

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