the retrovert

David Jagger 

A Mansion in the Darkness -   Morten Schelde , 2015.

Danish, b. 1972 -

Do you ever find yourself over-using the word “said” in your writing? Try using these words/phrases instead:

stated

commented

declared

spoke

responded

voiced

noted

uttered

iterated

explained

remarked

acknowledged

mentioned

announced

shouted

expressed

articulated

exclaimed

proclaimed

whispered

babbled

observed

deadpanned

joked

hinted

informed

coaxed

offered

cried

affirmed

vocalized

laughed

ordered

suggested

admitted

verbalized

indicated

confirmed

apologized

muttered

proposed

chatted

lied

rambled

talked

pointed out

blurted out

chimed in

brought up

wondered aloud

A photograph of this Gymnasium student shows Kafka standing, a little embarrassed, leaning against overgrown balcony railings, in a high-buttoned adult suit with waistcoat, high collar and tie, his arms extended to both sides, his slender hands intertwined with the ivy. He has a powerful nose, a small, firmly closed mouth, dark hair coming from low on his forehead, grey eyes dreamily and doubtingly directed at the observer. 

A ‘callow creature’ was what he was at the time, as he notes in his diary in 1916. He could expect no guidance from either his parents or his teachers.