Opinions - shortening words in prose

Orion101

Hello,

Quick question: does anyone know what the dominant take is on shortening words in prose description, like he had -> he'd.

I'm guessing it's fine in dialogue, but less sure about describing actions etc. He had reads as kinda cumbersome.

EileenG

I think it depends on your writing style and what you are writing. When I'm writing contemporary, I do it a lot, but when I'm doing historicals, I tend to stick to a slightly more formal style.

Antilles

Whenever I give a story to my alpha reader, one of her first comments is always about the lack of contractions. I never notice it when I'm writing but she says it makes my stuff feel very clunky.

bigsmokewriting

Depends on tone of the narrator. If you're writing a chatty first-person narrator, the lack of contractions will be far more noticeable than if it's a more formal third-person narration. Take a look at books that you've enjoyed with similar narrative styles to yours, and see what they do.

pickarooney

Antilles wrote: »

Whenever I give a story to my alpha reader, one of her first comments is always about the lack of contractions. I never notice it when I'm writing but she says it makes my stuff feel very clunky.

What's an alpha reader? Isn't that you when you're reading back your stuff sober?

Antilles

pickarooney wrote: »

What's an alpha reader? Isn't that you when you're reading back your stuff sober?

You honestly think I reread my own stuff?

You honestly think I'm ever sober?

pickarooney

After the incident in La Rochelle, I'm beginning to think not.

Orion101

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions!