Yes only ever use said (or possibly replied or asked). There's nothing more annoying than dialogue peppered with expostulated and other such fancy words.

Excellent article. If I'm writing publicity material for a general audience I use Plain English, straightforward and uncomplicated so that it's easy to understand, but acknowledging that some topics and issues have their own vocabulary which is...

I agree entirely. i can never understand people who want to be writers but who don't read.....

I'm a biologist by training and a naturalist and artist by inclination. I think the arts and sciences have so much to learn from each other, there are many possibilities for creative collaborations between the two. Good writing and art can make...

the idea behind reviews traditionally being done for free is as far as I'm aware to ensure that the reviewer's opinion can't be bought. Any review outlet that charges an aothor a substantial amount of money to do the review must feel they need to...

Excellent article. It's amazing how many of the so called essentials of life turn out not to be so essential when you have less money. I've got long hair with silver running through it, too