The use of Suddenly

Billycourty · Dec 29, 2011

Hello everyone,

How do you introduce sudden events into your text?

As in a loud sound, a sudden vision into a characters mind etc.

I have been avoiding using suddenly but I would like to know how other's handle the entrance of a suprise event into a scene.

Kindest regards
Jaymee

seun · Dec 29, 2011

Show it through your characters and their reactions. Are they scared, excited, annoyed, surprised?

Devil Ledbetter · Dec 29, 2011

Just have the event happen. The preamble "suddenly" detracts from the suddenness in most cases. It's shorthand for "Now, dear reader, get yourself ready because a surprise is just about to occur."

JeffC · Dec 29, 2011

"John burst into the room."

"Suddenly, John burst into the room."

"John suddenly burst into the room."

I like the first, would avoid writing the second and have probably written the third more times than I should.

Grunkins · Dec 29, 2011

"An arrow whizzed by."
vs
"Suddenly an arrow whizzed by."

Is anything gained by the word suddenly? I don't think so. Arrows travel pretty fast.

Also suddenly is used in one of the most offensive transitions in writing, "Suddenly, it happened." Close kin to "And then it happened." These are often used as their own paragraphs.

There are very successful writers who use this atrocity often (I'm looking at you Brandon Sanderson).

dangerousbill · Dec 29, 2011

Billycourty said:
I have been avoiding using suddenly but I would like to know how other's handle the entrance of a suprise event into a scene.

Ever since I read Elmore Leonard's ten rules of fiction, I've been conscious of 'suddenly' every time I want to use it. Sadly, it's a useful word and sometimes no other gimmick will work.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/feb/20/ten-rules-for-writing-fiction-part-one

Sometimes I'll use a synonym like 'abruptly' or 'without warning'.

Sometimes, I'll use a short sentence and set it off in a separate paragraph.

Sometimes, I'll slow the action down, like they do in movies, and show a very fast event in extreme and almost tedious detail.

Sometimes, I won't describe the event at all, and have my characters deal with it in retrospect.

Finally, I may write 'suddenly' and let the fracking sky fall on me if it wants to.

jaksen · Dec 29, 2011

dangerousbill said:
Ever since I read Elmore Leonard's ten rules of fiction, I've been conscious of 'suddenly' every time I want to use it. Sadly, it's a useful word and sometimes no other gimmick will work.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/feb/20/ten-rules-for-writing-fiction-part-one

Sometimes I'll use a synonym like 'abruptly' or 'without warning'.

Sometimes, I'll use a short sentence and set it off in a separate paragraph.

Sometimes, I'll slow the action down, like they do in movies, and show a very fast event in extreme and almost tedious detail.

Sometimes, I won't describe the event at all, and have my characters deal with it in retrospect.

Finally, I may write 'suddenly' and let the fracking sky fall on me if it wants to.

hehe

Suddenly is one of my most favorite words.

(Can you have a most favorite?)

OnlyStones · Dec 29, 2011

Grunkins said:
"An arrow whizzed by."
vs
"Suddenly an arrow whizzed by."

Is anything gained by the word suddenly? I don't think so. Arrows travel pretty fast.

Also suddenly is used in one of the most offensive transitions in writing, "Suddenly, it happened." Close kin to "And then it happened." These are often used as their own paragraphs.

There are very successful writers who use this atrocity often (I'm looking at you Brandon Sanderson).

An odd whisper, followed by the reverberating thud of an arrow embedding itself in the door jamb, caught his attention.

WriteMinded · Dec 29, 2011

What is it about that word? I write it often. Delete it often - but not always. When I see it in a book, I think, AHA! He did and so can I.

Sea Witch · Dec 29, 2011

I think never is a long time.

I'd say try to avoid it, but once in a great while it's necessary.

SRHowen · Dec 30, 2011

I have removed it from my vocabulary -- it is a filler word for me, I don't think I have ever used it in a final draft.

so many better ways to present the info without the flag.

Billycourty · Dec 30, 2011

Excellent and witty shares everyone!

Thankyou. I think I will use 'burst' somewhere today, that looks like a fun action word!

Jolly-Boo · Dec 30, 2011

It's okay to use it. I've been reading LOTR these past few days, and Tolkien never really uses it in combat unless something REALLY sudden happens. If someone says something provoking or interesting, then it might be ...
"Suddenly Strider stood up and ran to the door, looked ahead and then sat back down."

