Authors Come in All Shapes and Sizes.

[persephone33]

I have a question for the flist.  Have I punctuated this correctly?

The flat was what he imagined people called ‘cosy,’ but what his mother would have disparaged as ‘untidy’ or ‘cluttered,’ which in Narcissa-speak was on par with ‘war zone,’ ‘ebolic,’ and ‘third world-esque.’  

Do the commas go in the quotation marks or on the outside?  My brain's fried and I can barely form a coherent sentence.  I did finish putting the beta corrections in my contest story, but I think I need to read through it one more time before sending it off, and that, unfortunately, won't be today.  I have a monster headache.  

My son, aged almost seven, who has been put off several times in the past few weeks in favor typing furiously at the computer, came to me today with a question.

Ethan.  How many books have you written, mommy?

Me.  I'm working on my first one.  I'm about halfway through.

Ethan.  (pulls out stapled stacks of notebook paper from behind his back)  I've written three.

*mommy's mouth drops open unbecomingly*

And so he has.  They are entitled Rescue Heroes Find Their First Volcano, A Hard Day in the Jungle, and Cowboys doomed and a Gorilla (my personal favorite).  And they're illustrated.  In color.  He rocks.  I suck.  I see his point, though.  So this afternoon I'm taking a break from all things computer and taking my kids to the park.

Comments

[rainpuddle13.livejournal.com]

Commas go on the outside of single quotes (unless you're in England where single quotes denote dialog quotes as well).

[orpheus-samhain.livejournal.com]

The commas go on the outside.
From PS"
[...] When it finally shouted 'GRYFFINDOR', Nevil ran off still wearing it [...]

Your son proved his point *LOL*

[peki.livejournal.com]

Cowboys doomed and a Gorilla! That sounds awesome! :-D I wish I could read it.

[(Anonymous)]

I think I was there when he started writing 'Cowboys Doomed and a Gorilla'; w00t! I got to see the creative process in the...er... process!

Also, I had to write a paper about Cyranose de Bergerac for my English class, so I wrote a narrative. When Mr. Batman...er...Roberts gave it back to me there was a note on it telling me I'd make a good playwright. Bask in your teaching abilities!

[dragonsangel68.livejournal.com]

Like Pud said ;)

How adorable! You're going to have to get those fingers working harder if you're going to catch up to him ;)

[(Anonymous)]

Also I should have signed in... that one above, as well as this one, are by me, Cydneylicious.

[lyndsiefenele.livejournal.com]

I thought about your comma question, realized that I don't know the answer because the British v American rules are soup in my head, and then decided to concur with the previous posters.

But really, I just wanted to use this icon! (Because I don't actually remember.)

: )

[13oct.livejournal.com]

*grins* If this is what they are like at 'almost seven' - I am so in for it!

[seegrim.livejournal.com]

The flat was what he imagined people called ‘cosy’, but what his mother would have disparaged as ‘untidy’ or ‘cluttered’, which in Narcissa-speak was on par with ‘war zone’, ‘ebolic’, and ‘third world-esque'.

And since you are indirectly quoting Narcissa, you could probably say:

The flat was what he imagined people called ‘cosy’, but what his mother would have disparaged as untidy or cluttered, which in Narcissa-speak was on par with ‘war zone, ebolic, and third world-esque'.

Cowboys doomed and a Gorilla? now that's a story!

[dieloreley.livejournal.com]

Eee! Ethan is soooo oute! I so want to read his books! Is your husband like my daddy who proudly proclaimed to my brother's then soon-to-be principal that his son was very advanced? ...To which the principal scoffed and informed daddy that most kindergarteners could read that well. To which daddy was quite peeved. Lol.

How was the park visit? I think what everyone else said about commas is right. I'm not gonna try because I'll probably lead you down the wrong path. I haven't picked up on any problems in your fics... and your titles are my favouritest ever!