tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post7368826569899379561..comments2023-08-16T07:15:32.801-04:00Comments on BookingIt: He Said, Said HeJessica Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-16411247581317913702009-08-24T18:48:26.729-04:002009-08-24T18:48:26.729-04:00I ALWAYS write with about 4 books around me of a s...I ALWAYS write with about 4 books around me of a similar format that I can thumb through to look for examples of just this kind of thing. It's weird-I've read SO much, but still sit confused about how dialogue and structure needs to go--And ur right-I've never seen a helpful on-line guide. If you find one, let me know!!!! :)Pen Penhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18443147029903410419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-44552948489642850882009-08-18T14:41:00.345-04:002009-08-18T14:41:00.345-04:00Thanks Kate, Jill and Karen for commenting!
I'...Thanks Kate, Jill and Karen for commenting!<br />I'm having a crazy busy day today but I hope to pop by your blogs later tonight! :-)Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-17926918449079948112009-08-18T14:39:56.338-04:002009-08-18T14:39:56.338-04:00Debra, the link MeganRebekah provided above was re...Debra, the link MeganRebekah provided above was really good. Basically the author said that we should go with what flows better in the sentence. :-)Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-8472165464642147732009-08-18T11:35:06.635-04:002009-08-18T11:35:06.635-04:00Somewhere I lost track of what was right or normal...Somewhere I lost track of what was right or normal. When I first started this historical I would never have used said John. But the other day I noticed I'd slipped a few in. Again, it's a historical and my characters aren't speaking like contemporaries of us but more to what I feel they would said in their time. <br />Well, you know they are just talking and I'm listening . . . <br /><br />But said John is feeling more natural. I do vary it. I don't want to look unprofessional but I think I'm going to stick with a few of them.Debra E. Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17853387871623424853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-86288134008938307182009-08-18T10:43:06.407-04:002009-08-18T10:43:06.407-04:00Interesting question. I think that I usually use ...Interesting question. I think that I usually use "she said", but I don't think that "said he" would necessarily be wrong.Kate Karyus Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15581176126578915929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-46613009459010574852009-08-18T10:41:55.233-04:002009-08-18T10:41:55.233-04:00I just read a terrific little gem of a book on sen...I just read a terrific little gem of a book on sentence structure. It recommended the following two tags: she said and she asked. Subject comes first. Use asked for a question. Also, the Self-Editing book mentioned earlier? It's my fave!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-12154985363110727222009-08-18T07:27:51.456-04:002009-08-18T07:27:51.456-04:00Ah, rules, rules, rules!
I guess I think subject f...Ah, rules, rules, rules!<br />I guess I think subject first, too.<br />Because "Said he, said she" just doesn't sound right! *grin*Karen Hossinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18049412644792482270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-48178683334320446112009-08-18T05:57:54.933-04:002009-08-18T05:57:54.933-04:00Don't worry Tabitha. I think it may be more of...Don't worry Tabitha. I think it may be more of a preference than a rule. :-)<br /><br />Hi Susan,<br />Well, from what I'm hearing, if you're consistent it doesn't matter. Though Victoria said she met editors who hate it, so I'm not sure...<br /><br />Hi Kathryn,<br />LOL! Are you as funny in person as in writing? :-) Cute excerpt of your writing. LOLJessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-34848520407809575652009-08-17T21:12:36.473-04:002009-08-17T21:12:36.473-04:00Well, there you go. I did not even relaise there w...Well, there you go. I did not even relaise there were rules. I have always used 'said John.' But I can see the point about the subject being more important. What happens when you are writing in the presents tense and using 'says'? Is it 'John says'?<br />That just sounds wrong. I really don't know Jess, sorry.Tabitha Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08196816108272065974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-49890584231857680362009-08-17T20:51:23.650-04:002009-08-17T20:51:23.650-04:00Hi Jess -
While I don't use a lot of dialogue...Hi Jess -<br /><br />While I don't use a lot of dialogue tags, I generally go with, "said John." Maybe I need to re-think the order.<br /><br />Thanks for bringing up the subject.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Susan :)Susan J. Reinhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07461276857852409546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-88502969152905718532009-08-17T20:18:43.421-04:002009-08-17T20:18:43.421-04:00Well, Dang, I never thought about it .. let me thi...Well, Dang, I never thought about it .. let me think what I do...hmmm, I'll just start typing dialogue and see what comes out:<br /><br />"I hurt my finger," kat said.<br /><br />I said, "I sure hurt my finger."<br /><br />I hurt my finger," Kat said. "But my toe hurts worse."<br /><br />"What?" Kat asked her finger. "You think you hurt worse than my toe?"<br /><br />Kat asked, "Toe, are you hurt?"<br /><br />That's what I do. <br /><br />Now I'm going to try it the other way and see if my fingers will do it....<br /><br />"I hurt my finger and my toe," said Kat.<br /><br />That doesn't come naturally to me.<br /><br />So, personally for me, I'd do it subject first.<br /><br />I do agree with being consistent. But I think to that the "said Kat" sounds like a kid's book or something.<br /><br /><br />:)Kathryn Magendiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-48471964217263088572009-08-17T19:43:50.538-04:002009-08-17T19:43:50.538-04:00Hi ladies,
