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Writing That Turns Heads and Opens Wallets
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Hello, fiction writers! Let's talk punctuation—specifically, the kind that slips into your story like it belongs in a textbook, not a novel: parentheses.
Those curved little brackets might be helpful in essays, blog posts (like this one 😅), and maybe your grocery list, but in fiction? Parentheses are one form of punctuation you're almost always better off avoiding. Let's break down why parentheses don't work in most fiction, what to use instead, and how to rewrite those parenthetical moments so your prose stays smooth, immersive, and reader-friendly. 🧠 First Things First – What Are Parentheses? Parentheses (or round brackets) are used to set off extra, clarifying, or explanatory information. Like this: She couldn't find her phone (it was in her back pocket, as usual). In nonfiction or casual writing, that's fine. It adds a side note or a chuckle. But in fiction—especially third-person or limited POV fiction—it breaks the flow and yanks readers out of your story. 🚨 Why Parentheses Don't Belong in Fiction 1. They Break Immersion When writing fiction, your job is to create an immersive world. Readers want to sink into the moment—not be interrupted by what feels like the author whispering an aside through parentheses. Example: Tom kicked the door open (he'd always wanted to do that, like in the movies) and stormed inside. It's not the worst line ever—but those parentheses feel like the narrator poked me on the shoulder while I read. 👉 Fix it: Tom kicked the door open. He'd always wanted to do that—like in the movies. Cleaner. More natural. No interruption. 2. They Mess with Tone Parentheses often sound sarcastic or overly casual—two things that don't always fit your scene's tone. Example (serious scene): She stared at the coffin (the same one they picked out together last spring) and said nothing. That parenthetical detail might be powerful—but the brackets undercut the emotional weight. They make it feel too clinical or self-aware. 👉 Fix it: She stared at the coffin—the same one they'd picked out together last spring—and said nothing. Now the line hits harder, right? 3. They're Lazy Substitutes for Strong Narrative When we use parentheses in fiction, we're trying to cram in info that we didn't fully integrate into the narrative. Example: The car was messy (empty fast food wrappers, crumpled receipts, and a lonely sock on the dashboard). It reads like a grocery list someone slapped in parentheses. 👉 Fix it: The car was messy: empty fast food wrappers littered the floor, crumpled receipts filled the cup holders, and a single sock sat on the dashboard like a forgotten passenger. Boom. Same info, but now it's alive. 💡 But What If It's First-Person? Can I Get Away With It Then? That's a fair question! First-person narration often sounds like internal monologue, and yes, sometimes parentheses appear in casual thought-driven styles. But here's the thing: you can still write internal thoughts without brackets. Bad: I hated math (who didn't?), but I needed to pass this exam. Better: I hated math—who didn't?—but I needed to pass this exam. Or: I hated math. Seriously, who didn't? But I needed to pass this exam. Both options sound more natural and keep the flow strong. ✂️ When Can You Use Parentheses in Fiction? (Rarely, But Here's When)
🛠️ Rewriting Parenthetical Moments – Quick Fixes Let's fix a few awkward examples you might find in your own draft: 🔧 Example 1: He was a regular at Joe's Diner (except on Tuesdays when he did his weird yoga thing). ✅ He was a regular at Joe's Diner—except on Tuesdays when he vanished for that weird yoga thing. 🔧 Example 2: The book was heavy (and not just physically—it carried memories). ✅ The book was heavy. Not just physically. It carried memories. 🔧 Example 3: She laughed (a little too loudly if you asked anyone else in the room). ✅ She laughed—a little too loudly if you asked anyone else in the room. See how each fix keeps the meaning but ditches the clunky brackets? 🎬 Wrapping It Up Parentheses might be handy for blog posts, side notes, or cheeky text messages, but in fiction writing? They're usually more trouble than they're worth. They interrupt. They dilute emotion. They're almost always unnecessary. If you're tempted to use parentheses in your manuscript, take a step back and ask: Is there a smoother way to say this? Odds are, there is. Your turn! Have you ever overused parentheses in your writing (and regretted it)? Do you think there's ever a time they work in fiction? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I'd love to hear your take!
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Hello fiction writers! Today, we're tackling one of those sneaky little grammar issues that love to trip up even seasoned authors: pronoun linkage errors — especially when you've got singular subjects referring to plural objects or vice versa.
You've probably seen (or written) sentences like these:
Let's dig in, clear it up, and throw in some more natural examples you can use in your fiction. 🎯 The Core Problem: Singular vs. Plural Agreement The issue is that "everyone" is singular, but you're referring to multiple people. And everyone probably has their own seat (unless your scene is much weirder than I imagine). This conflict is what creates those odd-sounding sentences. Quick grammar refresher:
🚫 Let's Break Down the Awkward Examples 1️⃣ "Everyone sat on the edge of his seat."👉 Technically correct (old-school grammar), but it sounds stiff and outdated. Plus, using "his" excludes half of your readers. 2️⃣ "Everyone sat on the edges of his seat."👉 Now, we imagine one person sitting on multiple edges of a single seat. Um, no. It doesn't make sense. 3️⃣ "Everyone sat on the edges of his seats."👉 Sounds like one person has several seats. What are they? A king? A concert promoter? 4️⃣ "Everyone sat on the edge of the seat."👉 Feels like everyone is sharing the same seat. Awkward mental image. 5️⃣ "Everyone sat on the edges of the seat."👉 Even more confusing. This makes it sound like multiple people are perched around a single seat's edges. Physically bizarre. 6️⃣ "Everyone sat on the edges of the seats."👉 Closer, but still clunky. You're trying to force plural agreement where singular should rule. ✅ What Actually Works? (And Sounds Good, Too) In modern fiction writing, clarity and flow trump rigid grammar rules. Here's a better, cleaner way to handle it: 💡 "Everyone sat on the edge of their seat."
🔄 Let's Try Different Examples That Work Since we're tired of staring at seats, let's mix it up for your fiction writing: ✅ Tension scene:Everyone held their breath, waiting for the verdict. ✅ Horror scene:Everyone clutched their flashlight as the wind howled through the trees. ✅ Romantic scene:Everyone watched the couple, hearts pounding in their chests. ✅ Comedy scene:Everyone scratched their heads, wondering how the goat got into the office. See? The singular "everyone" blends smoothly with "their," keeping the sentence fluid and natural. 🧠 Why Fiction Writers Especially Need to Nail This In fiction, rhythm, clarity, and immersion are everything. If your reader stumbles over a weird pronoun-antecedent mismatch, they're pulled out of the story. You want them to feel your scene, not mentally diagramming your sentence. Personal Anecdote: In one of my early drafts, I wrote: "Everyone reached for his weapon." My critique partner circled it with, "Are we writing a grammar textbook or a thriller?" 😅 I changed it to: "Everyone reached for their weapon." Boom. Cleaner. Modern. Much better pacing. 📝 Quick Rule of Thumb for Writers
Everyone sat on the edge of their seat—and so should your readers, eager for your next chapter. Keeping your pronoun linkage clear helps your writing flow smoothly, your scenes stay immersive, and your editor stays happy. Grammar is important, but never at the cost of your storytelling rhythm. When in doubt, read it aloud. If it sounds weird, change it. Got your own pronoun nightmares or awkward sentence rewrites? Drop them in the comments—I'd love to hear your funniest grammar stumbles! |
James Field
Talvik, Norway You can also Find me on 
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