Let's banish 'said' forever!
Is your child facing English Entrance exams soon?
One of the challenges with timed stories is thinking of better alternatives for the dreaded 'said'. 'Went' is another misused word that turns the examiner's hair white!
So what verbs do work best - and in what sort of situation in the story? This super-useful 'at-a-glance' guide is subdivided into themed sections to help your child choose the best alternative verb for 'said' for different characters' emotions. This ensures that their writing stays fresh and varied, boosting both their vocabulary and creativity scores.
Mastering alternatives for 'said' helps students characterise with confidence and create powerful dialogue sequences.
"No! don't do that!" said Bob.
"Too late...I must drive this snowplough into the ditch to save us all!" said the soldier.
"Quick! Let's brace for impact!" said Bob.
When students only write the word 'said' after a character's line of speech, it can ruin the story's drama and even sound silly. Yet it takes time for students to master the alternatives and make their characters seem believable. My mission is to help younger children master the art of convincing characterisation. This free guide is packed with inspiring illustrations and sample written examples to inspire them with ideas for great characters. It will soon elevate their storytelling skills and get them presenting characters 'like a ninja.'
Help them master alternatives for 'said' so they can characterise with confidence and create powerful dialogue sequences.
Using dialogue to reveal character is a great way to use 'show, not tell' and create powerful, interesting stories that bring the reader into your world. Download your free guide here. Please check your inboxes for the link.
" This clear list of alternatives for 'said' was a godsend! It helped Anya to bring her characters to life with more interesting vocabulary She really liked the 'animal' words and has enjoyed using them to show how different types of character speak."
Natasha, mother of 10-year-old Anya
★★★★★
★★★★★
"I used 'hissed', 'warned,' and 'smiled' instead of 'said' in my last story when I introduced my witch character. It was fun to show bits of her character using better words."
Anya, aged 10
★★★★★
★★★★★
