I know that this may sound pretty foolish, but I have a bit of a dilemma: in my current project, someone pointed out that I am using "he" "him" "his" often... too much according to them. But what is the remedy for that? I have seen other works (published) that use "I" in almost every sentence which seems almost the same issue. How do I work out my characters' point-of-views and/or actions if I cannot say he, she, etc... Ideas?
Example from my work: The moonless night, brooding and thick with fog, swallowed Leiana whole as she stood before a grove of pine trees. Fear coursed through her and her hand subconsciously dropped to rest upon her mace’s hilt. She held her breath…waiting and listening. The wind washed over the treetops and prevented her from hearing anything else. Impatient, but unsure of her next step, she looked over her shoulder at the treacherous stone path behind her. If she turned back now, she could be back at the steps of the castle before anyone knew she had gone.
Also, what do you think about contractions like "don't" "won't" or "hasn't" in dialogues if I am writing medieval fantasy? I feel like I should eliminate them to make my writing feel a bit more authentic (like also using medieval terms of measurements versus using current terms). But, on the other hand, it sometimes feels like my dialogue is a bit stiff from doing this.
Anyway, any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Obviously, I am a new writer and trying to find my voice and style and could really use some help!
Example from my work: The moonless night, brooding and thick with fog, swallowed Leiana whole as she stood before a grove of pine trees. Fear coursed through her and her hand subconsciously dropped to rest upon her mace’s hilt. She held her breath…waiting and listening. The wind washed over the treetops and prevented her from hearing anything else. Impatient, but unsure of her next step, she looked over her shoulder at the treacherous stone path behind her. If she turned back now, she could be back at the steps of the castle before anyone knew she had gone.
Also, what do you think about contractions like "don't" "won't" or "hasn't" in dialogues if I am writing medieval fantasy? I feel like I should eliminate them to make my writing feel a bit more authentic (like also using medieval terms of measurements versus using current terms). But, on the other hand, it sometimes feels like my dialogue is a bit stiff from doing this.
Anyway, any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Obviously, I am a new writer and trying to find my voice and style and could really use some help!
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