Thanks for your input! I kind of like m...Hi ladies,<br />Thanks for your input! I kind of like mixing it up too, but at the same time I don't want to be out of touch. LOL!!!Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-26991477058893679812009-08-17T18:46:33.212-04:002009-08-17T18:46:33.212-04:00I am not an expert, but I think mixing it up gives...I am not an expert, but I think mixing it up gives it some variety and a different rythm than just "he said" 50 times over.Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07604687906788800639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-10145350517484851982009-08-17T18:41:45.172-04:002009-08-17T18:41:45.172-04:00I am grammatically impaired, but I vote for John s...I am grammatically impaired, but I vote for John said. :) Possibly it is a stylistic thing?Danyelle L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10366276085080565870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-23904098402327755232009-08-17T18:32:03.706-04:002009-08-17T18:32:03.706-04:00I also think subject first!I also think subject first!Katie Gansherthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09150375338556869812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-57104629858227270072009-08-17T14:36:48.201-04:002009-08-17T14:36:48.201-04:00Jessica, my thoughts went immediately to the same ...Jessica, my thoughts went immediately to the same book Eileen and Jody mentioned, <i>Self-Editing for Fiction Writers</i> by Renni Brown & Dave King. Chapter five, "Dialogue Mechanics," does a great job of not only presenting the "rules" but also explaining the reasons behind them.'<br /><br />Here's the paragraph from page 91 that answers your question:<br /><i>Place the character's name or pronoun first in a speaker attribution ("Dave said"). Reversing the two ("said Dave"), though often done, is less professionals. It has a slightly old-fashioned, first-grade-reader flavor (Run spot, run" said Jane.) After all, "said he" fell out of favor sometime during the Taft administration.</i><br /><br />What I read somewhere that made sense to me is that if the name were replaced by a pronoun, most writers would use 'he said" rather than "said he." The first sounds natural, the second odd.<br /><br />I highly recommend Browne and King's book. It's one of the best editing books I've seen.Keli Gwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13236868298400593688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-2487979005753362412009-08-17T13:25:26.109-04:002009-08-17T13:25:26.109-04:00Not only should it be "he said," but I&#...Not only should it be "he said," but I've heard editors wail and grind their teeth about the other.Victoria Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14012092208934951963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-46616637812204779992009-08-17T12:44:09.278-04:002009-08-17T12:44:09.278-04:00Hey T. Anne and Janna,
Wow, everyone seems to kno...Hey T. Anne and Janna,<br /><br />Wow, everyone seems to know the right way except me (until Eileen clued me in). That's so funny! <br /><br />Thanks for stopping by!Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-85472722493078411322009-08-17T12:43:27.537-04:002009-08-17T12:43:27.537-04:00LOL Donna!
"Thanks for the comment," Je...LOL Donna!<br /><br />"Thanks for the comment," Jessie said.<br /><br />*smirk*Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-70036437175090412322009-08-17T12:42:57.743-04:002009-08-17T12:42:57.743-04:00Hey Angeli/Stephanie,
Hahaa, okay, thanks for lett...Hey Angeli/Stephanie,<br />Hahaa, okay, thanks for letting me know. :-)<br /><br />My kids have lots of children's books but they're older ones. It would be interesting to find out if newer ones are different craft-wise.Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-66948267725984386702009-08-17T12:42:00.341-04:002009-08-17T12:42:00.341-04:00LOL Katie! I didn't learn it but I skipped aro...LOL Katie! I didn't learn it but I skipped around schools a lot and I haven't studied the books how I should've. *mental slap*Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-87292123634111650872009-08-17T12:38:35.544-04:002009-08-17T12:38:35.544-04:00^ As far as dialogue tags and their structure, in ...^ As far as dialogue tags and their structure, in general, that's how I feel.Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-38874127208410459022009-08-17T12:37:58.521-04:002009-08-17T12:37:58.521-04:00With that particular example, I prefer "she s...With that particular example, I prefer "she said." <br /><br />I'm sure there's a technical answer somewhere, but I really feel it depends on the writer's voice and flow of the story.Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-40771002931777268702009-08-17T11:57:43.097-04:002009-08-17T11:57:43.097-04:00I prefer, she said. I don't mind the tags if t...I prefer, she said. I don't mind the tags if they are not too repetitive and I like mixing in names once in a while. I always refer to my go to novels for help in this dept. when I write.Tanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10518718614911804428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-39623863437775488042009-08-17T11:40:34.609-04:002009-08-17T11:40:34.609-04:00For me it's always been subject first. It seem...For me it's always been subject first. It seems awkward to do it the other way around.<br /><br />"Thanks for the info," Donna said. LOL!Donna M. Kohlstromhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04268172745025677265noreply@blogger.com