For writers, nothing is as fun to type as the exclamation point! We love it! It shows excitement! Action! Anger! Surprise! Happiness! Drama!
The overuse of exclamation points is also the sign of a beginner writer. It’s considered intrusive because when you use an exclamation point, you’re shouting how the character feels or shouting to the reader how they’re supposed to feel. Your dialogue and exposition should stand on their own, without being propped up with an exclamation point! In prior sections I mentioned how overusing boomerang words and curse words dilute their impact, and the same is true for exclamation points—they should be used judiciously. Some writers limit themselves to one exclamation point per manuscript. Some writers won’t use them, period. If you do use an exclamation point, make sure it’s for special emphasis, such as a turning point in the story. ~
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