--- Brian Randall <brian@azurite.org> wrote:

Brian Welch wrote:

--- Ookla The Mok <ooklathemok@mac.com> wrote:

I'm a bit confused as to why Brian always flags
"Missing speech indicator" as an error.

My sentiments exactly.  Beginning a sentence with a
conjunction or using a sentence fragment where it's
called for are other sins I regularly commit. Most
of the time, rules of grammar aid in the flow of a
story.  Part of being a good writer is recognizing 
those instances when they need to be broken in 
order to aid in the flow of a story.  ^_^

	I've learned almost all of the English I know
through the internet, and other people's C&C. 
Probably not the best way to learn, really.

	I was told that dialogue generally required a
speech indicator, and the actual rule is _probably_ 
more complex than that. Suffice to say I learned 
badly, and for that, I am sorry. I will endeavor to 
not make that mistake again.

I woudn't say you learned badly.  It's like the first
time you learn how to put emphasis in a story, either
through ALL CAPS of _underscores_ or whatever, one
tends to use them _EVERYWHERE_!  At least I did. ^_^;

This was one "fault" in what was otherwise very useful
C&C.  I hope it doesn't discourage you from offering
such in the future.

Ah, this is a good convention for distinguishing
between types of dropped dialog, a problem I've
noticed in my own writing.  For some reason I've

never

used this, though it's intuitive.  One of the

benefits

of reading C&C of someone else's fic - you pick up
neat ideas for your own writing.  Thanks for the
pointer, Mr. Randall!

	Er.... If I got that right, anyway. ;)

Hey, like I said, it's intuitive.  Even if it wasn't
"convention", it should be.  And, actually, it's the
convention used by Studio Proteus in their AMG
translations for Dark Horse.  I have only written AMG
stuff, and in AMG there's a lot of dropped dialogue,
both interrupted and non.  A lot of thought dialogue,
as well, but I haven't found a neat way to address
that without interrupting the flow every third
sentence to say "he thought" or "she mentally added". 
I finally gave up and just don't quote thoughts at all
any more.  I seriously doubt that's "convention", but
it seems to work for my readers.  ^_^;

Brian W.

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