Jon-Wood

"And that," I concluded, "is how I can unify the North." The Emperor sat silent for long, long moments, until a smile spread across his grave face.  Something in my guts unclenched.  He pointed his sceptre at me. "Go now, Lady Felix. Be my Hand and My Voice, and bring these rebels to heel."  I inclined my head. "At once, and by your command. sire.' I rose — slowly, my knees aren't as young as they used to be — and —  The Emperor held up his hand. I froze. He said, "Hold.''  "Sire?"  "What...what was that?"  Something in my guts unclenched. "I...I said-"  "Not what you said." He leaned forward. His smile was gone, and his brow furrowed. "Your narration."  Huh?  "You 'inclined your head', correct?"  "Yes, sire."  "Which direction, milady?"  "I beg your pardon, sire?"  "There are four usual directions one normally 'inclines' one's head. We shall disregard diagonals, for the nonce."  He held up a finger, imperiously. "Forward."  Another finger. "Back."  The last two. "Left and

A lot of writers - including me - misuse the words "idly" and "absently". Don't be one of them. Absently "Absently" means "not paying attention". Lots of people use it to tell the reader that someone is not paying attention. "What's wrong with that?" you say. It's lazy. It's telling, not showing. It means you don't have to describe what's going on. You're going "They're not paying attention! Take my word for it!" Lady Sybil: I'll tell Willikins to pack winter clothes. It'll be pretty cold up there at this time of year. Sam Vimes: Yes. That's a good idea. Lady Sybil: We'll have to host a party ourselves, I expect, so we ought to take a cartload of typical Ankh-Morpork food. Show the flag, you know. Do you think I should take a cook along? Sam Vimes: Yes dear. That would be a good idea. No one outside the city knows how to make a knuckle sandwich properly. Lady Sybil: Do you think we ought to take the alligator with us? Sam Vimes: Yes, that might be advisable.... What alligator? In