Here's the thing about an eye roll--EVERYONE understands exactly what we mean when we use it. Anyone who has either been married or had teenagers has inevitably either rolled their eyes or said, "Don't roll your eyes at me!" Writers have debated this for years, ever since it became the thing not to use floating body parts, but no one has come up with a better, succinct way of saying, "She rolled her eyes." No one is going to take the time to write something like, "She looked first to her left and then, in an upward, sweeping motion, she looked to the ceiling and down to her right, all the while curling her lip in disgust." We know the look and the sentiment that goes with, "She rolled her eyes." 'Nuff said. There IS such a thing as being too legalistic in writing at the expense of one's story.
There are some exceptions to the rule. I call people's names when I'm trying to emphasize something or call them out on something - usually humorously. Or to call their attention. I try to suppress eye rolls sometimes because they're rude, but one can still tell. I like to show nonverbal communication of the listener through the reactions of the talker. "So, quantum mechanics can rely heavily on quadratic equations - stop yawning! Pay attention." And so much YES to the long monologues! It's something that old timey classical writers do, like Jane Austen, Edgar Allan Poe, etc.
I like your channel, but what's going on with the armrest on the sofa? It's merging with the table leg at the bottom of the stairs. Something similar is on the other side, too. Are you filming this from inside a hyper-dimensional warp field? And if so, cool!
Was so disappointed in your political email. Watching u and learning about writing fiction was one of the few places I could go to get away from the rhetoric. You chose to send me that email. I choose to unfollow and stop further emails.
![How NOT to Write a Novel [Don’t Do This Thing Everyone Does]](/img/n.gif)
Here's the thing about an eye roll--EVERYONE understands exactly what we mean when we use it. Anyone who has either been married or had teenagers has inevitably either rolled their eyes or said, "Don't roll your eyes at me!"
Writers have debated this for years, ever since it became the thing not to use floating body parts, but no one has come up with a better, succinct way of saying, "She rolled her eyes." No one is going to take the time to write something like, "She looked first to her left and then, in an upward, sweeping motion, she looked to the ceiling and down to her right, all the while curling her lip in disgust."
We know the look and the sentiment that goes with, "She rolled her eyes." 'Nuff said. There IS such a thing as being too legalistic in writing at the expense of one's story.
There are some exceptions to the rule. I call people's names when I'm trying to emphasize something or call them out on something - usually humorously. Or to call their attention. I try to suppress eye rolls sometimes because they're rude, but one can still tell. I like to show nonverbal communication of the listener through the reactions of the talker. "So, quantum mechanics can rely heavily on quadratic equations - stop yawning! Pay attention." And so much YES to the long monologues! It's something that old timey classical writers do, like Jane Austen, Edgar Allan Poe, etc.
Agreed - those are great points! Thanks for sharing. :)
@@maryadkins I like your channel!!
I like your channel, but what's going on with the armrest on the sofa? It's merging with the table leg at the bottom of the stairs. Something similar is on the other side, too. Are you filming this from inside a hyper-dimensional warp field? And if so, cool!
Haha, just noticed. Mary is not real, this is AI 😂
Green screen?
Was so disappointed in your political email. Watching u and learning about writing fiction was one of the few places I could go to get away from the rhetoric. You chose to send me that email. I choose to unfollow and stop further emails.