Quotes, quotes and more quotes ...

Use quotes as a mix, not a staple. Overusing quotes interrupts the flow of a good story. But there should be no hard and fast rule for how you use them. If a story reads better with three or four quotes stacked together, don't mess with it. If you feel it's forced, find another way to write it.

 

Has anybody ever read a story that was basically a locker room rant, verbatim? I've seen it done and it worked. The writer acted as almost a moderater, stepping in to clarify something or provide context and skipping over a "dead" part of the quote and transitioning it, etc., otherwise it was all the ranter.

I know I've seen it and seen it work, but I'm having trouble thinking of the specific example. Of course, this was a sidebar (maybe a game column), not a gamer and that was part of the context that made it work.

Trying to replicate it would be at your own peril though.

 

I know what you're talking about, but I can't place it either. We talked about it here, IIRC.

Or did one of my former colleagues write this? Or did I? Ha! Man, this sounds so familiar ...

 

And post only when it adds something to the thread?

 

I've seen plenty of stories where the quote is in there basically because the reporter talked to someone and felt forced to include something he/she said. It is possible to talk with a kid and come away with nothing that adds anything of value to your story...in these cases don't feel bad about leaving it on the cutting room floor.