Being a Better Writer’s Summer of Cliche Writing Advice: Said is Dead · 8:32pm Sep 3rd, 2019
Hello readers! It’s Tuesday, which if you’re a long-time reader of this site, you know is a little unusual for a Being a Better Writer post, usually only happening on the occurrences of a holiday or a work shift taking me away on Monday.
Yesterday was the former. I hope you all made the most of it!
On a side note, has anyone else ever actually looked up what Labor Day is in celebration of? I did and was immediately surprised. If you aren’t sure why it’s a holiday in the US, take a minute and look it up!
But after you’ve perused today’s Summer of Cliche Writing Advice entry! For the uninitiated, the Summer of Cliche Writing Advice is a special feature here on Being a Better Writer, where we look at all the bits of easily repeated, oft-spouted, cliche writing advice that just about every writer young and old has heard time and time again. Usually these sayings are quickly spoken, easily repeatable, have alliterative appeal (or rhyme, like today’s) and are based on something a famous author or English teacher said somewhere.
Note that I said based in that last sentence. With good reason. Like many common sayings, these are phrases that have become far simpler than their original explanations and intents. Sometimes, as we’ve seen in prior entries this summer, to the detriment of those that hear and apply them.
Which is what the Summer of Cliche Writing Advice is all about! Each week, this feature has tackled a common cliche saying or phrase directed at writers. We dig into it: What it means, what it says, how it says it … And then look at whether or not that’s truly helpful, or whether there’s better advice out there. In some cases, even, we’ve found that a saying is actually harmful, something that in becoming short and easily repeatable has lost all meaning to the degree of being more harm than good.
So, enough preamble! Let’s get started and see if that’s true or not with today’s saying! Today, let’s talk about—
Said is dead.
*Pokes at said with a stick*
Said growls.
Whew.
I'm glad it's still alive.
Kudos for the advice, but I have one question.
Am I weird in feeling that this person asked a question with a heavy stare?
Yes, I do get the meaning that he asked then stared at her, but that other meaning is there.
Is it okay to say this or would this be better?
"Why?" he asked while placing her under his steely gaze.
or
"Why?" He asked while staring at her.
Huh. I wasn't aware people gave out this "advice". I thought it was just a wrong conclusion many new writers came to in an effort to be less boring, and all the good writers tell them to knock it off with the "book said-isms".
Thanks for the reminder about "he said, she said", though.
Seen a couple of stories where "said is dead" went into effect. Good grief the amount of effort put into Thesaurus'ing the word distracted from the story. I would say it is the verbal equivalent to Lavender Unicorn Syndrome.