Use clever replies
Posted on
13 July 2018
In
A clever reply can provide the context for the reader, making the tag redundant.
‘I hate you,’ she whispered
This can be replaced with no speech tag, but a clever reply.
‘I hate you.’
‘What did you say? Speak up.’
And again …
‘I hate you,’ she shouted.
This becomes:
‘I hate you.’
‘No need to shout. I got the message.’
YOUR CHALLENGE
Review a piece of your own writing and scrutinise each speech tag verb.
For every speech tag, ask yourself: Could you lose that speech tag and instead convey what you want via a clever reply?