Lets be serious, too many saids can totally kill a story for a reader, and so here I have a big list of words that mean said. Enjoy!
Acknowledged
Added
Admitted
Advised
Agreed
Announced
Answered
Approved
Argued
Assumed
Assured
Asked
Babbled
Bargained
Began
Boasted
Bragged
Called
Claimed
Commanded
Commented
Complained
Cried
Decided
Demanded
Denied
Described
Dictated
Emphasized
Estimated
Exclaimed
Explained
Expressed
Feared
Giggled
Grinned
Grunted
Indicated
Insisted
Instructed
Laughed
Lectured
Lied
Mentioned
Moaned
Mumbled
Murmured
Nagged
Noted
Notified
Objected
Observed
Ordered
Pleaded
Pointed out
Prayed
Predicted
Questioned
Reassured
Related
Repeated
Replied
Responded
Requested
Restated
Revealed
Roared
Ruled
Scolded
Screamed
Shouted
Shrieked
Snapped
Sneered
Sobbed
Spoke
Sputtered
Stammered
Stated
Stormed
Suggested
Taunted
Thought
Told
Urged
Uttered
Vowed
Wailed
Warned
Whispered
Feel free to add more :)
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50,791 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 00 42
Thanks for that, a very useful list. :)
I like to vary my words for said to some degree, but you can just as easily use actions to show how the speech was said (and it gives you more words!) :D
e.g. "I can't believe you just said that," Tom grinned.
"I can't believe you just said that," Tom said, with a grin. (3 extra words!)
That's my top tip. I think I'll start a thread for tips and tricks now we're started.
----------Of course you can always change it in the edit, but it's quantity for now! :D
NaNoWriMo 2009 Untitled:
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45,019 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 04 10
Don't you have to be careful you don't use a verb that doesn't make sense (i.e. "grinned" above)? The act of grinning doesn't make an utterance. Joked, guffawed, shouted, whispered, are all OK.
Good list, though. Certain books (probably S. King "On Writing", 'cos it's the only one I remember things from) mention that you shouldn't be scared of using "said" - too much variance from it could start to look forced and cause AI (author intrusion).
I sometimes use an action as a precursor to dialogue, thus avoiding the need for attribution completely. E.g.
Tom looked quizzically at the girl. "What on earth are you doing here?"
"Nothing".
"Come on, you can't be doing nothing."
The girl thought for a moment. "I was looking for someone".
Gerald
----------Essex Writers Support group
98,747 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 14 47
My fave is interjected.
‘No!’ Caya quickly interjected. ‘We have to do anything we can.’
‘Very well. I will lead you to the Gate room. We can get provisions along the way.’
There were 5 other characters at the time, three very quick to speak, so she INTERJECTED
Also, smiled.
"Everything will be fine," she smiled, her eyes reassuring
So it's not really a word for said.. but I use it often enough as said
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The Lie
25,047 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 08 22
Brilliant idea thanks for that! Am struggling a bit on the old "said" front! =)