tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post7616413335069157227..comments2024-03-26T15:49:05.333-07:00Comments on Criminal Minds: Just A Few Wee Tics, by CatrionaJosh Stallingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09913654176433125233noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-22240901171261150392022-10-15T22:15:06.275-07:002022-10-15T22:15:06.275-07:00Susan here. Our very own blog won’t let me comment...Susan here. Our very own blog won’t let me comment by name. Just saying. We write how we write and as long as words stay invisible or are one our characters’ tics, we’re free. I use just a lot in my speech, but was trained by one of my publishers to become painfully aware of it. In my writing, at least, it’s frequently not needed. But you, Catriona and Jim, are rock stars so carry on!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-1531451940939087332022-10-13T15:26:52.439-07:002022-10-13T15:26:52.439-07:00I personally love your wees. 😘 I personally love your wees. 😘 Annnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-44174478973493775262022-10-13T12:17:24.200-07:002022-10-13T12:17:24.200-07:00Josh, my favourite ever "wee" was someon...Josh, my favourite ever "wee" was someone describing a horrific birthing experience as "a wee forceps job and a few wee stitches". Jim - "Sayin'" Hahahahaha.Catriona McPhersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17234089279665716446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-6846055591191063152022-10-13T11:04:48.514-07:002022-10-13T11:04:48.514-07:00I agree 100%. On my last book, I hunted down the “...I agree 100%. On my last book, I hunted down the “justs” and tried to cut or replace them, sometimes with “only.” What a silly idea. In the end, I was left with 89 “justs” and 149 “onlys”!!! Live and let write. If we all wrote the same way what a boring world it would be. And I’ll wager no reader cares about these crutch words. I don’t. They’re words, the same as “the” and “a.” And I don’t hear people complaining that there are too many of those. Sayin’. (Notice the word I cut?)<br /><br />JimJames W. Ziskinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07677940119373480715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-19349617439079941052022-10-13T09:36:55.529-07:002022-10-13T09:36:55.529-07:00Invisible words, yes wish I’d heard that before wr...Invisible words, yes wish I’d heard that before writing tomorrow’s post. (Side note: I always wait to read the others minds posts until I’ve finished writing mine. You’re too brilliant, and I would just post, “What they said.”) And you are wise to point out we don’t notice invisible words as a problem until they are pointed out to us and then the “bug” us. I’m blessed by being self taught so I never knew most of these rule, I am curses by being self taught because I take editors rules as sold facts, not educated opinions. <br />As for wee, I personally can not get enough of it. Maybe you could add a wee bit more wees in special wee edition of your books.<br /><br />Think how the simple three letters could soften diplomacy, “If you drop a wee bomb on that cit, we’ll need to place a wee sanction on your economy..” <br /><br />Keep fighting the good fight!Josh Stallingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09913654176433125233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-38929339198608692742022-10-13T07:10:21.941-07:002022-10-13T07:10:21.941-07:00I still remember the first time I heard a workshop...I still remember the first time I heard a workshop leader pass on the "down with 'that'" rule. I asked her, reasonably I thought, which "that" she meant since there are three. Blind panic for her - she didn't know Miortification for me - I would never deliberately try to trip someone up like that. This was YEARS ago and I still shudder. Catriona McPhersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17234089279665716446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-65048037710008261192022-10-13T07:06:01.074-07:002022-10-13T07:06:01.074-07:00I mean, it's probably best to know that "...I mean, it's probably best to know that "just" is a shibboleth - I truly believe it's no more than that - so you can snap back when someone comes at you. Same deal with fancy speech tags: best to be ready for the scoffing if you decide to use them. Catriona McPhersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17234089279665716446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-60596358190706350132022-10-13T06:46:36.610-07:002022-10-13T06:46:36.610-07:00Love this. I had a long-running argument with my f...Love this. I had a long-running argument with my first Cyd Redondo editor about "just," which she kept removing from Cyd's dialogue. I tried to explain that, aside from the rhythm thing, she had spent her whole life trying to get permission/get something past her overprotective family and terms like "it's just for tonight," "it's just five dollars," it's just over the bridge," etc. were in her DNA. My new editor understands this.Wendall Thomasnoreply@blogger.com