tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post3492578998352527013..comments2023-11-02T02:40:48.410-07:00Comments on Crime Fiction Collective: The Thesaurus is Your Friend – Really!L.J. Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-69551669556142831702012-08-20T15:37:52.618-07:002012-08-20T15:37:52.618-07:00Only $12.91 in paperback on Amazon, Helen, and $21...Only $12.91 in paperback on Amazon, Helen, and $21.09 in hardcover. I bought the paperback and it's great! Large size - it has to be, with that many pages.Jodie Renner Editinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00830598595438997605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-2889722261719442292012-08-20T15:31:10.180-07:002012-08-20T15:31:10.180-07:00Great examples, Jodie. You make me want to go buy ...Great examples, Jodie. You make me want to go buy another Thesaurus, specifically, J.I. Rodale's book. I bet it's expensive, though.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-30046543899644227212012-08-20T06:27:41.981-07:002012-08-20T06:27:41.981-07:00Thanks for stopping by and commenting, D.F. I hope...Thanks for stopping by and commenting, D.F. I hope my ideas help a bit when you're writing.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-79105396780014004092012-08-19T22:24:59.282-07:002012-08-19T22:24:59.282-07:00Yes, it's a fine balance between using the mos...Yes, it's a fine balance between using the most precise word and over using the most precise word.<br />A teeter-totter in the playground of writing. And I hate to fall off too often...so thank you for the insights, Jodie.D.F. Barrettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-30406847604407503772012-08-15T13:34:10.939-07:002012-08-15T13:34:10.939-07:00Thank you, Jodie. I'll stick with "ask&qu...Thank you, Jodie. I'll stick with "ask". I actually did write a few "uttered's". I'll just go and take them out now.Cindy Flores Martinezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06646086927217762629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-6551459360162813362012-08-15T07:28:54.980-07:002012-08-15T07:28:54.980-07:00Cindy, it's not a matter of "correct"...Cindy, it's not a matter of "correct" but more of current norms or preferred forms. And with fiction, preferences can and do change. "He said" is not considered wrong, but "he asked" is better for a question and is very common so doesn't jump out at you or distract like "he queried" or "he inquired" or "he questioned" would.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-68917021897239538212012-08-14T21:58:49.177-07:002012-08-14T21:58:49.177-07:00Thank you for the definition of "gaze", ...Thank you for the definition of "gaze", Jodie. <br /><br />You mentioned that it's better to use "said" than any of its alternatives. What's best for a question? I see writers use both "said" and "asked" when a character asks a question. <br /><br />For example:<br />"What's for dinner?" he asked. <br />"What's for dinner?" he said.<br /><br />Which is the correct way?Cindy Flores Martinezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06646086927217762629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-17077500965520394062012-08-14T15:57:42.268-07:002012-08-14T15:57:42.268-07:00Thanks for dropping by and commenting, Cindy. Here...Thanks for dropping by and commenting, Cindy. Here's Merriam Webster's definition of "gaze" (verb): "to fix the eyes in a steady intent look, often with eagerness or studious attention."Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-83196930874317423822012-08-14T14:28:23.301-07:002012-08-14T14:28:23.301-07:00Thank you for pointing out the word "gaze&quo...Thank you for pointing out the word "gaze". I checked my novel and I used it 41 times, mostly all wrong uses of the word. I fixed them all, only keeping them where appropriate. That really saved me. <br /><br />The Synonym Finder helps me when I can't remember a word or when I want to say something but don't know how to word it correctly. I'll look up a similar word and find what I'm looking for on the list. Cindy Flores Martinezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06646086927217762629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-50790158200246013132012-08-13T14:25:07.752-07:002012-08-13T14:25:07.752-07:00Thanks for your comment, Terry. Yes, of course the...Thanks for your comment, Terry. Yes, of course there are the perfect situations for more colloquial, regional expressions like "hoofing it."<br /><br />As for reproducing a pidgen style, I haven't read your book, but I would caution writers to tread carefully when considering trying to reproduce the exact sounds of regional dialects, as that can annoy the readers and also offend people of that region. More on that in my blog post here at CFC called "Some Dialogue Don'ts".Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-4676828312255487742012-08-13T14:12:12.033-07:002012-08-13T14:12:12.033-07:00The other part of this equation is the character&#...The other part of this equation is the character's voice. To me, each character is a bit different and, for some, those weak verbs might be appropriate. McKenna, my protag in Photo Finish, is more relaxed in his language. He does, in fact, use phrases like "hoofing it." But, that's his style which fits him. That style, however, doesn't fit other characters in the book. The biggest challenge was writing the pidgen style used by a couple of the Hawaiian-local characters in the book. Terry Ambrosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14859532145979982213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-75149752378448308762012-08-13T11:05:42.790-07:002012-08-13T11:05:42.790-07:00Thanks, Marlyn and Jenny.
