Comments on: Writing Tips: How to Avoid Sounding Ridiculous When Using Quotes

By: Shreya

Shreya — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:52:26 +0000

Thanks Julie, always appreciate your advice. This makes me think about the number of quotes I used for my first term paper. Thankfully, they were relevant there. But ah! the citations! okay, I’m digressing. Great post Julie, look forward to more.

By: Shreya

Shreya — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:49:08 +0000

Mutely, Shreya looked on. “Insert clever quote”, she thought to herself, and squared her shoulders.

By: Travel-Writers-Exchange.com

Travel-Writers-Exchange.com — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:01:06 +0000

Thanks for the reminder about using quotes. I do my best not to use quotes, however, I think I have a tendency to go overboard. Sometimes we pickup habits from others. I’ll become more aware of “quotes” when I write :=)

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:08:54 +0000

Michelle- You’re so right! Perhaps the reason is that there’s so much dialogue in fiction; writers in that particular genre are especially prone, as you pointed out, to reaching for ridiculous verbs. I suspect the stilted dialogue is one of the reasons I tend to avoid fiction.

By: Tom Gates

Tom Gates — Wed, 20 May 2009 10:15:23 +0000

I immediately reposted this everywhere I could. “Even Myspace, which I haven’t used in a year!” Thank you for pointing out one of the things that makes me cringe.

By: Carlo

Carlo — Wed, 20 May 2009 10:09:30 +0000

Great advice! Good reminder. Must stay vigilant.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 20 May 2009 08:33:32 +0000

That’s so true…I learned about this the hard way when I started writing my first novel. First time fiction writers do this too- they grope for more creative tags, like “extrapolated” or “affirmed” or the dreaded “ejaculated.”

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 20 May 2009 02:11:21 +0000

The words carry their own weight. There is no need for the author to further describe them.

These are great points.

I’m smiling wistfully as I imagine all the mistakes you must notice daily.

By: Eva

Eva — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:23:19 +0000

“LOL,” Eva laughed appreciatively.

By: Colin Wright

Colin Wright — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:58:04 +0000

“Great advice! Exaggeration does seem to be quite common when using quotes (especially in travel writing) so I’ll have to be on my guard,” Colin said admiringly.