Check In Day 3

[goldentunes]

Hello! It's Monday! (/sulk.)

If you’re seeing this at the beginning of your day, what’s your writing plan? 

• I plan on doing research
• I plan on drafting 
• I plan on writing something new
• I plan on working on an existing piece
• I plan on sending off some writing to my beta
• I plan on posting today 
• I plan on taking a break
• I need to sort out some Life Stuff
• The forecast for today is intermittent rain. I plan on going rainbow hunting 🌈
  
• None of the above, I plan to do something else (please do share 😊) 

If you’re seeing this at the end of your day, how did the writing go? Did you do any of the above? If you didn’t, what did you do instead?

Optional discussion: Though some would agree that 'says' is an invisible word, most writers still cringe when they see it appear too often in their own writing. Do you have a favourite alternative? What is it/are they?

Comments

[quamquam20]

I plan on working on an existing piece. I'm maybe 70% done the first draft of a two-shot, and there's a soft fic collection reveal deadline in about two months. Low-pressure but a little urgency really helps me focus.

I like 'says' and agree that it generally fades into the background. I also love a lot of other dialogue tags and use them on occasion. No favorites in particular!

If repetition becomes an issue, I tend to vary the structure or use action beats to clarify who is speaking rather than relying on dialogue tags to do the job.

[blackiceboba]

I finally typed up some handwritten words for the fic I've been working on for ages and added another few hundred words to it. I also posted a short fic for another fandom that I've been poking at for months last night and feeling very lethargic but accomplished now.

I don't really notice the word "said" when I see it written out but I do tend to try to avoid using it in my own writing. I tend to jump hurdles to find a way to indicate who is speaking without having to put the word "said" and it makes my writing very wordy sometimes. >__>

[goldentunes]

Deadlines! It sounds like you’ve given yourself ample time to work on your piece, so well done for that!

Yes I really like action beats too. I agree that says/said is invisible, but only to me as a reader. As a writer I definitely cringe whenever I see it more than like, once.

[goldentunes]

Nice! Do you find handwriting notes or part of your story helps the creative process? I’d like to try it one day.

I tend to jump hurdles to find a way to indicate who is speaking… HAHAHA yes this is me too. Sometimes I’ll get so annoyed by it I spend too much time changing the dialogue tags or trying to change it into an action beat instead rather than moving on with the plot!!!

[goldentunes]

I haven’t managed to do anything yet today, but I plan on finishing up some research and getting at least half the story done, then sending off a rough draft to a bang partner.

Too many deadlines……..

[linaewen]

After completing the first round of research and planning, I am supposed to be drafing a blog article today -- but I am actually procrastinating. But there are still a few hours left in the day, so I may be able to get myself to at least write the introduction!

I try to vary how I say "says" by substituting a synonym -- I think (depending on the mood and the situation) my favorite substitute for said is "sighed"! I don't actually notice it that much, and when I do, it doesn't really bother me if says is used a lot.

[quamquam20]

Thank you! I'm very much a procrastinator so being this far ahead is practically uncharted territory for me.

[goldentunes]

Hello procrastination my old friend~ whatever you do get out, words are words. And planning definitely counts, so well done!

I like sighed too! Not sure I have any favourites but I tend to turn to hums and laughs etc. a lot.

[fleetsparrow]

Well, I meant to do writing and also life stuff, but unfortunately, fibro decided that kicking my ass was more fun instead, so I've been battling that all day. It's hard to type when my hands and fingers keep going numb from pinched nerves up in my neck and shoulders. ;__;

I have to say, I don't know that I usually notice it unless/until I'm reading aloud, and then I'm extremely aware of how often people are "say"ing things, lol.

[goldentunes]

Oh noes ㅠㅠ I hope you're feeling slightly better now! Writing can come later, you're more important!

HAHAHA "say"ing things I love it. And I totally get this! I'm like 'ugh so many people saying so many things ugh. Let's make them laugh and huff and cackle'

[blackiceboba]

I find that I think slower. So it's easier for me to REMEMBER what I wanted to write. It's hard to explain, but like I'll have an idea or a paragraph imh and when I go to type it out, it will get overwhelmed but if I handwrite it down, I can usually remember everything I wanted to say. I'm trying to get myself into a habit of when I get ideas for bits to just write them down on a piece of paper and saving it for when I get back to the fic or I forget the idea I had. I used to do it all the time when I did origfic and I fell out of the habit when i got back into fanfic a few years ago.

OMG YES. Like the thing I'm working on right now I'm trying to find ways to indicate who's speaking without saying "he said" because it's two guys talking and it's annoying. >__