I don't think that's entirely the correct sentence, but somethin' like that. Or he might say, "At that moment ..."

brianjanuary · Dec 30, 2011

I think "suddenly" is one of those words overused by new writers and so has acquired a bad reputation. But when used judiciously it can be very powerful, just like any adverb.

Anninyn · Dec 30, 2011

It's not wrong, but it usually weakens the writing. The overuse of 'suddenly' and other similar words is usually the hallmark of a new, unsure writer. It makes the writing seem distant and wishy-washy.

Says someone very guilty of it herself.

PorterStarrByrd · Dec 30, 2011

Ok to use it but very sparingly ..

Too often I see it before something that didn't 'suddenly' happen.

Usually the story should display suddeness because what ever happens always comes suddenly to the reader's attention.

Phaeal · Dec 30, 2011

"Suddenly" is like other adverbs. The occasional judicial use is fine. But if you can incorporate the idea of abruptness into the verb itself, you'll get a stronger sentence: "He spurted a warning" rather than "He suddenly yelled a warning."

OnlyStones · Dec 30, 2011

brianjanuary said:
I think "suddenly" is one of those words overused by new writers and so has acquired a bad reputation. But when used judiciously it can be very powerful, just like any adverb.

My other favorites are basically, actually, and essentially.

They're like fast food, the perfect meal once in a while but a steady diet of it can leave one feeling quite sluggish.

Orchestra · Dec 30, 2011

Suddenly is an excellent transition word to use. It's great at keeping the momentum going when you would otherwise be tempted to stop. You can safely remove most of them afterwards. The reader doesn't really need them as much as the writer does.

Susan Coffin · Dec 30, 2011

Billycourty said:
Hello everyone,

How do you introduce sudden events into your text?

As in a loud sound, a sudden vision into a characters mind etc.

I have been avoiding using suddenly but I would like to know how other's handle the entrance of a suprise event into a scene.

Kindest regards
Jaymee

Just write it as it happens and show your character's role in the event. I think leaving out the suddenly part allows you to trust yourself as you write and to trust that your readers will get it.

Grunkins · Dec 30, 2011

Orchestra said:
Suddenly is an excellent transition word to use. It's great at keeping the momentum going when you would otherwise be tempted to stop. You can safely remove most of them afterwards. The reader doesn't really need them as much as the writer does.

[suddenly]

Niiicola · Jan 4, 2012

A good rule on all adverbs is to try never to use them because they're basically a lazy way out of good writing. Try to say it in a better way without one. If it turns out that after careful consideration, an adverb is the best choice, then you can go ahead, knowing you weighed all the options.

smoothseas · Jan 4, 2012

And then there's Suddenly Last Summer.

One of my fav Tennessee Williams plays.

Cidewalk · Jan 4, 2012

The way I introduce a sudden event is to make sure the character does not know about it before hand. Perhaps the reader does, but you don't need to surprise him/her/it/other.

When an author does some "big reveal" showing something unexpected, I always feel abandoned or lost. Unless that event can be explained quickly and easily, there should have been some hint, even if the reader did not know it was a hint.

Obviously the characters would miss this hint, unless they are some sort of supernaturally intelligent beings who notice everything.

dangerousbill said:
Ever since I read Elmore Leonard's ten rules of fiction, I've been conscious of 'suddenly' every time I want to use it. Sadly, it's a useful word and sometimes no other gimmick will work.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/feb/20/ten-rules-for-writing-fiction-part-one

That sums "suddenly" up pretty well. I read these every now and then, just to remind myself.

Obviously, all rules can be broken, but if you need to say suddenly, you could probably pick a better verb.

JSDR · Jan 4, 2012

"And he like, suddenly called me, like last night. I totally didn't expect it. It was sooooo unexpected. Like, seriously."

"For realsies?"

"For total realsies."

That's how I would use it.

The use of Suddenly

Horror Man

Come on you stranger, you legend,

Grand adventurer of the couch

Retired Illuminatus

Caped Codder

Badger told me ...

Derailed

Stirring the word cauldron

Erotica is not a four letter word!

Please, call me Boo

Stealing your twiglets.

nutruring tomorrows criminals today

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

Badger told me ...

practical experience, GTFO

Tell it like it Is

Grand adventurer of the couch

Twitchy

Life sucks... Then ya die...

wants moar baddassery.