On naming – the best way I have found to name characters is this site: http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/index.html It’s a list of the most popular baby names from any year after 1879. I select a date, choose “Top 1000 Names” then scroll down to the very bottom where the more “exotic” names will be and go through until I find one I like. It’s the best naming tool I’ve ever found. ^_^

I shall want for names no longer.

Woot!

I think Howard gets away with it for some of his alien characters because those characters are seldom major characters, and also because comics are a mixture of art and words. Even when I say “Hey, there’s that H guy with the apostrophes!” he still remains a unique, recognizable character because of the art.

As for rules like these, well, as an art I think we have the freedom to really make whatever changes we see fit. Granted, we work with a different canvas but for all that I think we have a tremendous amount of leeway. More so than someone who would be writing to the rules strait out of an English book.

That said, I have never seen anything that says we have to do anything a certain way. David Eddings hardly ever used just “said”, and it sometimes worked (usually in the same book even) and at times it didn’t. Could be a question of style; and we all have to find our own.

The real key seems to me not to overindulge in “zany attributions”, but not shy away from them either. One potential problem is that if you write thirty pages with only “said” and then have someone “grumble” or “tease”, that sudden change in attributive phrases will stand out even more than the words themselves warrant. The more you establish a pattern, the more your reader will notice it when you break said pattern.

But perhaps I just feel very strongly about this because I’ve seen some rather ridiculous examples of writers sticking to only “said” in each and every situation. Just look at something like this (an example I just made up, but not far from what I actually read):

“How was your day?” Bob said.

It’s a question. Questions aren’t said they are asked!What’s wrong with ‘Bob asked’? Stuff like that makes me want to pull my hair out and bash my head against the nearest wall. I’ve seen too many aspiring writers who stick to advice as if it was a mantra that they never developed their own unique voices. That’s why I often argue in favor of breaking the “rules”.

I tend to agree with everything thats been said. And in coming up with a solution; the guideline I’ve decided to use, are my coversations. In any given conversation, I’ve found, we generally only “speak” in one way. It’s only in certain situations do we really put attributions/inflections on the way we talk to each other. I would also like to thank everyone for their advice. It’s been hard to find GOOD constructive critisim. Lots of people have opinions but rarely is it done in a positive manner. Thank you once again.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am no professional writer and I only speak for myself, so I am not claiming any authority here, but… to me it seems there is a certain “gray zone” between invisible attributions and attributions that jump at a reader. A realm of words that stand out, but don’t stand out enough to distract from the story. As Dan said, overusing fancy words might be a pretty bad idea, but I think too often prospective writers are told to avoid fancy attributives at any cost, which might not be such a good idea either.

“Said” is the safest choice you get, but if a certain character really wants to chime, enthuse, murmur, or grumble, why not let them do it? If that is what they want to do, let them do it. Using it constantly might be a really bad idea, but I think once in a while you can get away with a fancy attribution – especially if it tells something about a certain character.

Writer, heal thyself! Pick up thy pen and write!!

Yes, technically only in the first couple of lines of the conversation should tags be used just to establish who is speaking, or if another speaker joins in. Otherwise, find creative tags that inform how the words are toned.

“Bob, old bean,” Frank chimed, “how are you?”
“Well…” muttered Bob.
“Zounds! This can’t be good!!”
“Perhaps it’s best you leave him be” sneered Jody.

Never said ‘said’ once. Um… at least not ’til just then…