Confessions of overused words

[Teresa Edgerton]

I abhor text language. A moot point in terms of my fiction, since I never write anything in a contemporary setting.

But I can see how it might have its place in a YA novel, although that would be a book I, frankly*, would never read.


*This is a word I have never, to my knowledge, used in a story; however, for some obscure reason, it has crept into my messages here during the last several weeks. At least, that's when I first began noticing it.

 

[chrispenycate]

My guilt words flux and change; but something I am attempting to avoid is indecision: the maybes, perhapses, despites and howevers, even mayhapses.

I have enough other hands to be on to stand for a Hindu goddess.

 

[Culhwch]

I've noticed, on re-reading some of my work, that if my characters aren't nodding, then they've just nodded. Of course that's when they haven't just shook their head...

 

[J-WO]

I've noticed, on re-reading some of my work, that if my characters aren't nodding, then they've just nodded. Of course that's when they haven't just shook their head...

Its not a fantasy world set in the rear window of a car, is it?

 

[MattyK]

The only word I can think of that I do this with is "as" (typed Matt, as he tried to think of more examples).

Actually, I use photosynthesis in every other paragraph, too. Although this is a outright lie, just thought it would be funny if someone actually did this. I'd read that

Its not a fantasy world set in the rear window of a car, is it?

Hmm, I'd read that, too!

 

[J-WO]

Good to photosynthesis I'm not alone, MattyK!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I've noticed, on re-reading some of my work, that if my characters aren't nodding, then they've just nodded. Of course that's when they haven't just shook their head...

I seem to concentrate a lot on my characters' hearts and pulses, and just generally what's going on with their blood in scenes of high emotion. It roars in their ears, runs hot (or cold), drains from their faces ... that sort of thing.

They have amazingly expressive circulatory systems.

 

[Ursa major]

Actually, I use photosynthesis in every other paragraph, too. Although this is a outright lie, just thought it would be funny if someone actually did this. I'd read that

Good to photosynthesis I'm not alone, MattyK!

Some writers do tend to overuse this word when they're still a bit green.

(They soon see the light, though**.)




** - Though is probably a word I overuse (together with although).

 

[2ndchance]

This photo thing, is it a ten meg pixel job? One of the new ones on your phone. Hmmm and there was me thinking one used a phone to call people, any one, except those with green fingers...

S

 

[fkatona]

What a great thread!

Those words that involve time get me. As, while, then. Too much filming with a camera in my mind.

Saidisms also creep up on me, I declare/state/affirm/deliver/assert/remark/express my thoughts.

Words I don't use nearly enough:
defenestrate, smarmy, dastardly, hornswoggle, moue

 

[Culhwch]

I seem to concentrate a lot on my characters' hearts and pulses, and just generally what's going on with their blood in scenes of high emotion. It roars in their ears, runs hot (or cold), drains from their faces ... that sort of thing.

They have amazingly expressive circulatory systems.

Heart pounding in his chest, Culhwch reached out and snatched Teresa's splendidly expressive circulatory description away from her. It's just what I need, he thought, face flushed with blood and nodding his head as he sprinted away, to break up all that nodding...

 

[Toby Frost]

I seem to have characters smiling and/or nodding a lot. This strikes me as odd, as most of them disagree angrily with one another.

 

[2ndchance]

It's okay Cul' I kinda did the same.

She prodded her brothers stupid ball over Mrs Howe’s fence then watched as his face turned red and the muscles in his neck tightened to bursting point, she knew she had angered him. 'Huh,' she thought, 'that'll teach ya to mess with a girl.'

 

[Ursa major]

I seem to have characters smiling and/or nodding a lot. This strikes me as odd, as most of them disagree angrily with one another.

I suspect that they're mirroring the readers, at least when it comes to the smiling.

I'm ashamed to admit that there was a time - oh, it must be centuries ago by now () - when my characters seemed to have two facial expressions: smiling or not-mentioned (when, presumably, they were not smiling).

 

[Boneman]

I can't seem to stop my characters from shrugging...

 

[Culhwch]

Smiling is another one of those things I have issues with. There's only so many ways a person can smile - a grin, a smirk, etc - and so I find that I tend to get noticeable repetition whenever my characters need to dis[lay a sense of mirth or joy more than once in any given scene...

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I just say, "He smiled again." Or, "he said with another leer." A cheap trick, but I like it -- although I have to be careful not to use it too often in any one scene.

For a while, one of my characters kept biting her lip. Finally, I figured it was pretty well chewed and she went back to he well-established habit of frowning.

 

[The Judge]

My characters seem to spend their lives turning around, turning to go, turning to the door... and looking, gazing, staring, eyes fixed.

As for when they are thinking, they forever rub their heads, the back of their necks, the side of their noses.

You know, if real people acted like our characters, they'd be carted off somewhere in a padded wagon.

J

 

[J-WO]

All my characters can't stop smoking! I've recently gave up and I'm sure that's a factor.

 

[Culhwch]

My characters seem to spend their lives turning around, turning to go, turning to the door... and looking, gazing, staring, eyes fixed.

Mine, too! Geez, all my bad habits are surfacing in this thread.