Similarly, "meanwhile" is always followed by "at the Hall of Justice".

For me, it's "back at the ranch..."

Although my favorite Leonard quote on writing is when somebody asks a screenwriter in Get Shorty (so awesome. Be Cool=so sad) what kind of writing pays best and he says "Ransom notes."

For me, it's "back at the ranch..."

Exactly.

7. Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly.

Years of editing Scottish-set romances proves this brilliantly. One more "I dinna ken" and I would have cried.

and the classic "och, lassie"

I can't read the word "suddenly" without hearing "dun-dun-DUNNNN!!" music in my head.

It bugs me a lot because it seems like so often things that happen "suddenly" or "quickly" are things that just happen. I suppose if the POV character is a sloth, then it's okay, but most of the time it just bugs me.

My annoying habit word is "just". I just keeping slipping it in without thinking about it.

I don't doubt it. In the right hands, I like that sort of thing. I'm interested in the different ways people talk. Too bad the right hands are not often the hands itching to pick that stuff up.

My annoying habit word is "just". I just keeping slipping it in without thinking about it.

Oh yeah. I use it all the time. And "actually." Also, everything "apparently" happens with me.

7. Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly.

Years of editing Scottish-set romances proves this brilliantly. One more "I dinna ken" and I would have cried.

Ha-ha! I had a beta reader who complained, "but what happened to her accent? Where'd it go?"

It went to the rubbish bin, where excess patois belongs. One or two phrases to get the feel in the reader's head and they'll start doing the translating themselves. No one has to describe a redhead as being a redhead in every single paragraph, once you know, you know.

It's particularly egregious in fanfic. Yes, we know Scotty has an accent. And Chekov. And Rogue. WE KNOW.

Also, everything "apparently" happens with me.

I wouldn't be surprised if I overuse that one too.

I know I violated the exclamation points rule, but if someone yells something I have a hard time not using an exclamation point. Maybe that tells me something about the attribution tag or physical beat I'm using.