Exclamation Points!!!!!!!!!!

[Teresa Edgerton]

Passion. Aggression. Fear. Agony.

If our characters are feeling and expressing that, should we not be proud of it!?

I think the idea is that if readers can't tell when our characters are being passionate, aggressive, frightened, or agonized unless we sprinkle the page with exclamation points, then we should look to see what our dialogue is lacking -- because most of the time (if we are doing it right) the words we choose should get those ideas across without them.

If we're leaning too heavily on the exclamation points, it doesn't necessarily mean that the dialogue is bad, but it could mean that (on some level) we don't have enough confidence in our writing to believe it will be good without them.

If either of those is true, it needs to be fixed before sending our work out to agents and editors, doesn't it?

 

[hopewrites]

oh yes, most definitely. I guess I just don't see enough examples of bad writing here to remember that.

 

[Erin99]

Like the people who get (and pass on) the idea that there should be no adverbs in their work, and that adjectives are almost as bad.

I was once critiqued by a woman who said I used too many colons. I probably do, though I do try to get rid of some of the excess ones, but I had the impression that was something she was poised at the ready to say to someone at the least chance.

I was once critiqued by a lady who openly told me she hated semicolons, that they were ugly and outdated and not good to use, and since I LOVE them I'd used about 5 or so in my excerpt... which I promptly removed because, back then, I didn't have confidence in my own writing and ideas.

People should learn not to force their own ideas on writers. They can suggest things or try to explain why X doesn't work in their opinion, but they shouldn't actively go on a hate campaign at some part of a new writer's work.

 

[Hex]

People should learn not to force their own ideas on writers. They can suggest things or try to explain why X doesn't work in their opinion, but they shouldn't actively go on a hate campaign at some part of a new writer's work.

I agree completely, and will add: or any writer's work.

 

[Dozmonic]

Probably best not to consult me on this topic. My book has a character who exclaims practically everything he says! He swears a lot too!!

In Bernard Cornwell's Azincourt book there's a character, Sir John Cornwaille, who shouts and swears a lot. There were plenty of exclamation marks, but they really made the character for me. Don't be afraid to use them if they work

 

[Glen]

Don't be afraid to use them if they work

Thanks! You're right. They are perfect for the character (Eduardo). He is larger than life and there is a bit of comedy element about his constant exclamation which is right for the book too.

Something else I noticed - when he is quiet or sad, it sounds out like a shout.