Jenny, I don't see...Thanks, Marlyn and Jenny. <br /><br />Jenny, I don't see anything wrong with the verb "gazed." As in anything, just don't overdo it.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-42712354735653876992012-08-13T11:02:05.172-07:002012-08-13T11:02:05.172-07:00Excellent info. I rely on my thesaurus, and, becau...Excellent info. I rely on my thesaurus, and, because I'm apt to slide British words where they don't belong, I also have to check the UK v US words to make sure I have the correct use of English for the scenes. Umm...I'm now looking through my current work in progress for all the instances I've "gazed" at someone......Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10384070533603453713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-60535494027067764432012-08-13T09:44:18.378-07:002012-08-13T09:44:18.378-07:00Fantastic post for all kinds of writers. I use th...Fantastic post for all kinds of writers. I use the online thesaurus.com because it's convenient (and free).<br /><br />I love your examples, Jodie!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12487464497446199247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-44567796898494444962012-08-13T09:17:35.444-07:002012-08-13T09:17:35.444-07:00Thanks for your comments, LJ, Peg and Drew.
LJ, ...Thanks for your comments, LJ, Peg and Drew. <br /><br />LJ, I totally agree with you when you say, "But it is a fine balance between using powerful, precise words and stuffing your text with language no one has heard of (The Maureen Dowd Syndrome)." If you're using words no one has heard of, you're not communicating directly, and if someone has to go to the dictionary to look up a word, you've taken them out of the story, which is definitely self-defeating. If you want to try out a lesser-known word, make sure the readers would get the meaning by the context.<br /><br />Drew, I agree that any word can be overused and start jumping out at you. I think synonyms are best if they give you just the nuance of meaning you're looking for to capture the mood you're after, like "glared" as opposed to "gazed" or "glanced," for example - huge difference!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-32547372686302515632012-08-13T08:35:19.524-07:002012-08-13T08:35:19.524-07:00Some very helpful information here, Jodie.
"...Some very helpful information here, Jodie. <br /><br />"Gaze" is a word I often see overused in novels. When it starts appearing on every other page, I cringe. I think it's best to implement language people normally use in conversation. Can't remember the last time I gazed at someone. I think often, it's best to keep it simple. More common words like "look" are better; they don't draw as much attention, and most readers barely notice if they're repeated. Of course, if you want to make an impact or convey a mood, a more descriptive word is necessary, and that's when the thesaurus is helpful.<br /><br />I also like to use my Word Finder. It helps me find companion words. So if you looked up "eyes" for example, it would give you adjectives you can use to zero in more on what those eyes look like.ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-29383206148119429832012-08-13T08:06:57.213-07:002012-08-13T08:06:57.213-07:00LOL, Jodie… I was going to write a post very simil...LOL, Jodie… I was going to write a post very similar to this one, but you've done it so much better than I could!<br /><br />I love my Synonym Finder (and I thought Rodale was a woman - sheesh) and use it to explore different images of words. What often happens is while I'm using my SF, the exact right word that's slightly different from what I'm actually looking up will come to me.<br /><br />One of the things I appreciate is learning a new word, or a slightly different way to use an old one, from authors I love to read. I hope I offer that in an acceptable and limited way to my readers as well.Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-32868630506583390112012-08-13T06:53:44.363-07:002012-08-13T06:53:44.363-07:00Excellent post with great examples. I've been ...Excellent post with great examples. I've been keeping my own list of verbs to use instead of "walked" or "moved" and now I've added to it. The list for "look" is excellent as well. <br /><br />But it is a fine balance between using powerful, precise words and stuffing your text with language no one has heard of (The Maureen Dowd Syndrome). Readers often write to tell me they love my stories because they're so easy to read. But maybe I should reach for the thesaurus more often. :)L.J. Sellershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.com