Contractions in narration

dawinsor · Dec 3, 2006

Can I draw on the wisdom of the group to get some advice about using contractions in narration? I use contractions in dialogue, but what about the stuff in between? Is it usual to use contractions when I write things like "He wasn't about to hand over his gun"?

TrickyFiction · Dec 3, 2006

I think it depends entirely on what kind of voice you're going for.

stormie · Dec 3, 2006

Sure, don't worry about it. That rule about not using contractions is more for formal (literary-type) essays. If even. Read your sentence out loud with contractions and without and you'll see if it works or not. Most of the time, using contractions helps the flow of the sentence. Not using contractions can make the narration seemed stilted.

TwentyFour · Dec 3, 2006

I don't use them in narration, I find it's easier to read and easier on the eyes. I feel it's only a good idea if its a first person account, otherwise, steer clear!

TwentyFour · Dec 3, 2006

You might go here:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=456115

I personally don't use them often, I know authors who do and I told them they used too many, they lightened up on it. It can all be whether or not you want to and it flows with the story.

Birol · Dec 3, 2006

It depends on the style and voice you're going for. Contractions make the narration more conversational.

dawinsor · Dec 3, 2006

These are very helpful responses. I've been trying to keep my POV in close the character even though it's third person. I think I need to examine my text in light of that and what you all have said.

cinders23 · Dec 3, 2006

I went through this debate before. At first I would use them only in dialogue, but then I found at many times the rest of my writing sounded stiff to me not using contractions. So eventually I switched to giving myself free use of them. I haven't had any complaints. Maybe it's a personal choice?

Cindy.

Gillhoughly · Dec 3, 2006

Unless I'm doing a formal literary style (pretty much never) I use contractions in narrative where appropriate. Much of my stuff is first person, so it works fine.

I did a work-for-hire that got copy-edited to death. They took out all the contractions from its first person narrative. My hero ended up sounding like Data on a bad hair day. I protested, but since it was WFH I didn't have creative control. What really annoyed the most was the smug tone from the bleeping copy editor who had been selling burgers the week before. Think Niles Crane on intellectual snob steroids.

Check other books similar to your own and see if the writers do narrative contractions. When I'm doing 3rd person I've slipped some in and no problem.

One of these days I wanna hear a S/F TV alien USE contractions.

UrsusMinor · Dec 3, 2006

Read it aloud both ways with serious attention to diction. See which one matches the voice you want.

Even in third person, it may vary with the psychic distance from your viewpoint character. When you get in close, it usually works better to use the locutions the character would use (doing otherwise has an effect of irony).

Do what feels and sounds right, and don't worry about making it consistent throughout the entire novel. Tone and pacing are tools like anything else.

Above all, have fun.

dawinsor · Dec 3, 2006

"Have fun" must be the magic words.

Thanks for all the advice folks.

J.S Greer · Dec 3, 2006

I use them in dialogue, but only if the person speaking is doing so informally.

I use them much more in the expostion:

"He realized that they didn't know. Hadnt they seen for themselves? Perhaps he shouldnt worry."

"He realized that they did not know. Had not they seen for themselves? Perhaps he should not worry."

See the difference. The second example is very stiff, and almost clumsy. Of course I would never write those examples in a story of mine, but it serves the point of the matter.

Really, it depends on the context of your scene and dialogue, and what you want to convey.

Shadow_Ferret · Dec 4, 2006

It depends on the sound I'm trying to achieve. In my epic fantasy, I don't use contractions because I like the more formal sound. In my first person novel, I use them all the time because it's more like speech.

farfromfearless · Dec 4, 2006

It really depends on a few factors like POV, tone, and subject. I'm Canadian so we tend not to like using contractions in our prose -- dialog is another thing though. Use what you feel is appropriate for your story, rather what sounds appropriate for your story. Read it aloud.

scarletpeaches · Dec 5, 2006

SouthernWriter1978 said:
I don't use them in narration, I find it's easier to read and easier on the eyes. I feel it's only a good idea if its a first person account, otherwise, steer clear!

Agreed. I don't use contractions in exposition, but in dialogue, I feel free, if my character would speak that way.

Oh. I just used one in the paragraph above.

Anyway, that's (ooh! ooh!) just my style.

scarletpeaches · Dec 5, 2006

J.S Greer said:
I use them in dialogue, but only if the person speaking is doing so informally.

I use them much more in the expostion:

"He realized that they didn't know. Hadnt they seen for themselves? Perhaps he shouldnt worry."

"He realized that they did not know. Had not they seen for themselves? Perhaps he should not worry."

See the difference. The second example is very stiff, and almost clumsy. Of course I would never write those examples in a story of mine, but it serves the point of the matter.

Really, it depends on the context of your scene and dialogue, and what you want to convey.

But that sounds like someone's thoughts, though, as if you have a narrator, or are in someone's head, whatever your POV. You say, "He realised they didn't know," so you're in the head of 'he', whoever 'he' is.

I would write the bolded paragraph as something like, "He realised they did not know. Had they not seen for themselves? He tried not to worry."

Overuse of words like 'that' or 'had' can make it seem more formal still.

Contractions in narration

dawinsor

Dorothy A. Winsor

TrickyFiction

Who?

stormie

storm central

TwentyFour

practical experience, FTW

TwentyFour

practical experience, FTW

Birol

Around and About

dawinsor

Dorothy A. Winsor

cinders23

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

UrsusMinor

dawinsor

Dorothy A. Winsor

J.S Greer

Feel the power!

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

farfromfearless

scarletpeaches

scarletpeaches