Punctuation and Speech tags

by **chrisbishop** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 9:54 pm

Writing the correct punctuation for speech tags is a general problem encountered by authors when they start writing stories - fanfiction or otherwise. I know it was mine, before I learned how to do it properly, and other writers also encountered that problem too.

So to help authors to learn to write this correctly, I prepared a short 'course' that you can find on the Forum Archives, in the 'Documents' link, under 'Writers Tools'

Other similar courses will be added in the future. If you have a request, and you think we might help you, let us know!

http://groups.msn.com/SpectrumHeadquart ... ments.msnw

by **Clya Brown** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 9:34 pm

For the consideration of any fan-fic writer who underestimates the importance of punctuation:

Dear Adam,
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feeling whatsoever when we're apart. I can be forever happy - will you let me be yours?
Karen.

Or perhaps that should read...

Dear Adam,
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men I yearn! For you I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?
Yours,
Karen.

[From "Eats Shoots & Leaves - The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation" by Lynne Truss (except for the names of the correspondents!): thoroughly recommended as a present for aspiring writers who have birthdays coming up.]

by **Elentari** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 2:10 am

Agree with Doc Brown's opinion of 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves' - this book is excellent!

(I got a copy for Christmas). The only problem is I really need two copies - one for home and one to settle disputes at work! :roll:

Elentari