tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post8843171311551486226..comments2024-03-26T15:49:05.333-07:00Comments on Criminal Minds: Writing Tics: The ‘Comfort Food’ of WritingJosh Stallingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09913654176433125233noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-15997313385811495772016-08-21T18:57:12.695-07:002016-08-21T18:57:12.695-07:00Thanks, Nancy. And I think if one is writing a ter...Thanks, Nancy. And I think if one is writing a term paper then formality is a good thing in the writing. But for a novel, especially in 2016, I think informality, at least to a point, is good. Otherwise it starts to sound stilted. And ellipses are good for the soul ;)Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-54775232500000167842016-08-21T16:42:55.373-07:002016-08-21T16:42:55.373-07:00Dare I say ditto? I agree with everything you say...Dare I say ditto? I agree with everything you say. My formal writing began with my broadcast journalism career where I had a professor who would yell at us to write like people talk - and never, never send something to the studio without reading it out loud first. Tone, pace and in certain cases, alliteration - yes, alliteration - were all unique to the on-air broadcast. These were all together different rules than those that applied to print. Years later, understanding broadcast style made it a much easier transition when approaching the blank page for the purpose of writing a novel. However, my editor still shakes her head when she spots all those hyphens and ellipses. Nancy Cole Silvermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17849550286142791220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-47498401651584048482016-08-20T15:23:03.984-07:002016-08-20T15:23:03.984-07:00Thanks, Jackie. Write free! Stephen King can affor...Thanks, Jackie. Write free! Stephen King can afford not to use a thesaurus, but us working stiffs need all the help we can get. :)Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-69818209405460765632016-08-20T10:27:58.056-07:002016-08-20T10:27:58.056-07:00A great post, Paul. You have vindicated me! I used...A great post, Paul. You have vindicated me! I used to cower before Stephen King's dismissive, omniscient advice, my hand stopping and trembling as I reached for the Thesauras on the shelf. Now, I can use sophomoric and apposite to my content. <br />OF COURSE I do not have a string of best selling books like he does.<br />AND I don't have any books or collections of short stories in Ellery Queen Magazine like you do.<br />BUT thanks anyway!<br />I can write free.Jackie Houchinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01753758587434594531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-62540747929975081142016-08-19T20:27:05.432-07:002016-08-19T20:27:05.432-07:00Thanks, Debby! And welcome to Dashaholics Anonymou...Thanks, Debby! And welcome to Dashaholics Anonymous! You'll get your button shortly.<br /><br />And Ellery Queen does do e-versions, I believe. And I think they come out when the paper one does. Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-78219043568468876682016-08-19T19:21:15.402-07:002016-08-19T19:21:15.402-07:00Great advise Paul. My everyday writing is terrifyi...Great advise Paul. My everyday writing is terrifying and I'll need to join your support group for dashaholics.<br /><br />Congratulations on a second story in Ellery Queen! I can't wait for that to hit the electronic market!Debby Obinnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03442019591441867966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-91323242442923866482016-08-19T18:36:07.079-07:002016-08-19T18:36:07.079-07:00Allan, we should probably form a support group: Hi...Allan, we should probably form a support group: Hi, I'm Allan (or Paul) and I'm a a Dashaholic. :)<br /><br />They do seem to work better for certain things than commas or periods, don't they?Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-42025249513108447902016-08-19T17:21:23.750-07:002016-08-19T17:21:23.750-07:00Paul, I'm glad to hear I'm not the only on...Paul, I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who likes dashes--I'm a dashaholic and I can't quit. Eventually, I'll probably dispense with periods entirely--they seem so final, where dashes link sentences in friendly, supportive neighborhoods of prose.Allan J. Emersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06066540739977912609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-13424132561392636002016-08-19T15:13:22.830-07:002016-08-19T15:13:22.830-07:00Thanks, Madeline. That’s a great idea to keep a li...Thanks, Madeline. That’s a great idea to keep a list. I mostly just have certain things in my head that I try to remember. Indeed and nonetheless are good ones too. As for going for the dictionary, I agree with you. That’s how we learn new words. And it’s fun and challenging.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-10458951767139776992016-08-19T15:12:51.602-07:002016-08-19T15:12:51.602-07:00Thanks, AJ. I plan to keep using them. I just worr...Thanks, AJ. I plan to keep using them. I just worry now that for anyone who’s read this they’ll stand out like bombs bursting in air.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-79988257928182518412016-08-19T15:12:17.553-07:002016-08-19T15:12:17.553-07:00Thanks for a pretty nice answer, Alan. Just from t...Thanks for a pretty nice answer, Alan. Just from that response I’m pretty sure you have no writing tics.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-24370627332981295092016-08-19T15:11:37.785-07:002016-08-19T15:11:37.785-07:00Thanks, Sarah. Love that, “howls in pain.” Stare a...Thanks, Sarah. Love that, “howls in pain.” Stare and glare, those are two I forgot to mention, but we’re in the same club there. And then you sit there trying to find other words or ways to say those two…<br /><br />I haven’t heard of the Emotion Thesaurus. It sounds like a great idea. