My sin: I use actions between dialogue instead of dialogue tags.
Oh gadzooks, is that a sin?? I do it periodically (if not frequently...) Where's my rosary??
Can my penance be done in a seated position or only whilst kneeling?
My sin: I use actions between dialogue instead of dialogue tags.
I'm disappointed that only punctuation, tags and sentence structure are being discussed as sins. These are veneal sins at best. Graver sins would include info dumping, as-you-know-Bob dialogue, filtering, coincidences that help the protagonist, character violation and Mary Sue/Larry Stu MCs.
Forgive me, but I'm not sure what the first sentence has to do with the rest?Well I write primarily about the underclass. Rather than dialogue tags, I tend to write out what they are doing in between dialogue.
It's always struck me as strange a character doing absolutely nothing while they are being spoken to.
Oh! In my own stories, they live like industrial revolution people. Wooden shoes, and leather pants.
By contrast, the upper class leisurely leather footwear.
It was just a way to make my middle grade dark, without being like to dark. While still highlighting class differences.
Like I would classify Hardy characters as Sabot people.
Yes I know, trying work on it. I sure that doesn't become a meme, if and when I'm published.
I have long feared that my sins would return to visit me, and the cost is more than I can bear.
Kallithrix: Wow, we are like twins or summat - I had mini cheddars for dinner last night, drink cold tea all the time, and haven't the slightest intention of getting out of my PJs all day
*high fives*
Taylor Harbin: I'm like you, but I expect everyone to hate it.
I see what you mean, no.
The upper class can be idle and sit around doing nothing whilst they dialogue. The poor, I picture shoveling coal while they converse, or shoveling manure. Shoveling something