tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128460350781036829.post6590141655306170064..comments2024-03-26T15:49:44.555+00:00Comments on How To Write Badly Well: Withhold key information to create tensionJoel Stickleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14270604410152020281noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128460350781036829.post-71277241688964571412011-05-29T06:19:22.758+01:002011-05-29T06:19:22.758+01:00I think the method is fine as long as it's the...I think the method is fine as long as it's the start of a story or at least introducing us to a neurotic character.Scorphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05048283560741587629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128460350781036829.post-45146755497317541642011-04-24T17:26:21.650+01:002011-04-24T17:26:21.650+01:00I actually read it as "a good thing" unt...I actually read it as "a good thing" until I looked at the comments, lol.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128460350781036829.post-78645072802127874042010-04-10T11:23:02.944+01:002010-04-10T11:23:02.944+01:00i didnt think this one was so bad. it was cute...i...i didnt think this one was so bad. it was cute...it an edward b. lytton kind of style...<br /><br />'good job' - hear it all the time in my country. <br />us ex-colonials have a Very different approach to english...and grammar... and punctuation...<br />(as you no doubt can see. let's just call it delusions of e.e.cummings for the moment. or laziness...)<br /><br />is the phrasing of this sentence common in anyone else's country?<br />'i feel her so sorry...'psereanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12557317349009693396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128460350781036829.post-34434108949516395852010-03-21T10:36:51.825+00:002010-03-21T10:36:51.825+00:00I'm Australian and I use a delightful mixture ...I'm Australian and I use a delightful mixture of American- and British-isms. It's a good job (hehe) people still understand me, though.<br /><br />I am so going to use the witholding technique sometime, just to annoy people >:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128460350781036829.post-33271601728006597202010-03-21T06:19:52.696+00:002010-03-21T06:19:52.696+00:00I've never heard the phrase in Australia, eith...I've never heard the phrase in Australia, either, but then again Australian English is currently undergoing rapid evolution from British English to a combination of American English and ethnic screw-ups (not being racist, it just happens when people who aren't proficient in a language form a large percentage of a society). Come to think of it, I do believe I read the phrase in a relatively old (compared to my age) Australian book, so perhaps it was once used here.ChrisPWillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13984317406890806965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128460350781036829.post-62897753119804696522010-03-17T17:22:28.284+00:002010-03-17T17:22:28.284+00:00The phrase probably wouldn't work for Canadian...The phrase probably wouldn't work for Canadians; at the very least I've never heard it in the Western part of the country.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128460350781036829.post-39767871747068396122010-03-17T09:10:30.373+00:002010-03-17T09:10:30.373+00:00Works for New Zealanders as well. Love the blog, J...Works for New Zealanders as well. Love the blog, Joel!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128460350781036829.post-69426581424191751022010-03-16T08:41:09.545+00:002010-03-16T08:41:09.545+00:00That's a good idea, Anon. Thanks.
And "i...That's a good idea, Anon. Thanks.<br /><br />And "it's a good job" will work for English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish characters. I don't know about Canadians or Australians. Knock yourself out using it; I'll be on the lookout for the phrase appearing in fiction by American writers.Joel Stickleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14270604410152020281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128460350781036829.post-56326243506515737732010-03-16T02:25:38.919+00:002010-03-16T02:25:38.919+00:00Oh, this helps the bad writing of your American re...Oh, this helps the bad writing of your American readers immensely. We are all pondering how clever we will seem when we put, "it's a good job..." into the dialogue of a British(Scottish?) character ;)<br /><br />In fact, you could do a post on the use/misuse of catch phrases to indicate characters' nationality or culture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128460350781036829.post-19910364536781056912010-03-15T22:11:56.031+00:002010-03-15T22:11:56.031+00:00So you guys don't use "it's a good jo...So you guys don't use "it's a good job" to mean "it's fortunate"? Well, that's worth knowing. It's a good... thing... you mentioned it.Joel Stickleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14270604410152020281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128460350781036829.post-83764927710732648922010-03-15T21:07:47.710+00:002010-03-15T21:07:47.710+00:00I don't know if Joel is British, but Naomi see...I don't know if Joel is British, but Naomi seems to be!The Ridger, FCDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01538111197270563075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128460350781036829.post-36676733328784183792010-03-15T20:20:41.799+00:002010-03-15T20:20:41.799+00:00From the 15th word I already knew the punchline. ...From the 15th word I already knew the punchline. The title had something to do with that, though :-)<br /><br />"It's a good job I'm on a plane" -- I've never heard that expression before. "A good *thing*" perhaps... is this a britishism? Is Joel british?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128460350781036829.post-52503596729511332632010-03-15T18:39:20.343+00:002010-03-15T18:39:20.343+00:00I actually groaned when I read the last line. I ag...I actually groaned when I read the last line. I agree with C12VT - sometimes it can be a good tactic, but this time it was not.Dr Shttp://www.madmedicinemayhem.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128460350781036829.post-27212985616064212802010-03-15T17:17:49.687+00:002010-03-15T17:17:49.687+00:00I agree. Maybe this is a tactic than can be good i...I agree. Maybe this is a tactic than can be good if used right, but really grating if overused.C12VTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128460350781036829.post-39874290776709463642010-03-15T12:28:15.916+00:002010-03-15T12:28:15.916+00:00Actually, I thought this more a flash fic with a t...Actually, I thought this more a flash fic with a twist!<br /><br />It's really good! More written well and not too badly. Goes to show what I know!!<br /><br />:-)Old Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13185547869183611159noreply@blogger.com