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The brainchild of Arlee Bird, at Tossing it Out
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Querulous is the word of the day!
A few synonyms: petulant, peevish, pettish, complaining, fractious, fretful, irritable, testy, tetchy,cross, snappish, crabby, crotchety, cantankerous, miserable, moody,grumpy, bad-tempered, sullen, sulky, sour, churlish, snappy, grouchy, cranky.
I don’t like to use this adjective in stories I write for young readers, but I like to use it as a springboard for characterization. How do you make a person in the story querulous without saying, “He was a querulous type of person.” ?
Here’s a stab:
When the door opened and Max blustered in, Josh tightened his grip on his book. Billy Willis slid low in his seat and Felicia Martinez tucked her homework inside her binder. Curtis Blatz set one pencil on top of his desk, folded his arms and waited. Max would break it in half just as he did on all of his “bad” days. Marshall Lowenstein left for the back of the room and stayed there reading the bulletin board as Max made his way down center aisle, rapping his knuckles on the desks or poking kidsβ arms.
Is Max querulous enough? Did using other characters’ reactions work to create querulous Max? How would you show a character is querulous?
Onward to R. Be sure to visit more of the intrepid AtoZ Bloggers! you read about these
Small Things to Celebrate
a pat on the back by a pal
an unexpected present for absolutely no reason except someone thought of you
the scent of the first rose in spring
a good burp after a splendid meal
Ahhhh, those small things!
michelle says
Querulous does have a moody, grumpy, quarrelsome ring to it!
Writer In Transit
Samantha May says
I wonder if I use the word in my presentation on Monday if I'll get bonus points…
It's always worth a shot π
Kelly Hashway says
Now there's a word I haven't heard in a while.
Lynda R Young says
Another mighty fine word. You demonstrated it well. Poor Max.
Medeia Sharif says
It's a great idea to show the reaction of others.
I don't enjoy querulous people in real life.
Marcia says
This is a terrific theme for the A-Z challenge.
The Golden Eagle says
Quite effective! I got a good sense of how querulous Max was.
Carrie Butler says
Max sounds very querulous! Nice job. π
Laura Eno says
Showing the behavior is usually preferable. I think Mary sounds querulous over someone stealing her Friday, don't you? π
C. Lee McKenzie says
We must talk her down!
M Pax says
Aww, crap! I forgot it was Friday. Is it really Friday? Seems like I should get another day or two before that happens. Can I quarrel with someone that tomorrow should be Friday?
C. Lee McKenzie says
If you win the quarrel, call me. I need an extra day.
mooderino says
Introducing the character through behaviour is a great way to set the tone and show us the world we're in. Accomplishes a lot more than simply stating his mood.
Mood
Moody Writing
C. Lee McKenzie says
As mooderino you speak with authority! π
Elizabeth Seckman says
I used to use that word to describe my son as a toddler…not nice of me, but he never got it!
C. Lee McKenzie says
A toddler and already querulous. That's something.
Carol Kilgore says
Great way to show and not tell π
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm still trying to connect with you. Are you hiding from me? π
Christine Rains says
That is pretty darn querulous! And great small things this week. Have a wonderful weekend.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Back at you, Christine. See you Sat, then not until Monday. Ahhhh. A whole day off.
VikLit says
A good burp!! What an EXCELLENT small thing π
C. Lee McKenzie says
Absolutely!
Mark Means says
Never heard that word before…thanks for the education and I can now tell my wife I'm querulous and she may not know what I mean π
C. Lee McKenzie says
Now go all smug and get yourself into trouble, Mark.
Pk Hrezo says
It's a great word!
And lol to the burps! Better out than in I always say.
C. Lee McKenzie says
And speaking of burps, I think it's time for a cold beer!
Tyrean Martinson says
Love the word, querulous, and I love, love, love your small things! Have a wonderful day!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks Tyrean. I so appreciate your visit.
Julie Flanders says
Love this word, querulous. And love the pic you used with it. π
I totally forgot about the Small Things today. I think my mind is officially gone.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yep. Sunday cannot come soon enough for this mind.
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee .. I'm not sure if your comment was made in a querulous moment .. but I answered your help on my Pond post! I hope you enjoy – when the day gets longer I guess and it's nearer food time?!
A querulous teacher is not a good idea!
Cheers – and enjoy that lemon pond?! Hilary
C. Lee McKenzie says
Tomorrow more about my Pond Pudding caper!
DEZMOND says
somebody needs to spank that Max brute π
C. Lee McKenzie says
Indeed.
DMS says
Grumps aren't fun- but the word querulous sure is. I don't remember ever hearing it before. Yeah! I love to learn something new. Great job showing how to describe it. π
~Jess
S.K. Anthony says
Querulous! Never heard it before but I like it π
I *think* I feel a bit querulous right now from the cold rainy weather… enough already.
ahh, a good burp after a splendid meal… love it!
Catherine Stine says
Good show not tell paragraph for querulous.
Susan Oloier says
Great way to use other characters' behavior to illustrate querulous.
Cathrina Constantine says
Querulous is a good word. My editor has been on my case to show instead of say. You've shown it well,and I'm learning.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It takes some drafts I think. I might have just said, "Max is querulous" at first, then I went back and showed what that meant. That's the fun part.
Michael Di Gesu says
Great word, Lee..
fun snippet… I think you captured him just in the right Mood…. LOL.
It's all in the verbal tone for me. If the response is right, the reader will feel the emotion behind the words.
TaMara Sloan says
You did a great job of making Max querulous. I've decided that an almost teenage boy might just be the epitome of being querulous. I can't wait for my son to get OUT of this character trait. π
TaMara
Tales of a Pee Dee Mama
C. Lee McKenzie says
I know about those stages. And we thought the 3's were a trial.
Lexa Cain says
Max is definitely "querulous," and it was very clever to describe him using the reactions of others.
"A good burp"! You crack me up! π
C. Lee McKenzie says
A good laugh ain't a bad way to start or end a day, either, right?
Rebeccah Giltrow says
Oooh, yes, a good burp is amazing! π
C. Lee McKenzie says
Just stopped by your blog to say hi and meet Lily!
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
No one likes a grump!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Indeed they don't.