Thoughts on speech tags?

[The Dark One]

Have to say I've been a bit bemused by this thread. I do stick mostly to said, plus the other technique I described above, but my main purpose is to avoid distracting the reader from the flow of dialogue (and I do regard my dialogue as one of my strengths).

Having said that, however, I've never heard of a book being rejected because of the wrong tags.

Has anyone else?

[JCFarnham]

We've hit upon the nugget here. Whether or not it's easier just to use said, whether or not an editor may hate it, know your reasons. Find out how current English will allow you use these things, and decide if it's right for your book. There is nothing wrong with said, just as there's nothing wrong with demanded and tags like it.

In fact I'd say it's not even a matter of successful authors versus unpublished versus beginners.

- A beginner will never learn for themselves how to use a tool if they don't try it. I don't care in the slightest whether it's easier to go with a generalised "rule" in those cases. I would personallywant to help them understand it proper in the first place so I didn't unknowingly foster the bad habits gained from taking something too seriously.

- A professional with credibility behind their name will get all kinds of leeway a newbie wouldn't and not for any reason other than the publishing houses in question know the author and trust them and their editor to do the right thing for the book and what sells at present. Earning that level of trust doesn't come from erring on the side of caution. To me it comes from first honing your craft and then taking risks and proving to nay-sayers that you can do it.

All I'm trying to do here with this post is motivate okay? There is no "I can't do such and such because of x, y, z and I'm not an acredited author yet", there is only practice, do it well, and get it passed any publisher not because of their preferences but because you did it well. Any editor worth their salt should be able to go "Well, I don't usually like x, but right here? You did it very convincingly so I'll let it slide."

As writers, frankly, we can do what we please, as long as you understand the whys, and understand that when your time comes there may be some what unprofessional head-up-their-own-arse editors who try to rewrite your book how THEY want it to be. It was Brandon Sanderson who said that a good critiquer or editor shouldn't do this, they should work to make the book the best it can be on its own merits, not anyone elses.

To tie it back into the OT. It's all a matter of your own personal style, preferences, and tolerences. Do whatever you think is best in any given context, because there is always a chance that someone will come along and say "Yeah, actually, you've changed my view on that."

This is seemingly a massive contradiction to what I've just said, but most of all, be humble (because I do think you can write by the above code and still be humble).

Some people just have more experience. Thems the breaks.


EDIT: This modern invisible style has taken a lot from that Fowler's style guide. And just think, when was that written? And by whom? And for why? (heh) It's just the in thing and I have no doubt in saying it will change on a whim.