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July 20, 2011

Writing: Too Much Nodding and other People Problems

Thinking I was "done," (really?) I let my wip (work in progress) sit a couple days, though deep down, I knew there was a problem I needed to look at. Nodding. As in She nodded, I nodded, Nodding, he, etc.

My characters nod. A lot. Nodding seems to be my oft-used, abused, and overused word. Going through the manuscript, I'm changing, fixing, deleting all those nods. After a while, though, the brain gets numb in thinking up new things to say.

So, share: what's your over-used or "fave" word or phrase? What do you put in exchange? And I'd love any suggestions for fixing mine (other than cutting off the characters' heads. Problem solved. haa!)

5 comments:

  1. I don't remember any of my people nodding, but they smile at lot -- too much, actually. Not big smiles, but little half smiles. I have to be careful with that. Maybe I could just let some of them nod, knowingly.

    John Chabpt

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  2. Ha-ha, well my people smile too, but they nod much more.

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  3. Perhaps someone could lift an eyebrow, wink, give a thumbs up, give a pat on the back, salute, tip a hat, give a high five, or just say "yes".

    Unless, of course, we're talking nap.

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  4. Excellent suggestions Liz, I think after awhile you get brain dead or "overthink" it. I changed a lot of them, and left a few. Easiest was to get rid of them. ha!

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  5. I'm not sure what my overused word is. But now I'm going to read something to find out. Haha.
    www.rebeccabany.com

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