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Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn or anything else by Mark Twain

I learn by example. Take care. Vern

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0us2UbWFTCI

Take care. Vern

Non-fiction is already listed in the genre categories which is basically the first thing you see listed in the general information about the works posted. It is listed just below the author and before the groups to which it is published. And if anyone is unfamiliar with the authors who post non-fiction then all they need do is make a search for it under all postings. Not sure what else needs to be done; not much different than looking for stories about romance, history, western, etc. -- all personal preferences of many.  Take care. Vern

Chickens in the dickens

Bah humbug

I don't think anyone is arguing for using fancy words. The right word doesn't equate to fancy. Mark Twain used the "right" words for his characters and chose them very carefully  --  he did use what some might consider "fancy" words in his writing when called for which was not generally the case in his best known works of Tom and Huck. In any case, I doubt that there are many which would call "paused" a fancy word though it is the one which jump-started this discussion. However you would describe the word (fancy or plain), if it is used in a manner such as a speaker tag where the use defies logic because it could not possibly be spoken -- you can't possibly speak a pause  by definition -- then it just might need to be given a second look.

It should be obvious that one word is not going to make or break a story -- no one is saying such -- but if the wrong words are constantly chosen, a "good story" is most likely not going to be read by a lot of people. Fighting with ill chosen words will dampen the impact of even the best of stories to the point where it just might remain unread. More to the point, there are only so many plots (seven is an often used number though there is jiggle room in both directions) to write a good story about and the way to make our "good story" stand out from the millions of versions of the same storyline is the words we choose to tell that story and the way we put them together. In our own telling, we will hopefully choose words, fancy or not, which is the most appropriate and accurate for the story being told and the characters involved in such story. Every author is certainly entitled to whatever words they so choose regardless of what any reader, editor, publisher, etc. thinks about it even if they produce an impossible scenario as does "paused" used as a speaker tag. No one can choose our words for us without our permission. I offer only my opinion which anyone is free to consider or ignore. Write on. Take care. Vern

Okay, I'm going to get a little nit-picking here as far as the subject of moving the story forward is concerned -- any good thread always seems to veer from the path somewhat. That being said, if we're going to move forward, it just as well be logical. My concern is the use of "he paused" as a speaker tag as presented above. I bring this up only because it has been used in more than one post. It seems to me rather impossible to speak a pause. You can certainly have a pause after speaking, but you can't speak that pause; therefore it is not an effective speaker tag imho. Thus a period rather than a comma would seem more appropriate in the sentence "'I have terrible news,' he paused." ("... news." He paused.) Just a thought. Take care. Vern

Apparently you have a special talent that not "anyone" has. I tried it just to check and all I get when I choose the "block" option is that I have no one blocked. There is no option to enter a name to block. I can't use search to bring up a name and it give me a "block" option; it doesn't exist in this case under this scenario. So, this is obviously a situation for Sol to correct and make available to all users should they desire. I have no intention of using it -- as far as I know, I'm blocked by only one person and count that as a blessing and they are not worth lifting a finger to return such block -- but it should still be there for all members if for any. And the beat goes on .... Take care. Vern

Awesome response

Marilyn Monroe

I agree with RK. I probably make more suggestions when I review than most, but I still most times add that it is a good job overall. There is nothing contradictory or patronizing about pointing out what might be improved within an otherwise well written piece. There is always some redeeming value to a work in progress and a spoonful of sugar.... Take care. Vern

Debt collection