Hatrack River Writers Workshop: narative contractions

This is topic narative contractions in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :

I have a tendency when writing to bounce between
"...as if he had been there before..." and

"...as if he'd been there before..."

Is it okay to use contractions in the naration? It can help the flow but I wondered if there was a textbook rule. Also is it bothersome to have a lack of consistancy between using and not using them? In Portugues it's easy because if you can make a contraction you should, but this is trickier for me. Examples, "isn't, didn't, etc."

Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :

The issue's arisen with me with what I'm working on now...the almost-twenty-thousand words of a novel are strictly from one viewpoint. There's no narrator, it's all my character. I figure contractions in dialog are okay...but are they okay outside of it, when I'm writing out what my character is doing or thinking or watching?

I've generally tried to stick to a firm rule: inside dialog, anything goes...outside, don't do it. But, right now, a great number of contractions have wandered in. Do I leave them for now, or deal with them in rewrite---maybe I should just leave them alone.

(I count six contractions in the above two paragraphs. I count that as dialog---my dialog.)

Posted by tchernabyelo (Member # 2651) on :

To some extent I think it might depend on how penetrative your POV is.

If you're external, then don't contract.

If you're internal, then do (as long as the character would - some borderline OCD main characters would even think with non-contracted precision).

Similarly, formality is an issue. In a formal narrative style, don't contract; in a casual style, contract.

Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :

I recently got some feedback on a section of my novel suggesting that I SHOULD use them. I don't outside of dialogue (or messae boards

Technically, formal rules of writing would dictate not putting them in. BUT...writing fiction has changed a lot over the years. With third person limited omniscient, we now dig into a reader's head where, we can assume, they think with contractions. At this point it becomes a style thing and maybe a sense of dpeth -- are you setting down a character's exact thoughts or interpreting them through a narrator? I tend to think of it as the latter unless I quote a direct thought. Hence, I do not use contractions.

It is clearly all right to use contractions in dialogue and in first person. At this point, as long as you are CONSISTENT, I would not flag it either way in 3PLO.

If you write full omniscient, you better leave them out or the narrative.

Posted by sojoyful (Member # 2997) on :

I would agree that it is also related to narrative style and the effect you are trying to achieve. For me, I have 2 POV characters: the first is stolid and weighed down by a dark and guilty past, the second is content and carefree and sees the good in everything. When I'm in the first POV, the narrative style is very rigid and formal, so I don't use contractions. In the second POV, I use style such as contractions to give it a much more relaxed, jaunty tone.

Posted by thexmedic (Member # 2844) on :

I'd read it aloud. If it sounds odd, change it. If it doesn't convey what you're trying to convey, change it. I wouldn't worry about anything else.

Posted by pantros (Member # 3237) on :

contractions are fine in fiction.

In presentation, non-fiction, such as business proposals, contractions should be avoided.

Posted by Dead_Poet (Member # 3542) on :

As a reader, in the original post, I read them both as contactions. Is that normal, or am I an informal reader?

What I mean is my thought was "As if he'd been there before" for both of them. I had to read it three times before I figured out the difference. So for me, it all reads as contractions. For most readers, how ever...?

Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :

It depends on the contraction. Read it aloud and hear how it sounds.

If a contraction is very common, then avoiding it lends emphasis to the word that would have been contracted. I would tend to read "...as if he had been there before..." as
"...as if he had been there before..."...well, not quite. I would regard "he had" as being a little different from "he had", but closer to it than to "he'd".

Posted by trousercuit (Member # 3235) on :

quote:
Examples, "isn't, didn't, etc."

Don't you mean "et'c."?

Posted by trousercuit (Member # 3235) on :

quote:
In presentation, non-fiction, such as business proposals, contractions should be avoided.

Even this is changing. Of course, it depends on the specific business.

Posted by wetwilly (Member # 1818) on :

WHY on Earth would contractions be bad anywhere? What possible harm could they do? This is a "rule" I've never understood.

Posted by rickfisher (Member # 1214) on :

They're not bad; they're informal. Sometimes formality is more appropriate, that's all.

Posted by goatboy (Member # 2062) on :

I think Survivor has nailed it on the head. It depends on what you are trying to convey. Often contractions are fine, sometimes they will get in the way.

Posted by AaronAndy (Member # 2763) on :

quote:
In Portugues it's easy because if you can make a contraction you should, but this is trickier for me.

Melhor solução: escreva o livro em português.

[This message has been edited by AaronAndy (edited August 24, 2006).]

Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :

rsrs...legal, mas nao posso escrever portugues aqui. My keyboard is English and I am stronger with English. Temos otros brasileiros aqui?

Posted by Spaceman (Member # 9240) on :

Akin to what tchernabyelo said, the narrative is a very important part of the characterization of your POV character. The narrative should be in that character's voice and reflect how that character thinks, because that's the head you are getting inside. Sometimes that needs contractions, other times, contractions would ruin it. The good thing about that is, as the author, you get to decide.

Posted by Wayne (Member # 3675) on :

If this question deviates from the subject of this string, please just ignore it. What about quotation marks when you are quoting exactly what a character is thinking?

"Don't do it," he thought - is the way I've always done it, but I've recently seen a post where the quotations were left off in a similar situation.

Posted by Scribbler (Member # 3743) on :

In response to the quoting thought thing...

I prefer to use italics (any thoughts on italic use in fiction?) or to leave it unitalicized and unquoted or to just paraphrase thoughts. Quotations of speech-sounding phrases set me up for vocal communication, and I get surprised when I get to the end and see "he thought" instead of "he said."

Although since it is a direct quote, I can see the argument for quotation marks. That's just my personal reaction.

Posted by pantros (Member # 3237) on :

Thoughts should be italicized unless the voice of your narrative is established to allow for regular use of the PoV's thoughts as part of the narrative.

If its unusual, italicize it. And it's usually unusual.

In the usual distance of the most common narrative voices, thoughts would be italized. There are some narrative voices that are more familiar, more conversational that will allow for thoughts to be part of the regular narrative without special treatment.

Posted by Spaceman (Member # 9240) on :

quote:
What about quotation marks when you are quoting exactly what a character is thinking?

Spaceman pondered how to answer this question. It was a habit he broke many years ago, along with italicizing. The first thought that came into his head might be considered rude. Tired of everyone misinterpreting whatever he said, he pondered another way to explain the concept. Perhaps an example was in order. Yes, demonstrate getting into the character's head and sharing the character's thoughts. That might help a few fellow Hatrackers. "No, quotes are not necessary for thoughts," he said.

Posted by rickfisher (Member # 1214) on :

Note, everyone, how the above post leads into literal thoughts. It starts with somewhat distant description of Spaceman's thoughts, then becomes closer. "Perhaps an example was in order" was almost direct thought, but remains a bit outside; you can tell because it's in past tense. The two sentences after it might have been italicized by many writers. Were italics needed here? Nope. And certainly not quotes.

If he'd concluded with the thought, "I really hope so," however, it would have been trickier. Still no quotes, but I can see the point of those who would like such a line to be italicized. Card doesn't do it, and many other fine and respected writers don't (no, of course I don't ), but many fine and respected writers do.

But not quotes. Reserve those for speech.

Posted by Spaceman (Member # 9240) on :

Interesting analysis. I didn't even realize I was moving closer until you pointed it out.

And for me, I wouldn't have said 'I hope so.' I would have repharased the previous line to say 'Hopefully, it will help ...'

Avoid using first person in a third person story.

[This message has been edited by Spaceman (edited August 28, 2006).]