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for mentioning it. -- I just went and found this on Amazon. I think it might be what you were talking about: The Emotion Thesaurus A Writer's Guide To Character Expression Paperback, by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi<br />Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-74224104001317479312016-08-19T15:08:29.353-07:002016-08-19T15:08:29.353-07:00Those are three great questions, Gayle. Someday I’...Those are three great questions, Gayle. Someday I’ll tell you about one of my former screenwriting partners and how she approached those questions… I haven’t used the text to speech too. I should give it a try. Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-15761930771893659772016-08-19T15:07:58.694-07:002016-08-19T15:07:58.694-07:00Thanks, RM. Yeah, I’m jazzed about the story for E...Thanks, RM. Yeah, I’m jazzed about the story for EQ. And have actually already sold them another with the same characters/setting.<br /><br />And I use the Urban Dictionary all the time too. Though I think it used to be better. They seem to have stopped the “thesaurus” aspect of it. And I hope I used the correct term. To get to the Navigation tool you just hit Control-F. It’s sort of a find function but also lists how many times you use a word that you type in.<br />Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-34176499723991247482016-08-19T12:44:37.937-07:002016-08-19T12:44:37.937-07:00Oh yes, Paul, those comfort words! I have a list, ...Oh yes, Paul, those comfort words! I have a list, and when editing do a search on them, and even though I've mentally tried not to use, there they are--and quite plentiful. One of my favorites, is "Indeed," and then there's "nonetheless," and the list goes on...<br /><br />I'm a P.D. James admirer, and if a novel doesn't send me to the dictionary at least once, I'm a little let down. (smile)<br /><br />Excellent post, made me think--a good thing.M.M. Gornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05610211516010193111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-47502082118096021772016-08-19T11:50:44.289-07:002016-08-19T11:50:44.289-07:00Keep on Keeping on. I rather like the phrases you ...Keep on Keeping on. I rather like the phrases you use Paul.AJ Wilcoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00335147580095274871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-50391856160904234422016-08-19T11:27:35.116-07:002016-08-19T11:27:35.116-07:00Pretty good post, Paul. Not surprising, because yo...Pretty good post, Paul. Not surprising, because you're a pretty good writer, full of pretty good ideas, which you execute pretty well. I'm pretty sure I have a writing tic or two myself!Alan Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03695574442723430347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-11123610152768464072016-08-19T09:14:42.908-07:002016-08-19T09:14:42.908-07:00Great post, Paul. I also have my "comfort wor...Great post, Paul. I also have my "comfort words" or actually more like "comfort phrases." I use "howls in pain" a lot and "puffed his chest out." I also have characters grin, stare, and glare. I also start sentences with "and" and "but." I often do a "find" search in Word to find these crutch words. <br /><br />Have you heard of a helpful guide called the Emotion Thesaurus? I've never used it, but I've heard other writers mention it and it sounds interesting. It's supposed to provide the writer with different ways of expressing character emotions.<br /><br />Congrats on the EQ story, Paul! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-54667679076613722912016-08-19T09:04:35.380-07:002016-08-19T09:04:35.380-07:00I do a lot of the same things - repeat words ad na...I do a lot of the same things - repeat words ad nauseam, and or but beginning sentences, unnecessary phrases... Three dots or a dash to end a cut-off sentence. BUT, I have found using the "text to speech" feature on my computer really helps. I can hear what I wrote from the little mechanical voice's lips and very often I change a word or phrase or even an entire sentence if it doesn't work. I teach a writing class and hand out a card for writers to hang over their computers. Three simple things to ask yourself about any given word/phrase/paragraph: Does it enhance the story? Does it advance the story? Is it redundant? GBPoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190573764848658894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-15620721623833400852016-08-19T08:31:03.448-07:002016-08-19T08:31:03.448-07:00It's strange writerly fun to spy on someone el...It's strange writerly fun to spy on someone else going through similar editing processes. I feel the same about the thesaurus thing... whatever it takes to find the word that clicks. The Urban dictionary is also useful for un-hip types like me. Also thanks for pointing out the navigation tool - I'll look it up too.<br /><br />Congratulations on the Ellery Queen story -- that's fabulous!! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02029180644399869867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-64577826989982663412016-08-19T06:10:44.541-07:002016-08-19T06:10:44.541-07:00Thanks, Art. I’m excited about the story too.
And...Thanks, Art. I’m excited about the story too.<br /><br />And I think we do get comfortable with certain phrases or words. I still like using them. Just – just – don’t want to overuse them. I also agree with you about needing to understand the nuances of various words. The thesaurus is a great tool, but like with anything needs to be used judiciously.<br />Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-28387505591833856702016-08-19T05:21:02.077-07:002016-08-19T05:21:02.077-07:00Great post, Paul--great way to round out this week...Great post, Paul--great way to round out this week's discussion. I always search for those phrases I tend to overuse (I keep a list) but I've never used that Navigation feature you mention. I'll have to give it a try! And like you, I don't mind the thesaurus, though I understand what King means (having seen students who are clearly relying on it, without fully understanding the nuances and differences between various words).<br /><br />Congrats on the upcoming story. Can't wait!Art Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02409008167752619352noreply@blogger.com