Other words for said

[Eve]

I know some are really obvious but they help me overcome my writer's block:

Said Words (http://www.mertonschool.com/wordsforsaid.htm)

[Carraka]

As an added note, sometimes it's really best to use the word "said" because other words, especially when they're obvious, can get in the way of dialogue.

But if these words do help you overcome writer's block, then by all means, use them. Just edit later.

-stares at floor-

[Eve]

Really? I always thought said was a forbidden word. Thanks, I'll include them now.

[Carraka]

Well, there may be different schools of thought. When I was young, I was taught that "said" wasn't good when you could use something better, like "reprimanded". Now, I find a lot of writers saying:

"Don't eat cookies before dinner," reprimanded her mother.

is repetitious.

Or something like that. I may be explaining this poorly.

[Eve]

Thanks. You explain beautifully. I'll try it from now on though it'd seem really stranged to have no said words in front but plenty behind.

[Carraka]

Eh, that's what editing is for!

It's really the repetition you need to watch. Because I'm repeating myself now, and it's not pretty.

[Eve]

Definitely not pretty. Probably a little spicy with an aftertaste of sourness?
Yeah, but you can't believe how many times I rewrote my manuscript. I'll die!

[Carraka]

... I can believe. How many times?

[Eve]

Well, let's see.... 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11.... what comes after 11? ARGH!

[Carraka]

o.O

I still believe, but that sounds absolutely awful. I've only ever finished two stories. The first one, I didn't even bother revising. I had no idea what to do with it. The second one, I revised six times.

[Eve]

You can say that again. Why don't you publish it? It'll make a good book, I'm sure.

[Carraka]

Um, mainly because of the subject matter. I think it's the best it can currently be (at my age and level of experience.) I also don't want it to represent me as my first published work.

[Eve]

Well, looking at your age, I am impressed you could already write two books! Congratulations! It doesn't really matter if you didn't publish it. It's a really overwhelming fact that one so young have written two books! -Claps-

[Carraka]

But...the first one was really bad. And the second one was only a novelette. And they were both really bad.

But I like the one I'm writing right now! I won't be publishing that either. As you can see, there's something very wrong with my mind.

[Eve]

Haha, publish it! Go on! GO GO GO!

[Carraka]

Seeing as you haven't read it, you're not convincing me. At all. AT ALL!

[Eve]

If you like it yourself, go ahead!

[Andy]

Really? I always thought said was a forbidden word.
In my opinion, said is a golden word. I think it's what you should use most of the time when making dialogue tags. First, it's nearly invisible. Dialogue tags divert people's attention away from the story. If you use words in them like "proclaim", "answer"," and "reciprocate", it diverts readers' attention even more. Not only that, but if you go avoiding said all the time, it can make your writing sound overly dramatic.

"You're lying!" Bobby yelled.
"I'm not!" Ryan proclaimed.
"Stop shouting!" Bobby shouted.
"I'm not!" Ryan recapitulated.

See? It sounds really bad. :D

My advice is to avoid dialogue tags as much as possible. Is you can inform the readers who's speaking without a dialogue tag, do it. Like this:

Bobby twirled the stick on his hand. "I'm bored."

^ We know Bobby's talking, but without needing "said" or any other tags.

But if you can't do that, use said. Only use a different word if "said" starts sounding repetitive, or if you need to show some level of emotion, or describe how something's being said. Like if someone's whispering.

[Carraka]

-emphatic agreement-

There, look. You see how he explained exactly what I wanted to say, except in far better words? I need to start studying this kind of stuff. Unless the ability is going to miraculously come to me in four years.

It is a bit annoying, however, that my elementary school teachers taught me otherwise.

[Andy]

It is a bit annoying, however, that my elementary school teachers taught me otherwise.
They're not getting a novel published anytime soon. :D

I wish I could go back and start some debates with my old teachers. There are so many things I'd want to prove them wrong on.:rolleyes:

[Shaun]

Anything that is used that isn't 'said' is called a 'saidism', which is a fancy term for 'words you shouldn't use'. Said is the perfect word because even when it's present the audience doesn't give it much note. They are focused on what is actually be said, not on the fact that someone is saying something. If you go off using saidisms, though, it pulls the reader right out of the story. Often times saidisms are redundant. Such as saying:

"Do you think so?" Alfred asked.

It's obvious Alfred is asking a question here, since there is a ? in the sentence. Another example might be:

"Get the hell out of my house!" Earl yelled loudly.

First is the fact that yelled is redundant. Presumably we'd know that Earl is angry at this point and would be yelling. Second is the modifier "loudly", which is also redundant and useless. There are better ways to say that while using "said".
Anyone who tells you to use lots of other words than said should be slapped. That's the straight truth of it. I think this thought goes along with the territory where you shouldn't repeat words in sentences. Said, however, is a word that is an exception because it isn't really noticeable.

But that's my piece. I'm going to have to write an article on it I think...

[Eve]

Thanks! Thanks and thanks again! :D

[ScottyMcGee]

There's a book out there that never uses the word "said." NEVER. Not once.

If I ever find out again which it is, I'll edit this post.

[jordanisonfire]

Yeah, I realise this, but I can't help myself sometimes. I just feel uncreative if I don't use other words, some of the time. Sure, I don't think using 'said' should be made illegal, I still use it plenty, but I don't feel like a real writer if I don't use other words. I suppose I'll have to just get over it.

[voila.itz.moi]

That is true. Mark Twain hardly ever uses words other than said, asked, and whispered in Tom Sawyer. Or you can just eliminate any of the character labels.

[Jack]

Thanks again for some great advice